Dear Honeybear,

I was diagnosed bipolar in my mid twenties. My husband left me and I was broke.
I am thankful to my medical team (therapist and psychiatrists).

I learned to understand that most people cannot offer support for bipolar. It is not in them. I stick with the professionals for my support.

Some poeple find luck with
National Alliance on Mental Illness:
www.nami.org
and
Depression and bipolar support alliance:
www.dbsalliance.org/


You might find that you benefit from some bipolar stuff on youtube:


Bipolar Movie
This one has flashing lights if that is ok with you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaSo0FmfiDk
See 3.12 for how bipolar effects the body


personal experience with Bipolar Disorder -- this one talks about being depressed and manic at the same time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DCdv...eature=related


Maurice Benard, Bipolar Disorder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TVi1jjvSE
Marice Benard from General Hospital talks about
-the struggle to stay on his med and
-how about how much help he gets from his children and wife and
-his relationship with god.


Bipolar Disorder recovery in 12 steps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J9a4Iu6poY
-- a little long and boring but has good info
Talks about finding well being by reducing stress

Bipolar Overview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl95tsiLvyM
Talks about the benefits from good meds and good pyscho /social services. Probably caused by genes mixed with environmental factors.

Take your good moments wherever you can find them -- be they taking walks, sleeping, fixing a healthful lunch for yourself, writing in a journal, or even keeping a mood journal like this one on line or on paper: www.moodtracker.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I apologize if this is too long.
Some times I am in a wordy mood and sometimes I have nothing to say. You caught me in a wordy mood.

Take care of yourself.
Find things that you love about yourself and honor those things.
We feel better one or two steps at a time. Those steps add up.


M.