hi
and thank you for posting back a sharing a bit of your circumstances.
I hope that you have a good pdoc and a therapist to work with you?
Do you have any girl friends who have hung around thru all of this?
Are you still suicidal?
bizi

Hello! I'm a fellow bipolar. I've never had ECT, although the last time I was hospitalized, a nurse suggested that I try it. (I've been through a slew of anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-seizure meds, as well as what they call "stabilizing drugs.") One thing that did concern me was the stories of memory problems....

Alas, though, I developed memory problems from all the meds the psychiatrists have put me on. I finally had to give up my teaching career as a psychology professor (yes, of all things), and go on disability. I would lose my train of thought when trying to lecture, and so on. Sigh.

I was diagnosed with bipolar ten years ago. I am now a "stay-at-home" mom, you might call it--and I've been struggling with my loss of a job, an "identity." Believe it or not, my husband was also diagnosed with bipolar a few years ago. He's on disability, too. We do what we can to survive. We're both in therapy.

We have two sons--and we put both of them in therapy, realizing that their having two bipolar parents wouldn't give them an ideal life. They're doing okay, I think.

Thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry that you had to give up your career. I know that must have been difficult.
I know there have been some success stories with ECT however most of them I have found were short term relief.

Hi,

Have you tried
http://www.meetup.com/
also the
www.dbsalliance.org ?

M.

Welcome and it is so good to hear that you your family is in therapy.
Bipolar effects the whole family, everyone can be on the same page!
keep posting...we are listening!
bizi

Hi Darcy

welcome to the board! thank you for sharing.

we have a poster here who joined recently and was interested in mutual support regarding ECT.... her name is Debbie and her userid here is justired.

here is the link to her most recent thread in this forum:
Does it ever get any better?

nice to meet you and i hope we can help you... we can listen at least.

i know acceptance is hard, very hard. i am still very much learning it... sigh.

~ waves ~

I just wanted to tell you
THAT IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!!!!
please be kind to yourself.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Welcome

And Bizi is so right "Its not your fault." Its technically not anyones fault.

I personally think anyone that has to put up with it has a brave sould.

I am the mother of kids with problems.

I like to think I am working to learn how to help all people.

I too love to listen, and this is a great room for people that need to talk.

We will be here if and when you need us.

Also look for Nami support groups.

Donna

Thank you so much for those of you that have already responded.
Just this bit of reinforcement really helps.

Yes, you can call me Darcy.
I am not suicidal anymore. Mostly because I could never leave my son behind.
I have a wonderful psych doc and a new therapist that seems to 'get' me.
Right now i am feeling so fortunate to have a supportive husband and son and at the same time, feel sorry that I have put them through so much. I feel sorry to my husband that I am not more productive, motivated or able to move forward. I think my therapist and I figured out that it is not my husband who I am saying sorry to but to me. I have not mourned the loss of my previous self nor have I forgiven myself. (even though its for something that isn't under my control)