Let`s talk about Bipolar

@hanami I had bangers and mash sausages and mashed potato. I enjoyed it and had 3 beers with a friend I haven’t seen for ages. I enjoyed it very much. Oh drinking is a no no for you that is a shame. How hot is it? Where are you? I’m in Adelaide. It is mild here today at 22 degrees. Do you smoke. Unfortunately I do. Do you have bipolar?

@GezzaP I'm in NSW on south coast. It was about 33 earlier but we get a sea breeze so it's cooled down. Yeah I used to love a beer, wine, actually probably drank too much when I was young (like a lot of us!). I used to smoke but gave up years ago as it made me nauseous when I fell pregnant with my first child. It was how I realised I was pregnant! I'm glad I gave up. When I worked in an office we used to go for Friday drinks and I used to sneak a few puffs from a guy I was friends with. I always felt so naughty lol. I don't have bipolar, I have anxiety. But my best friend has bipolar so I know a lot about it. So glad you enjoyed lunch. I've never been to Adelaide but would love to head over there one of these days!

@hanami Ooh that’s too hot for me. I hate the heat. You were lucky to be able to stop smoking. I don’t know how you could have a couple of puffs. When I have given up twice I can’t even have one puff. Anxiety is horrible I get that too and I worry a lot. I used to drink more when I was young too. But that was before I had a bipolar episode for the first time. It was late onset aged 28 which is very unusual. South coast of NSW nice. I’ve never been there. Adelaide can be a bit boring, but there are some nice places. Hope you make it here one day.

How many kids do you have? Do you have a partner? I am single no kids so I only have my sister.

oops I’ve never seen this thread until now.

howdy. Diagnosed with bipolar 2 at the start of the year.

it’s been a ride. It was a relief to find out it’s something that’s well talked about, rather than “hmm yep you are having another round of depression, hmm you were kind of out of character for a couple of weeks, hmm it’s definitely just depression”

seem to have a medication cocktail that works for me, finally. only thing I hate about it, is lamotrigne isn’t on the PBS. It’s costly but it does good

Hello @_PixieSolstice_ I'm glad you've found something that works for you. It can take a while.

@Dimity i feel like I’ve tried them all 😂 I think discovering all the different SSRI’s I’ve taken in the past might not have been great for me after all has been the biggest shock!

@_PixieSolstice_ I've been on some but now my psychiatrist says to avoid them. I'm only on an antipsychotic but struggle with longterm anxiety and depression.

I'm slowly reading through this thread, the 155 pages of it!

Up to page 13. Read some great insight so far from members past and present.

Will include a short version of my story in a reply when I'm up to it. 🙂

Good to know you're still around @Dimity I hope you're doing alright. In one of the earlier posts, (from 2021) you mentioned that you like to write, I think. Have you started writing again?

Hope you're all having an alright evening or day 🙂 x

What does Tdoc and Pdoc mean? I've seen them used a couple of times and don't remember them in my scanning over the list of abbreviations on the SANE forum's FAQ.

I'm guessing:

Tdoc - telehealth doctor? Treating doctor?

Pdoc - psychologist? psychiatrist?

Would love some help on this.

@tyme? @hanami @TideisTurning (Not sure if appropriate to tag you but don't know who else to tag.)

Wow @BipolarPenguin that's a big undertaking. A lot of it will just be chitchat.

Thanks for noticing I used to like writing... I haven't got back to it but still have lots of the stuff... books and notes and drafts, and files of ideas. I've had pretty much unrelenting depression and anxiety for too long... but occasionally I dream of emerging from it and rediscovering old interests. These days I craft short missives to politicians and councillors on pet peeves and am chuffed if/when I get traction.