Welcome! Introduce yourself here 🙂

I heavily rely on my "inner circle of friends and family"

I very rarely let others in to my space as this has now given my mind a fight response and I don't think I want to hurt anyone , so I keep people at an arms length

Fair enough @BipolarRich . It's not easy at all. I think it took a lot for me to 'get out' and start interacting with people. To be honest, these forums helped with that. I had stopped interacting with the world for a decade... and only slowly slowly, I opened up.

Go slow mate. Do what you feel is right for you.

We're here for you.

Hello! I'm bipolar 1! I also have ADHD and autism and I love old Australian television (like from the black and white days)! I'm a proud gay man as well! Hope these forums are helpful for me understanding my disorder.

Welcome @foolking34 !

It's great to have you here🤗 I am so glad to hear that the forums are helping you to better understand yourself too, we love to hear it!

Hi and welcome to the forums @foolking34. I hope you find the forums to be helpful and supportive like they have been for myself. I read that you like old Aussie tv shows. What are your favourite shows? My mother and I used to like Mr Ed - not Australian but still good shows. I still like Blue Heelers, A Country Practice, Raffertys Rules and Home and Away.

Take care and I hope to see you around the forums soon.

Judi9877

I've joined as I am looking for ways to support someone in my life. Not really sure where to go as this person doesn't think there's anything wrong. It's everyone else and they've cut contact with anyone that has challenged them, including close family.

Lots of highs for months, financial, partner and work problems then months of lows with no contact with anyone but work.

In the past year with highs and lows some paranoid and what I can only describe as psychotic thoughts are starting.

Events in the past are being retold incorrectly and some medical problems are being exaggerated and or made up with some minor self medication and ignoring medical advice. I can only go by what I've been told as I haven't been to the appointments but the story keeps changing.

This person is very much able to articulate very well verbally and dismisses any offers of help, turning any criticism back on to the other person.

Hope this makes sense, I've had a little look around and can't find anything helpful so would be grateful for advice. This might not even be the right forum.

Oh and as far as I can tell there is no self harm worry but risky behaviours have been increasing for several years.

DLB

Hello and welcome @DLB

I'm hearing how challenging it must be supporting this loved one and the worry that must come with witnessing them experience such highs and lows. You mentioned that they will turn back any criticism on the other person and is dismissive of any suggestions that something is wrong - have you been able to have any conversations with them about what you've observed?

I do definitely think that you've posted in the right forum, though sometimes it can be helpful to start up a new thread to ensure that more members see your post. If you'd like I can help you to move this to it's own thread, otherwise it's certainly okay here

Hi. I’m

new!

I’m kinda doing a thing where I’m replacing social media with these support peer mental health forums and seeing if that makes a difference. I’m on two others and wanna see how this compares. Just chose my user cause I have a toy panda from we bare bears I won from a claw machine and I named him Soiree and I take him to my therapy appointments so idk thats me I guess.

Welcome @Soireethepanda . We are please to meet you and Soiree.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to connect with you. We have many members and staff with lived experience of mental health challenges who would love to connect with you.

What are some things you enjoy doing?