New to online support, and living with Bipolar

Hi people,

I was first diagnosed with depression at 18 then ADD @ 21, but was rediagnosed with Bipolar @ 22. I have been on bipolar medication up to today and I'm now 43. The most hideous aspect of this disease is the lack of control over the fluctuating mood swings and the way my confidence is crushed just when I think I'm on top of it. I have self medicated to try to make life easier, but that in itself only makes matters worse. My wife has been very supportive and my daughter who is in primary is very well behaved. But I'm at the point where I am finding that although I had good parents growing up with three siblings, and been married for 18 years, I'm struggling with not only the isolation relating to the depression currently, but with the current social isolation preventative measures, it only makes me realise how lonely it is and I'm keen to reach out to others for advice or ideas, even make new friends and to bolster the courage to go on and

fight and live with some dignity.