Bipolar Depression

I WAS DIAGNOSED AS BIPOLAR I DISORDER ABOUT 4 YEARS AFTER A LIFETIME OF UPS AND DOWNS. I SPENT 4 YEARS IN THE MILITARY SEVERELY DEPRESSED AND SOUGHT HELP, BUT RECEIVED NONE. I SPENT A WEEK IN THEIR MENTAL WARD AND WAS TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL. I ENDED UP HAVING A BREAK DOWN. I HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. NOW I AM ON MEDICATION AND SEE MY DOCTOR REGULARLY. I STILL STRUGGLE EVERYDAY TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOME TYPE OF BALANCE. MY MEDICATIONS HAVE CAUSED ALOT OF WEIGHT GAIN AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. MOSTLY STOMACH PROBLEMS...EVEN WITH MEDICATION LITTLE THINGS CAN SET OFF AN EPISODE OF ANGER OR TEARS. MY FAMILY TELLS ME THEY UNDERSTAND BUT THEY DON'T. MY HUSBAND HAS LEFT ME ONCE BECAUSE HE SAID HE COULDN'T HANDLE MY MOOD SWINGS. HE HAS SINCE CAME BACK AND IT IS STILL HARD. I WORK PART-TIME BECAUSE I CAN'T HANDLE A FULL-TIME JOB ANYMORE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND SUPPORT GROUPS IN MY AREA AND NONE EXIST. I AM HOPING BY JOINING THIS WEBSITE I WILL FIND PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND AND EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE THINGS I DO. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I NEED THE SUPPORT! palonis@att.net