Bipolar Depression

hello I am new on here. My doctor is wanting me to get involed with a support group and i really don't feel good about talking to people face to face that i don't know. I have had bipolar for a while now. I have been on lots of different meds. I am currently take Seroquel. I take in total 600mg a day. And at the moment we are trying other meds to mix with it to help me with my illness. A little about my back ground, I was sexual abused as a child and my mother has never told me that truth and she was a pot smoking and a pill taker. But enough back that, I believe my disorder started when i was in my teens and i was never fully disnoged (misspelled) when i was in my 20's. I really don't know what else to say on here. so if i am forgetting something let me know and if you have anymore questions please ask. I feel more comfortable on here then talking to some one in person. Thanks for reading.

I'm new here as well, but it appears that we have found a safe place to get support. I have never done well with in person support groups, but have in the past done well in online communities.

I can trace my symptoms back to my late teens but was nearly 40 before someone actually took notice and got me to get the professional help I needed. At the moment I feel lucky, I have been a year since a hospitialzation and am feeling "level". I have both a pdoc & counselor who are interested in me & listen when I tell them we need to make changes.

Well, thanks for listening & good luck.

Hi Brandy and Nance,

Welcome! There is something easier about "talking" to people through a computer rather than face-to-face, isn't there?

Brandy, I'm sorry to hear about your past abuse--hope you've gotten, or are getting some good therapy to deal with it. I found I needed meds plus therapy to deal with my issues.

Nance, you are lucky to have a good pdoc and therapist. Sometimes we have to go through several to find a good therapist--I know I did.

I just want to make one pitch for in-person support groups. It was really hard for me to go to my first meeting. It took me months. And it was very awkward at first. But now I love going and hate to miss it. I've also made new friends in the group. Plus, we get the lowdown on local docs and therapists because we're all from the same geographical area. So you might want to reconsider going to some meetings.

I was bipolar since my teens, but not diagnosed until my 40s. Better late than never, right?

Lynne
Read my blog at Lynne's Bipolar Blog

Lynne,
I do have a group (of sorts) that I am with at least once a week. We have "drop-in centers", which are basically social clubs for people with mental illnesses. There is a basic group who are there most of the time & then others that float in and out. My center is open 7 days a week & I go at least once. It is not quite the same as a group, but it works well. You are correct in that there is a real advantage to being able to get the low down of what is happening in your area with Drs. & therapist (hear the good & bad). I went through a lot of different ones before I got the ones I have. I wouldn't trade them for the world. But to have any outlet that is different than the center & my talk therapy is a good thing for me. I, also, on occasion visit the NAMI online communities - another good outlet.

Thanks for the welcome & I look forward to "talking" with you again.