people with mental disorders?

Question

such as bipolar etc....what was it like for you when you first found out, what was your first thought?
how was it telling family and friends?
were they accepting?

Answer 1

I was initially diagnosed with major clinical depression, which is not uncommon with bipolar. About a year went by where I didn't feel much better, and had to keep increasing and adding meds about every three months to get out of the depression cycles I'd get in. Finally, I started seeing a psychiatrist (highly recommended, by the way) and he then diagnosed me with bipolar.

That was several months ago and I'm feeling great (after being put on bipolar meds.) I can't tell you how much better I feel not having to go through the cycle of feeling normal, then depressed, then hitting rock bottom and changing meds. That was really awful.

My first feelings were actually that of relief, because this is something I've been dealing with for many, many years--even as a child. Simply put, I was just really anxious to feel normal, though normal for me was having bipolar, but you get what I'm saying ;)

Not sure what your situation is, but keep in mind that some doctors will originally diagnose you with depression alone (as was my case.) This is mostly because when you're at the low end of your bipolar, you obviously feel really crappy and see a doctor, he or she will in turn put you on antidepressants, then when you get back up to the high end (i.e. mania state), you really don't think anything of it.

The red light for this is if none of your antidepressants are working for you on a continual basis. SSRIs actually have the opposite affect if used alone in bipolar patients, however, if you couple an antidepressant with a bipolar med, that's a different story.

Everyone's situation is different, of course, but I do encourage you to tell your family, or those around you who you are closest to, first. Depression is often genetic (not sure about bipolar, though) so there's a chance someone in your family has it, too.

The important thing is to tell SOMEONE. Having a good support system is really the key in the recovery process. Often, those with bipolar feel like they can't tell anyone about any of it, which perpetuates the problem.

My only warning is not to feel like you have to tell everyone you know that you have it. Once you get on a steady regime of meds and psychotherapy, you become less fixated on the fact that you have a mental illness.

Answer 2

I'm bipolar: being diagnosed was a real double-edged sword. Firstly it was like being hit by a truck - it turns your world upside down, things that you believed all your life turn out to be symptoms, delusions. Gradually, I have come to accept it, although I still sometimes think there's nothing wrong and I should quit the meds.

My wife was angry. Very angry. Suddenly I was walking round with a label, an excuse for years of being an asshole. Nearly two years on, she still has problems with it. I have only told a few close friends and they have accepted it without comment.

Answer 3

Well, it wasn't me, but my husband with bi-polar. He was glad to have a diagnosis. But I don't know, I thought when family and friends found out, they just acted weird after that. They acted like he was a freak or something. After awhile, they just kinda forgot I guess and started to act normal again.

Answer 4

i told my family when i thought something was wrong, they thought i was kidding. then i bugged them about it and i was diagnosed.
friends didn't believe me, and if they did they thought i wanted attention. and some still do believe it's for attention.
but no matter who believes me and who cares, i'm still alone