Just wanted to say "hi" and that I appreciate this site. I was surfing looking for Bipolar support online, and this was the second site I hit.

I understand the "hell" that biploar brings, and just wanted a safe place to talk about it. On the outside, I am a regular guy, great job, nice house, all the toys...but suffer on the inside all the time.

Looking forward to what we can learn from each other, and trying to understand how my faith can be restored after being chosen to have this disorder.

blessings!

Hello maxum40,

Nice to meet you. I am a 56-year-man with Bipolar II. Four years ago, I had a major breakdown with a week in the hospital. Since then, I have gone downhill steadily both internal and external. In the next three years, I tried suicide many times and began cutting. I lost a good joy of 14 years, then lost a lousy job of 6 months. One final suicide attempt--alcohol, sleeping pills and driving until I crashed. I did crash, but not severe. It resulted in a DUI and three days in jail. I turned to God. That was 09/02/06.

God has taken me on the most fantastic journey deep into my soul and out into the world. I started cutting shortly after the breakdown, and 75 days ago, He took away the spirit making me cut. He has baptized me with the Holy Spirit, given me the gift of tongues, and pulled four other spirits out of me.

I hope we get to know each other better in time.

Maxum40,
Glad you are here. Being Bipolar has its ups and down. If you need help let us know how we can help you. I am so glad you stopped by. We are very understanding and a caring group of people on this site. Whatever we can do to help you let us know.

Hi maxum40. I'd like to join in on the welcome.
I am bipolar I and also have PTSD. I've been riding this never-ending roller coaster all my life. But, officially diagnosed about 10 years ago. It's not been an easy road and I fight a battle every day, but the good side of this illness.........It keeps me humble, makes me appreciate things more and take them for granted less, has made me closer to family and friends, given me online friends I never would have had, and most importantly......has made me realize that I can do NOTHING without God.
So glad you joined us and looking forward to talking to you more.
God bless!

Hi everyone! *waves*

Oh my, life is so full of trials down here but this is not our home! I look forward to no more pain and no more tears! Sorry, I talk in exclamation points most of the time. Two years ago, I finally tried an antidepressant that worked for me (unipolar depression) and I am so happy to be free of that internal negativity that makes it so hard to function. I came from a household with a sexually abusive dad and I didn't have my eyes opened to the dysfunction until after he molested my 2 year old daughter. That's when I found God. Boy, there's even something good about hitting bottom in life...I felt like such a lousy parent. Three years ago when my daughter turned 15, she really started to be trouble as she processed her earlier abuse and her lousy relationship with her birth dad. That's when I started taking an antidepressant...thank God! It has been a real struggle with my teen daughter who just turned 18. She is now drug free and alot of money was spent on her in the last year with rehab to help her get the quality counseling she needs.

NOW, after that awful year of stress with her...it has triggered rapid cycling in my unmedicated BP husband. He was such a HUGE help to me finding her after she ran away from her dad's house and I just CAN'T give up on him and his denial and self medicating with alcohol. He is horrible to be around and so verbally abusive, but I can't quit on him. He didn't quit on me. He has even stopped going to church, which is so sad and I miss him going to church with me. Anyway, I jabber too much. Can we post pictures here? I would like to post a wedding picture of us 8 years ago.

Yes you can do pictures.

Thank you for posting that for me....

Not a problem