[AnnieUnix]

Hi HippyHippy, welsome to this forum! I've gained a lot of wisdom and insight from members here, and I hope you do too. I am bipolar II, and I used to do some of the things you mentioned regarding classes and elevated confidence. But bupolar gets worse, and I didn't accept treatment. Eventually I had a horrible crash, which I won't go into here because it was a while ago and it's in my other posts. Yes, it's a hard thing to accept, but what I realized is mental illness is just that - illness. Not my fault. Sure, other people don't understand, but that's okay, that's them, and I don't share my diagnosis with many people, just those close to me who will understand. My life changed dramatically once I got treatment for it. It took awhile to get my meds right. But I am SO glad I did. Why not ride with this forawhile, take the meds, see the doctors, give it a few months, see how you feel then? For me, I didn't realize that my mind didn't work correctly. But once I got help, I could see what was going on. Treating bipolar isn't just meds, for me it's maintaining a consistent schedule of physical and emotional rest, eating well. developing a routine I am comfortable in. Read my other thread I've just started, "Huge Relief". It's turned out for me getting diagnosed and treated has been an incredible gift, I don't think I could have gotten through the last few months without it.