[gmike02]

Oh dear one: I am 62 years and have had such a life of ups and downs and marriages and embarressments to my children. How I would give it all to have been diagnosed early. The ONLY thing I have find out (VERY HARD FOR ME NOW) is the medications that will help; but you must stay with it until they find the right ones. And you must have a good counselor to go alone with it. I have one of the best - I am so blessed. It has taken 9 months and we are still working on the medications - you will just have to "take a year off for now" in order to have a full life later. You see a depression will come on or a manic will come due to EVENTS that beging to happen in your life. Reason for counselors along with the physpyst (can't spell) for medications. My doctor took me off Effexor (an anti-depressant) that I had been taken for years - since the death of my daughter and slowly put me on Lamictal. He said depressants DO NOT help bi-polar. My doctor also said it was not unusual for people to do drugs; alcohol; sex; I pray for you along with others and hope when you are down to look UP - SMILE - KNOW HE IS THERE - DOES NOT WANT YOUR LIFE TO BE ANYTHING BUT HAPPY - HE WILL HELP YOU. Find a group of people (church with good young poeple - there are some - begin talking with a pastor or someone in the church