My diagnosis changes again!!

[junem]

Recently I experienced my first documented hypomanic event so now I am considered bipolarII instead of just major depression. I feel ambivalent about this because both my mother and uncle were manic depressives back in the day when they were poorly medically managed. Therefore I do not have a pretty picture in my mind of the illness. On the other hand I am relieved because I think this is finally my true diagnosis and we can now get on with the bussiness of getting me well enough so that I can return to normal functioning and get back to work etc.. I am in the midst of reading everything I can get my hands on in reguards to my diagnosis of Complex PTSD, alcoholism and bipolarism. It has been 4 years since I crashed and burned and it has been nothing but an arduous uphill battle from there but thankfully I think I have gained some ground. Patience is a must in this endeavour and being gentle with my fallible self is paramount. Thanks for listening and letting me vent. Sometimes it all just seems a little too much.

[MootPoint]

Good treatment for Bipolars is available now. My sponsor and my s/o are bipolar and are managed very well by medicines.

Hypomania is terrifying. Jamie is Bipolar II and she used to have frequent hypomanic events.

I'm glad you finally got your diagnosis because you can get to work on feeling better. I imagine that you were doing poorly when you were treated for major depression.

Patience is a must in this endeavour and being gentle with my fallible self is paramount

Good for you! And good for you for learning as much as you can about your diagnoses.

[junem]

Thsnks for the reply Moot. Sometimes I just have trouble getting my head around all this. Then I realize that there are a lot more people in the world who are worse off than me and I feel badly. I guess it is all perspective and I ocassionally loose my way.

[junem]

While being hypomanic and feeling like I was spinning totally out of control on Dec. 2nd I ended up relapsing that evening. I remember just wanting to unwind and drinking is the only way I have ever done that. It was almost an automatic response to the horrible agitated racing out of control feeling I had. I am now trying to figure out what I could have done to prevent this and need input. Next week at a very intense therapy group I attend I am to discuss this relapse. I don't know what to say. An emotioal state is not a reason to drink. I have no rational explanation for this. And I hate to sound like I am trying to make excuses for myself. I just want to learn from the experience but what have I learned? Thanks for letting me vent. i am already nervous about this and it is 6 days away.