Hi Virpi, welcome to DUAL DIAGNOSIS. i'm about the only member that writes here, so i see it fitting i welcome you.
i'm an alcoholic, clinical anxiety/depression and bi-polar. things have been going well for me this week. last week i spent 5 days in bed with major depression.
part of my depression comes from having no money to spend on food this month. bills had to come first. (limited income). i told a friend of mine of my money problems. the next thing i knew, the local food pantry was at my door, with 8 bags of grociers. all i had to by was milk, eggs, bread and coffee. sometimes micacles do happen.
i wish you the best. if you ever need to talk, i'm around.
God bless
Wendy
Discussion Topic
New member here: Hello!
Posted on 05/04/08, 04:52 pm
Hi, I just arrived. Glad I found you.
My name is Virpi, I am two years and four months clean/sober, and I have been in several twelve-step programs. I probably qualify for most of them, because I become obsessed about almost anything (not unusual for people with Bipolar Disorder), but my main group is NA.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Bipolar-I Disorder, and apparently have "classic" manic-depression. First major manic episode happened in the spring-summer of 1987, but I was not diagnosed at the time. This second and last full-manic episode hit nineteen years later, but this time I ended up in lock-up and a psyciatric hospital... and was therefore carefully observed for several weeks and finally diagnosed.
The diagnosis has turned out to be a big relief for me, because I have finally found something that explains so much of my life. So many of the various symptoms and characteristics (including the tendency for a majority of people with BP to have problems with drugs or alcohol) fit me perfectly. I believe I could be a poster-child for BP!
The diagnosis has been good, because (despite moments of stigma and other possible social problems) I now have something which I can study, learn about, and maybe find practical suggestions on how to cope.
I believe I can learn from others with other disabilities. There are people out there who have learned how to live without limbs, vision, hearing, and more. There are addicts in recovery (including alcoholics) who have learned to "live life on life's terms." There are people with mental health problems of all kinds who have been helpful and supportive for me. I am willing to learn from anyone, no matter how sick or how much clean-time or sobriety they have had... even if it has only been for one day.
It is good to be here. Thanks Jay for starting this group. Hope it takes off.
All the best,
Virpi
My name is Virpi, I am two years and four months clean/sober, and I have been in several twelve-step programs. I probably qualify for most of them, because I become obsessed about almost anything (not unusual for people with Bipolar Disorder), but my main group is NA.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Bipolar-I Disorder, and apparently have "classic" manic-depression. First major manic episode happened in the spring-summer of 1987, but I was not diagnosed at the time. This second and last full-manic episode hit nineteen years later, but this time I ended up in lock-up and a psyciatric hospital... and was therefore carefully observed for several weeks and finally diagnosed.
The diagnosis has turned out to be a big relief for me, because I have finally found something that explains so much of my life. So many of the various symptoms and characteristics (including the tendency for a majority of people with BP to have problems with drugs or alcohol) fit me perfectly. I believe I could be a poster-child for BP!
The diagnosis has been good, because (despite moments of stigma and other possible social problems) I now have something which I can study, learn about, and maybe find practical suggestions on how to cope.
I believe I can learn from others with other disabilities. There are people out there who have learned how to live without limbs, vision, hearing, and more. There are addicts in recovery (including alcoholics) who have learned to "live life on life's terms." There are people with mental health problems of all kinds who have been helpful and supportive for me. I am willing to learn from anyone, no matter how sick or how much clean-time or sobriety they have had... even if it has only been for one day.
It is good to be here. Thanks Jay for starting this group. Hope it takes off.
All the best,
Virpi
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Reply #1 05/06/08 3:56pm
Welcome
