Anyone know of how long bipolar lasts? Also, does it tend to get worse as time goes by?

As you might have guessed, things are getting progressively worse for me.

Thanks for your input.

Bipolar is a lifelong condition and it can worsten with time, but if you're medicated (and on the meds that work for you), you can live a stable, normal life. :)

lizajudy You didn't say what is going on. I don't mean to be nosy but am wondering if you are on meds and if you are taking them as prescribed. Even if you are on your meds and taking as prescribed doesn't mean you won't have an episode. Yes, you can have years of no episodes but I know that I still do not have the right med mix even though I do all the things my doc and therapist tells me too. I have an appt with therapist next tues and my shrink next thurs and I will tell them that I couldn't even get out of the bed all last week. I am just at the point where I can say hi to my family living with me in the house.

You have to hang in there and keep fighting the BP and continue to keep seeing your pdoc and therapist. Are you doing all this?

Keep posting also. It helps to see that other people are going through the same thing and that you are not alone.

God Bless :angel:

Yes everyone. I take my meds regularity however, my current psydoc is a joke (I am in the process of firing the jerk).

Ever since I left my guy in NYC, things have been deteriorating significantly. We can't afford it, but my husband is insisting that I return, no matter what the cost. As things are so bad for me, I think that I will take his advice.

I feel "ok", although I am having quite significant episodes quite frequently - with extreme psychotic tendancies. Also,people do not seem to like me at all. I don't know why.

Thanks for thinking of me.

I started having episodes at age 16 and am currently having one (i'm now 28)..as far as I know BD is a lifelong thing, but it can be managed with the right medication and treatment. for me, the episodes are now longer apart and shorter in duration.

I know how you feel about the financial strain as I am sure we all do. Even with insurance the cost of the office copays along with the meds copay cost me close to $500 per month. I also have fibro and see my therapist every month. I haven't been able to work in over a year so it really has put a dent in the financial picture. I am fighting with SSD now and have been denied at the reconsideration level so I am waiting now for a date with the ALJ hearing which could take up to a year. All of my docs say I should not work not only b/c of the BiPolar but the fibro also.

Are you working anywhere at this time. Have you thought of filing for SSD? It may be time for a change in the meds. There can always be a time when they stop working. I know I have been working with my doc since last August trying to find the right mix and still haven't found it. I want to get to that even keel normal feeling and I am never there.

I don't think that nobody likes you maybe they just don't understand the BP and it scares them. That happens with alot of people. Maybe if you have a few friends you could explain it to them when you are feeling better. Or find a good article on it for them to read. If they don't stay around, then are they really your friends to begin with?

I know it is tough whether you are in a depressive side or in the manic side as I am always in one or the other. It seems I am mostly on the depressive side and have been for quite some time. I tell my shrink everytime I see him, I keep journals and have started keeping a mood chart to take to him. I have a mood chart from about the first of August and I go to see him on Thursday and will take it to him. You may want to try the mood chart and see how it goes and take it to your doc.

Keep posting and hang in there. Your husband seems to be there for you so don't shut him out and let him know how you are feeling. Don't worry about how other people feel about you at this time. Right now you need to take care of yourself and get better.

Everyone needs to hang in there and pray for each other. I care what happens to all of you.

Everyone needs to keep posting because it does help.

Big (((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) )))))))))))))and God Bless and may his angels :angel: :angel: :angel: watch over you all.