Recently Diagnosed with Bipolar

I am on disability because of bipolar and I've got many friends now with the same thing and in the same situation. Just start your paperwork with the social security office and you will be on your way. I got it my first time. It really depends how bad you are at the time.

My bipolar is so controlled now I am looking at going back to school so I can get off disability one day. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

I am bipolar. I live in Canada, and so recieve a disability pension from the province I live in. I am severely bipolar as well as epeleptic, and suffer from disabling arthritice. I use a walker or cane depending on how bad it is on any particular day. Here in Canada it depends on how disabled you are. Wether you live alone or with someone, and if you have any special medical needs influences how much you get.

I had private insurance long-term disability for my bipolar. I was in a severe depressive episode and just couldn't cope. I was hospitalized & had shock treatments for a month, which made it hard for them to argue that I wasn't disabled. I understand that it is possible to get social security disability, but it will probably initially be denied & then you'll need to get a lawyer to help you with the appeals process; it is not likely to be a very quick source of income. Good luck! A combination of meds & therapy is very important.

I don't know about the disability but I'm sure if it prevents you from working that it's possible.

Bipolar runs in my family and while I've never officially been diagnosed with it, my doctor has considered it possible. My granddad on my mom's side was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was in his 20s or 30s, but we are of the opinion that it was actually bipolar disorder which wasn't a well known disorder back then. My uncle(mom's bro) has been diagnosed with bipolar though.

Some thoughts from me just from what I've noticed about myself and being around my uncle.
1. Take your meds correctly, it will make a difference.
2. Try not to overindulge in any alcohol too much as this seems to bring on episodes and when alcohol is involved, they are BAD! (at least in my family)
3. Make time for you! Make sure to have you time where you cannot be disturbed by kids, husband, whoever. Whether it's a night or day out with the girls, a trip alone to have a mani/pedi or massage, or just you in a room alone gathering your thoughts. That alone time is crucial to keeping the racing thoughts in your mind in order and keep them from exploding.
4. I can say try not to stress out, but ya know that one's just too hard for anyone. What I will say is try not to take everything too seriously. Too often, I find myself stressing out to the point of feeling like I'm going crazy over something so trivial it's not even worth my time. If something gets you going, stop, take deep breaths, and count to 10. If needed, invoke #3, go into a room alone and just take time to relax and gather your thoughts. I have a tendency, as does my uncle, to overreact to things.
5. Therapy CAN help. If you can afford and find a good therapist, or even just a really good supportive and optimistic friend or a preacher from church who doesn't mind you venting to them, use that. Someone outside of the family who will not be quite as personally involved.
6. Keep a journal and make sure that if your family knows about it, they respect your privacy and do not go digging for it. Journals can be great places to vent. It doesn't have to be grammatically correct, just write down whatever you're feeling. This is good also if you have that therapist/friend/preacher but cannot contact them because of a weekend/holiday/etc. It will help keep your thoughts in order.

The biggest thing is keeping things in order, but also learning to be prepared for the possibility that things will NOT always go as planned. I find that if I keep my thoughts and my life in order, I don't get the feeling that I'm going to just explode as often. It's hard, but making sure I have routines helps, and a good support system is a HUGE factor. My husband is always there for me to talk to, and that helps me more than anything.

Feel free to contact me if you'd like. I'd be happy to listen if you need to talk. :)

A few years ago when I was still just dating my husband, he was working at Walmart and frankly couldn't afford his medication. He found a program that provided his meds but he was still able to work (thanks to the meds) for his own self esteem, and to be productive, and to be focused on something (which we feel is VITAL to doing well). It wasn't disability where you just sit home; and there were a few hoops to jump through: mainly, you just had to go once a month or 2 for a quick evaluation to make sure the medication was on track and that they were being taken correctly. If you want the steps to this, message me privately and I'll get the details from my husband.
We've also found a few things over 20+ years (we both have and are successful in controlling it)...
(1) When you feel good and know there's nothing wrong anymore, take your meds anyway, religiously, no matter how sure you are that you're cured.
(2) Good nutrition, plenty of water, and the right amount of sleep are REALLY helpful in helping you have the strength to control the swings.
(3) Alcohol and other depressants (pot, etc) are NOT good at fighting depression. Alcohol makes depression deeper and makes the manic times scary.
(4) It takes work. Concentrated effort to be self aware will take you a long, long way in living a good life.