Hi Peter, Hi Tim, I am having trouble. I was recently diagnosed with severe ADD as well as bipolar II. I am 26 and have had a terrible time in my life since about age 17. Just a lot of ups and downs, anxiety, poor health, depression, drug/alcohol abuse, and general instability. I graduated university with honors 2 years ago, but am floundering and have no clear career path established, am underemployed, and live with my parents as I do not make much money. I am unhappy and confused. I see my peers able to successfully navigate professional life as lawyers, doctors, journalists. And am frustrated that I am unable to do the same. I am seeing a psychiatrist and he has prescribed for me medications, but I just can't bring myself to take them. I am having trouble accepting these diagnoses of ADD and bipolar II as the cause of my past difficulties and tend to think that I am simply a f$ck up (excuse my language, I am sorry) who is unable to get myself together. What do I do? I feel that therapy is helping me immensely to recognize patterns of behavior and mood, but I feel that the longer I resist the medicines, the longer I will remain unhappy. How did you come to terms with the diagnosis? For me, it is a matter of science- I can't see that bipolar II or ADD can be quantified- there is no test, it is just a collection of symptoms. Can't I just receive therapy and work out these problems on my own? Or am I being a fool? Please help me, I don't want to waste anymore of my life being a disappointment to myself and unable to live a good life. I would like to be healthy and stable, I just don't know the right way to go.
Hi Peter, Hi Tim,
ReplyDeleteI am having trouble. I was recently diagnosed with severe ADD as well as bipolar II. I am 26 and have had a terrible time in my life since about age 17. Just a lot of ups and downs, anxiety, poor health, depression, drug/alcohol abuse, and general instability. I graduated university with honors 2 years ago, but am floundering and have no clear career path established, am underemployed, and live with my parents as I do not make much money. I am unhappy and confused. I see my peers able to successfully navigate professional life as lawyers, doctors, journalists. And am frustrated that I am unable to do the same. I am seeing a psychiatrist and he has prescribed for me medications, but I just can't bring myself to take them. I am having trouble accepting these diagnoses of ADD and bipolar II as the cause of my past difficulties and tend to think that I am simply a f$ck up (excuse my language, I am sorry) who is unable to get myself together. What do I do? I feel that therapy is helping me immensely to recognize patterns of behavior and mood, but I feel that the longer I resist the medicines, the longer I will remain unhappy. How did you come to terms with the diagnosis? For me, it is a matter of science- I can't see that bipolar II or ADD can be quantified- there is no test, it is just a collection of symptoms. Can't I just receive therapy and work out these problems on my own? Or am I being a fool? Please help me, I don't want to waste anymore of my life being a disappointment to myself and unable to live a good life. I would like to be healthy and stable, I just don't know the right way to go.