Bipolar Stories - NewLifeOutlook

October 16, 2018

Lisa: My Story

After two years of fighting these incredible lows, something new happened... My first manic episode. I was 15 years old when I was hospitalized and diagnosed with manic depression. The doctors said I was the youngest person they'd ever diagnosed with manic depression. I'd always felt like I was different than everyone else and like I never fit in with anyone. Then when I was diagnosed with a mental illness, I even felt more alone. I had so many different emotions. I wanted to know, "Why me? What did I do to deserve this?" I felt so much shame and embarrassment. I felt that my teen years had been stolen from me and I was full of anger.

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My Story: Nicole Shaw

Leading up to my diagnosis was beautiful and intense. I was manic for almost a year before my diagnosis. I pieced a timeline together with old Facebook posts and pictures and texts to help pinpoint when my episodes started. My episode started when I began working 60-hour weeks to be out of my dark apartment and drinking a fifth of alcohol a day to try and balance life. I was delusional and hallucinating. Both my delusion and hallucinations were in overdrive and were at times…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 4, 2018

My Story: Rosie

It took three doctor appointments, two referrals, and a complaint to get seen by a psychiatrist who didn't believe anything I told them. I thought I had bipolar after doing research. I knew this was more than just depression. After going from psychiatrist to psychiatrist, I finally found a fantastic psychiatrist who listened to everything I said, listened to my story, looked at my mood diary chart and I got the diagnosis of bipolar II. I was absolutely over the moon! Finally, I had an…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on July 23, 2018

My Story: Melissa

Before seeking help, I had so much rage in me, and it would build up and then when it did I would explode. It could be months worth of anger coming out because of something as little as spilled milk on the counter. I couldn't keep my thoughts straight. I had a million things running through my head and only catching bits and pieces of the thoughts. So that made me angry too.

by NewLifeOutlook Team on June 5, 2018

My Story: Faith Elizondo

I was first diagnosed in 2007. I was 27 years old, newly divorced and left my three children with their father. I believe going from being a wife and a mother to just myself took its toll on me. I couldn't sleep, I was so paranoid I left my vehicle on the road and began walking, thinking there was a bomb in it. I would leave my apartment in the middle of the night and walk miles, and on some days I felt the ground…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on December 20, 2017

My Story: Elly Lannager

In 2002, I began to see a therapist who noticed a change in my behavior. I was risk-taking, agitated and talking fast. I agreed to see a psychiatrist as she felt I was showing symptoms of mania. After a long conversation with the psychiatrist, I wanted to mention this to my doctor. When the doctors described the symptoms of mania to me, I was surprised at first. I just thought those behaviors were okay. On the mania scale, I ran a bit high. We determined…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on November 6, 2017

My Story: AJ

After many strained relationships and one failed marriage, I found someone who is living with the same condition as me. I lived 38 years untreated and Lindsey, my girlfriend, was the one person who told me it was okay to seek help for a problem I was afraid to face. It has been over two months since I started seeking help. Not only have my prescriptions saved me from myself but they helped me become the person I should have been all along.

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 27, 2017

My Story: Nanci Hemingway

I was diagnosed when I was 50. My doctor said that my tremendous drive to succeed at work and raise children kept this hidden. I can look back into my lifetime and see that I had it high school. A victim of bullies in school to the point where I developed an eating disorder and nearly died. To this day I can picture those women. Now I focus on taking care of myself, surrounding myself with people who are caring and I giving back to…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 20, 2017

My Story: Elizabeth

My earliest memory was suffering from anxiety attacks at the age of 6. When I was 11, I began to self-harm, I felt relief when I was angry or sad, but I kept it to myself. I was off and on a myriad of antidepressants until I was diagnosed with bipolar at 19. I dismissed the diagnosis and began my journey down a long road of crippling depression and anxiety along with the over the top manic highs. I realized that my explosive anger, mood…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 13, 2017

My Story: Joey

After a week straight of sleep, manic depression set in and I couldn't function. I saw a doctor who diagnosed me with bipolar II disorder. I was very unstable, suicidal, manic, and malnourished. I knew that on the outside, I look good, but on the inside, my brain had issues. I could no longer work in my profession, short-term memory loss was apparent, and unexplained rage started to occur more frequently. My advice to you is educate yourself on bipolar disorder. Learn everything you can.…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 1, 2017

My Story: Tracey

As a teenager, I had felt like I was so different than others. I always felt down and out and I never felt happy. I was always so tense and upset about everything. I started having thoughts that I would be better off dead. I finally told my mother and she got me help as soon as next day came along. For anyone who has a mental illness, I want you to be strong – we are all the same. Find the right medication and…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on August 23, 2017

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