Day of Awareness

our newly update Guest Bedroom

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I had been battling depression and had no clue that it could even remotely be a Bipolar thing. I thought Bipolar people were crazy- they would laugh then cry, shout then weep. They were crazy, right? Nope. It turns out they were okay- they just needed the right meds.

After moving across the country, away from most family and friends, it took me 6 months to fall into a deep depression. I began anti-depressants and my depression flipped into a happy-hyper-all-day-and-night thing and I was diagnosed with something I will have for the rest of my life. Bipolar disorder. And I am okay with it.Now. I've been on the same medicine (lithium 900 mg) for the past 2 1/2 years (off and on for some trys at more babies) and I've been stable. I do everything that everyone else can do- driving, sleeping, eating, reading, folding laundry, laughing, playing. I just have to go to the Dr. every few months for a refill. Meeting me, talking with me- you wouldn't be able to tell that I am bipolar. And I grateful for that normalcy. So grateful.

And yet I know that I am a 30 days supply away from not being so stable. From not leading such a normal life that I do lead. For this reason, I have a supply of my meds in our 72 hr. kit and I make sure that have the refills I need, always.

It's been humbling to be so dependent on a medicine. It's been humbling to have to go on medicaid and go to the State to get refills. (At my first- and last- appt. the Dr. said 'wow, your bmi is right on target- I haven't seen that in a long time' um, thanks?)

I've tried to take this weakness and make it into a strength, and three years later I can happily say that I think I have, thanks to the support of my family, friends, doctors, my therapist and most of all, my Savior Jesus Christ.

This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

ps- did you know that 1 in 100 people have Bipolar Disorder? If you have 300 facebook friends, chances are 3 of them are bipolar- and I am one of them!

pps- do you love this bipolar "reveal"? I've done it before, but since I get new readers, I get to come out again and again!