YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Thank you so much for your words. I'm trying. I decided I will talk more to my counselor about it until I get more comfortable with the words and can say them to the doctor. I had another break that night and the next day or so. I called my aunt in a tizzy. I never talk to my family. While I know my...

Thank you. Thank you for being amazing. Today I talked to a social worker and a doctor. Everyone thinks I'm fine. Today I sat with a razor blade and watched me bleed. I'm not fine, block me for being controversial. Disown me for being a wretch. I don't know. There is something wrong with me. People ...

I am going through such a weird thing. My head is befuddled. My life is confused. No one loves me. Any I don't care. I lost my job, and pretty soon I think I may lose my life. I'm resigned. I feel peace. I'm crawling out of my skin but that's because I'm hyperactive. The truth is, I haven't left the...

Today I was brave. Today at my sexual abuse counselor, I told her about my breaks with reality. It's the first time I've said it out loud to another human being. I've given the doctors just enough information to diagnose me as bipolar, but not enough to understand the severity. I lie. Not because I ...

Welcome to your new home. Say anything. We like it.

It sounds cliche, but saying the one thing you want someone else to say to you...the one thing you don't believe about yourself...that you wouldn't even believe if someone said to you...say to to yourself in the mirror every morning. Before you do anything else. Even if you can't leave bed to brush ...

I have such a fear of meds for that same reason lawlessness, I don't want to be flat. That scares me more than mania or depression. Every day right now is a fight to take my meds because I'm terrified or a world without color. (I'm an artist, I'm not being hyperbolic) I understand how the sleepless ...

Lamictal 50mg (just started recently, and lied to the doctor when he asked if I was ready to increase. I know I should, but I'm afraid of being medicated)
Trazodone 50mg as needed to sleep (the lamictal has been giving me trippy lucid dreams. Anyone else have that problem?)

Thank you for the welcome. I want to be the best version of myself as well.

It's good to see other people discussing their mania. I think I have a love affair with mine. I just recently was diagnosed after a particularly bad crash from the most intense high of my life. Part of me is afraid I will never feel that up again if I keep taking my medication. I love my days when a...