all this is normal to me

[imahypercondriat]

Ok been on here a few times have lots of the ups downs highs lows every thing wat you all have really but ive allways been this way   its really confusing at 40 to suddenly realise that for the majority (normies) they do not have wat i have  it feels i dont no wat it feels can any one relate to this someone please.

[Jlfg]

I have been diagnosed with depression for many years and now on effexor.  I'm going back to doc because I think i was misdiagnosed and the antidepressants are making things worse.  I want to be evaluated for Bipolar.  We'll see.  It ***** knowing something is wrong, but not knowing what it is or sometimes how to put it into words how you are feeling.  

[Venora Moonwind]

Same here I thought it was normal to feel that way.Then when I got on the right meds I told my therapist I didnt feel right. She it explained it was the first time in my life that I fel "normal". No extreme highs, no extreme lows. I still have emotions. I still get stressed , happy ,sad., Just not the extreme reactions I used to get .
it has been the combo of healthy diet, exercise, regular sleep. , meds and therapy that have helped me to stabilize . Oh and No caffiene and sugar. These two really aggravate bi polar.
Love Venora

[RichReligion]

I was normal until I decide to fight homlessness. Life was coming down on me pretty hard, and I had to make something happen...I think that I had it longer than I think, seeing all the symptoms that are exposed on this site..I guess it got my attention one day...it was like a sudden draft for war.....I know I did stop taking napps, too..sleep is important..but how can you sleep when you don't know what your next meal is gonna be or if you're gonna have a place to lay your head next week?

[RubyShooz]

I thought I was "normal" for 35 years until I finally was properly diagnosed with bp.  I had been treated with only antidepressants all that time -- but last year I had a major manic episode that I could not ignore.

After discussing it with my doc, I realized I had been bipolar all along and that explained many of the problems I had over the years.  The mania made me do stupid things but since I felt OK, I thought all that stuff was normal, or it was other people's fault.  For example, I had 3 marriages and 3 divorces which I now realized were totally controlled by my undiagnosed bp.