new diagnosis

[Rising Phoenix]

I am now bipolar, panic disorder with agoraphobia and borderline personality disoreder...

explains a lot, especially why my bipolar meds weren't really working

starting DBT therapy soon

I posted this in the lounge and while most people were suppotive, others suggested that my diagnosis meant I was dangerous and went so far as to suggest I have my post removed. I am the same person I always was, my diagnosis does not make me any more dangerous or crazy. I want to surround myself with people who understand that.

Wish me luck

[TZ]

1. good luck

And yeah, I don't like to discuss mental health issues elsewhere on DU (except in the most general terms) because really, I don't think most people understand MH issues very well. And forgive me, but its laughable to think that anyone with agoraphobia is going to be dangerous to many people. Sigh. Well sounds like you have a few challanges to deal with there. Hope you get good help.
Best wishes

[Rising Phoenix]

2. thanks for the well wishes

[no name no slogan]

3. DBT is good stuff-- stick with it (and best of luck too!)

DBT is one of the few things that really can help Borderline outside of very high powered meds. You're strong, you'll get through this too. Best of luck. And to those who say Borderline people are dangerous, they need to do some serious reading. :hug:

[Rising Phoenix]

8. thanks!

[Larissa238]

4. *gasp* a mentally ill person here at DU? What's next? A Gay????

Good luck with that. I know where you are coming from to a certain extent (Bipolar 1 with psychotic features, Borderline, and I used to have really bad anxiety linked a bit to agoraphobia) and it's really offensive to me to think that someone will try and have a post removed just because you state you have mental illnesses. You know what? Yeah, I do have all these disorders. Yeah, there are rare times when I'm dangerous. But simply stating that I have mental illness(es) does not mean that I am dangerous at the time. I'm glad I didn't see that post, or else I would have gone off on the person.

It's just like when a year or so ago, a bipolar guy, not on meds, said he had a bomb or something on a plane and the flight got cancelled. You had some of these people claiming that bipolar people all had to be locked up and crap.

Here, though, I find to be a pretty safe place to talk about your problems. If someone comes in here and calls us crazy, we can all jump on them and tickle them or something :)

[TZ]

5. here's what odd about people who get all fearful when you post

that you have a mental illness. How the heck are they going to hurt anybody on a message board anyway? Sometimes I think people believe that you can "catch" a mental illness by just reading about it on a board....:eyes:

[Rising Phoenix]

9. and me being bisexual too!

:rofl:

[mopinko]

6. hugs

hugs and come here. it does sadden me a bit that i know there are a lot of folks here struggling with this stuff, but not many post here. so many people out there who are connected, when they wouldn't otherwise be. thank gawd for the internets, or tubes or whatever they are. ;)

[Rising Phoenix]

7. thanks for the hugs....

but careful being near me.... I'm dangerous :eyes: :rofl:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Ohh, grrlfriend.

All blessings to you. Also, don't condemn those who don't understand what a mental health diagnosis does and doesn't mean. Our society is still largely in the middle ages when it comes to mental health issues.

Remember: Living well is the best revenge. ;-) :hug:

[varkam]

11. DBT can be very helpful for a lot of people.

I think even people without any sort of diagnosis could benefit from it as well. Good luck to you :pals:

[EFerrari]

12. Good luck, Rising Phoenix!

Please let us know how the DBT works for you. :hug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. Rising Phoenix is an appropriate handle

You're well on your way back.

Borderline is a tough diagnosis, so badly stigmatized. You will need to be careful to whom you divulge this information. It's a damn shame.

Don't take on 'bipolar' or 'borderline' as an identity. They are clinical diagnoses, not value judgements. I think that at some point in the next few decades there will be a major paradigm shift in how we understand mood and personality disorders, but for now, we are stuck with the symptom-based taxonomy now in force.

In the meantime, take really good care of yourself and give your DBT all you got.

[Rising Phoenix]

14. thanks.... I will

already started the daily monitoring sheets....and arranged my own transportation....as I can't drive due to the agoraphobia.....now I don't have to depend on my mom for a ride....all the indepence I can get is good.

[EFerrari]

15. Have you started DBT? Doug and I used to do it at the kitchen

table because for the life of me, I couldn't find anyone in f#cking Los Angeles County to do it with him. (In the end, that just meant I learned something, too.)

Thinking of you,

B.

[Rising Phoenix]

16. thank you

starting this week....have been doing my mood and behavior charts for about three weeks....so far I have learned that I am fucked in the head and my thought process is severly impaired...but I guess realizing that is when you can start to change those behaviors and cycling negative thoughts...

wish me luck! I'll keep you all updated

[Jaap]

17. There's nothing wrong with you..

..don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Okay, it can be a hard life sometimes, specially the panic part just isn't fun (bipolar can be), but when you accept it you're half way through!

And remember: 'normal' people are soooo boring!

Good luck and try to meet people with the same 'add-ons' - I guarantee you you'll have a laugh or two! (edit: and you'll learn a lot)

[Rising Phoenix]

18. thank you so much

I don't feel broken... I feel special