Unanswered Prayers

[lightningandsnow]

Does anyone remember the song "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks? The chorus is this:

"Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

I don't believe in the "man upstairs" version of god, but I really believe this is true. Recently, I was diagnosed with one of the milder bipolar disorders (either BP II or cyclothymia, they're not sure which one yet), and part of me was really angry about having been misdiagnosed in the past. However, I realized that my misdiagnosis was a blessing in disguise - because I was on the wrong medication (anti-depressants) and became manic, the doctor was able to catch the bipolar pretty early. I'm turning 18 in a little over a week. With early diagnosis and treatment, I have the potential to live a full, happy life. Even with my other mental illness, an anxiety disorder, I feel like it has taught me a lot. I feel old for my age; and I've really learned compassion for others who are having a hard time through my own experiences.

When I was 16, I dated a girl that I was really falling for - only for a very short amount of time, but everything had happened so fast in our relationship. She broke up with me very abruptly, for reasons she said had nothing to do with me, and asked me not to contact her again. A week later, I met a boy that I developed a huge crush on. A week after that, I asked him out. We were inseparable for six months. I was madly in love with him, or at least as in love as you can be at the age of 16. When he broke up with me, I was devastated. It took me a long time to get over him, although finally getting over him and dating again taught me about the inner strength I didn't know I had.

Just remember this. When the universe doesn't give you what you want, an important lesson, a blessing in disguise, or something better might be just around the corner.

:grouphug:

[Deep13]

1. So what kind of "blessing" is bipolar disorder?

We wouldn't need strength if we weren't so prone to suffering?

[lightningandsnow]

2. The blessing, for me, is that it was caught so early.

Although I kind of see everything as a learning experience.