Lizabeth,
You know, the more we post, the more we find that we have things in common with folks in this little community that we're developing here. You may have read in another post of mine that my original knee-jerk reaction to my Bipolar diagnosis was based on my prior experience in the mental health field. Because, as a young professional, I worked doing emergency psychiatric intake. I saw people at their very worst. I simply could not reconcile that picture of bipolar with my own situation. I thought that my pdoc was condemning me to a life of rotating, out-of-control in patient hospitalizations. I had a lot to learn.
My doctor had to do much assuring, combined with printing off many research papers for me read, so that I could to settle down and accept my diagnosis and to understand the difference between "soft" bipolar and bipolar I. AND... further more.... for me to understand that my experience of seeing people at their worst was not the norm. It was the exception.
You are so newly diagnosed. Please be gentle with yourself. You're getting the help that you need, finally. And, when things get scary, remember to breathe deeply through your nose and out through your mouth :)
Be well,
Jules
Joined: 01-03-2009