I admire how thoughtfully you’re dealing with this situation. Congratulations on that — it’s really not easy. I’m sorry to read that you’re living with bipolar disorder. That is definitely a lifelong journey. Do you have good support for it?
As for how you’re evaluating your slip, I see it in a similar way. You’re on a completely different level than you were at the beginning. It’s not a total setback, but just a bump in the road.
Day 4fitty. Up early to turn 43 today 
. Makes me miss my Mom like crazy. I honestly can’t fully believe she is gone. Life feels heavy sometimes when I think of the impermanence of things. Have made it a point not to take health and time with loved ones for granted. Her passing last year was actually part of what snapped me into stopping the chronic relapse cycle and led to a greater understanding of things. I want be sober now. I want to enjoy the life I have while I have it. I cant do that drunk or hungover. 
Happy birthday!!
Hey all, checking in on day 2010. I hope everybody has a good one!
Happy birthday!
I live in London and I’m lucky enough to have a very good GP. I have a therapist who prescribes the big hitting meds that I need but the one thing I do not ever take is Lithium. I’ve found the side effects make it difficult to work and that’s a complete no for me.
My family are extremely supportive and have had to deal with a lot since I started showing signs as a teenager. There is a lot of stigma over bipolar in particular, and also a lot of false diagnoses as it requires years of being monitored by a therapist during bouts of suspected mania. It also is a spectrum in itself and I rarely suffer from depression; I am on a level and have 1/2 week long bouts of mania at intervals that can be affected by my life situation.
I’m trying to monitor the signs but once inside that period of mania it can be very hard to see the wood for the trees. It’s why I’m so fearful of it.
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