You can probably arrange to see the therapist more if you can afford it.

I went to talk therapy for about four months after my last hospitalization. I've gone to see the psychiatrist once every three months for the last nine years and I will continue to see him probably forever. The meds do the heavy lifting for me and I don't feel like I need to see a talk therapist for anything now days. I had a lot of unresolved conflict from my past, but I worked through it.

I was thinking today that a major problem I had growing up was that no one in my family respected one another. I didn't even know how to respect myself. That led to major problems with substance abuse and the law which further contributed to a very bad mental health problem. Dope, jail, insanity- they all just feed on one another.

You and I are both lucky. You got help before you fell through the cracks. I fell through the cracks but landed on a pillow. It's not over for you, I know, and I understand why you are stressed. Just stick with the program is the best advice I can give you. You know how to get extra help if things get worse. I can't absolutely promise that things will always get better, but you've got a much better chance of living a good life now.

This is my first time on this group site. I am trying to deal with serious issues and thought this would be a good place to start. I am a long time visitor to DU.
I read your post re your mention of peer led support groups in the Milwaukee area, which is where I am, and I am wondering if you can give me a place to look for them. I did not know where to start getting help, but support groups are my preference. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry, meant to hit back on my smartfone to correct misspelling of rough, but hit enter.

Anyway, try to hang in there. Life just isn't fair sometimes.
Try to keep positive, if you can. I know, easier said than done.
Good luck.

prolly the most frustrating difference between mental health and physical health is that it just takes a lot of time, a lot of trial and error, a lot of mistakes, a lot of rolling around trying to sleep and swearing into the ether.
you have a lot of catching up to do, it will creep up on you slowly, and one day you will realize that things have changed for the better.
you'll be ok. the hard part is over, the slow part starts now.

When things look dark or scary and I don't trust my own judgement on what to do next I try to think of what I would want for a loved one or best friend if they were in my situation.

For example: I have been seeing an alternative doctor that has been very helpful for my physical symptoms which of course helps my mental state too. But this person is a no-sugar-not-now-not-ever person and although I radically changed my died I could not go no sugar (I do not have a high blood sugar problem). If I succeed in sticking with the diet during the day I get a miniature chocolate bar at bedtime as a treat. That has kept me for months now from binging on my bad days. I was threatened to have real medicine cut off this time and I came home rather upset because I hate changing doctors but then I thought what would I want for my sister and in this case it would be to change doctors because although she may possibly be right about the sugar it is not standard treatment for what I have it is more a personal natural-path thing with her. Wouldn't you think at 61 and I have never had an eating disorder or chemical dependency and with my life before Prozac it was the path for others in my family with my kind of depression/anxiety. (ie I have to make this stop!) Even though I do my best to comply with my doctors I just don't think my one miniature candy bar is what is keeping me from being better.

I made the decision and stopped ruminating and fussing about it.

I have no idea if that thought process will help for you but it seems to clear some of the uncertainty to it all.

Things will get better, a lot better but it will take time and work.

Theres no harm making them earn their money and it's something that helps them answer their own "what the hell am I doing here?" questions too.

I have started back with the same therapist I saw for 7 years in the early 2000's. She is excellent, and she knows and remembers my story very well, so that is a big plus just in that I don't have to spend weeks (and therefore $$$$) providing the "back story" to a new person.

For me, I rely heavily on my Mom and husband. I know that I am fortunate in this. If you do not have family to help, you should find a support group in your area. The groups in my area are affiliated with local churches. It is very important to have someone you can talk to until you feel comfortable living with your MI by yourself.

Good luck. I have found in my life, that even when things seem to have fallen to pieces and there is no way out, something comes along to save me. Just know that every tomorrow is a new day and always brings the possibility of something new.

1 is the hospital group. The other is the local bipolar support group.

Right now I don't have the muscle tone or flexibility. But in the future I may. A friend if mine and his wife do the hot yoga, she had MS and it helps her.