BiPolar Bear
11-05-2009, 01:24 AM
Hey everyone,
First, I'd like to thank Tim (BPGUY) for setting up this forum. There is a real need for those of us with this damned disorder to support each other and to exchange information. So thanks, Tim! :wavey:
My wife and I live in Portland, Oregon. We're three hours - about 180 miles - south of Seattle and about 90 minutes from the Oregon coast. We've been married for 9.5 years and have no kids by choice (unless you count our two cats, which I do), although she has a 27 yr old son from her previous marriage. She's about to turn 50 and I'm 51. I'm an electrical engineer and she is an administrative assistant. My specialty is design of power transmission lines. I work for a large engineering consulting firm, and my wife works for a local electric utility.
I love cars, especially Mazda MX-5 Miatas. I have two of them, and post regularly on miata.net. Tim is active there as well, and he posted a message to let people know about this forum. So that's how I found my way here.
I was diagnosed with BPD over five years ago. As my wife says, she knew something was wrong with me, but never suspected it was BPD. It was quite a shock to both of us, actually. I mean, people with BPD are really crazy, aren't they? :D
Knowing that I was making her life miserable with my behavior was the motivation I needed to start seeing a counselor. The counselor suspected BPD and referred me to a psychiatrist, who confirmed the diagnosis. I've been on Lamiictal ever since, and the change between how I acted before and how I act now is nothing short of amazing. To be sure, I still have an occasional "bipolar day", but it's nowhere near as bad as it was. Not even close.
A couple of years ago I was also diagnosed with ADHD so I'm on ritalin as well. Oh yes, and let's not forget the sleep apnea. Got a CPAP machine a year ago, and now both my wife and I can get a good night's sleep (no more snoring!). Hopefully those are all the disorders I have. If my cars had as many things wrong with them as I seem to have, I'd junk them! :D
Fortunately for me, I have an awesome wife who loves and supports me :Valentine:, so I don't think she's gonna send me to the junkyard just yet. If only I were as trouble-free as my Miatas are!
Anyway, that's a little about me. Next?
First, I'd like to thank Tim (BPGUY) for setting up this forum. There is a real need for those of us with this damned disorder to support each other and to exchange information. So thanks, Tim! :wavey:
My wife and I live in Portland, Oregon. We're three hours - about 180 miles - south of Seattle and about 90 minutes from the Oregon coast. We've been married for 9.5 years and have no kids by choice (unless you count our two cats, which I do), although she has a 27 yr old son from her previous marriage. She's about to turn 50 and I'm 51. I'm an electrical engineer and she is an administrative assistant. My specialty is design of power transmission lines. I work for a large engineering consulting firm, and my wife works for a local electric utility.
I love cars, especially Mazda MX-5 Miatas. I have two of them, and post regularly on miata.net. Tim is active there as well, and he posted a message to let people know about this forum. So that's how I found my way here.
I was diagnosed with BPD over five years ago. As my wife says, she knew something was wrong with me, but never suspected it was BPD. It was quite a shock to both of us, actually. I mean, people with BPD are really crazy, aren't they? :D
Knowing that I was making her life miserable with my behavior was the motivation I needed to start seeing a counselor. The counselor suspected BPD and referred me to a psychiatrist, who confirmed the diagnosis. I've been on Lamiictal ever since, and the change between how I acted before and how I act now is nothing short of amazing. To be sure, I still have an occasional "bipolar day", but it's nowhere near as bad as it was. Not even close.
A couple of years ago I was also diagnosed with ADHD so I'm on ritalin as well. Oh yes, and let's not forget the sleep apnea. Got a CPAP machine a year ago, and now both my wife and I can get a good night's sleep (no more snoring!). Hopefully those are all the disorders I have. If my cars had as many things wrong with them as I seem to have, I'd junk them! :D
Fortunately for me, I have an awesome wife who loves and supports me :Valentine:, so I don't think she's gonna send me to the junkyard just yet. If only I were as trouble-free as my Miatas are!
Anyway, that's a little about me. Next?