bipolar one, real life two.

I am a 27 [31] year old social worker living in Brooklyn, NY. I live with Bipolar Spectrum Disorder (Bipolar I, most recent episode manic if you're checking the DSM-IV-TR), and I also work with adults with this and other SMIs [severe mental illnesses]. I know that those of us living with "bipolar," as it's known, tend to withdraw, oscillating between feeling crazy or ecstatic or alone or worthless. So here is my forum for not-withdrawing when I want to, and giving you a place to visit when you're feeling the same way. For those just-diagnosed: it gets better. For those of you living in recovery: share your stories with us. And for those of you here because you love someone with Bipolar....thank you. Thank you for loving us, and not giving up on us, and reminding us that there is a level ground on which we can land, no matter in which direction we have flown.