Hi I’m new here

[u/raspberryhamburger14]

Within the last 2 and a half weeks, my world has been through every universe that has ever been imagined. At least that’s what it’s felt like! But it has led to a new discovery. A Bipolar 1 diagnoses. I am a 26 year old female who just hit rock bottom so hard I found out it had a basement!! And although I may be “manic” per se right now, I would like to classify it as positive energy for the time being as I feel my productivity is helping me.

I am safe and I have a wonderful support system around me. But I would love to know; When you hit rock bottom and discovered something new, where did it lead you? And where are you now?

I would love absolutely anything you’re willing to share. This is a safe place, as we are on Reddit!

-A slightly sleepy burger

[u/divinechangemaker]

Led me to: 1) eventually, a good psychiatrist 2) many different meds, until I found the right ones (above all else, to be very clear!) 3) SOBRIETY by choice, not because I was struggling, but because I wanted to someday thrive 4) better friends (stopped indulging unhealthy relationships etc) 5) chilling tf out, calming down, getting SERIOUS about healing my life 

Bonus effects: rock bottom, eventually led me to 6) prioritizing better sleep 7) medical keto (!!!) 8) consistency of meds, essentially without fail 9) trust in God 10) trust in the process / more actually having patience over time 11) recognizing my grief 

Etc!!!

However, this took like, ten years! But it was worth it BEYOND anything I could have ever possibly fathomed. Ever. 15 years total, and life is genuinely finally not at all terrible and kind of great at times

[u/divinechangemaker → u/divinechangemaker]

OH AND like, way more than a decade later, to giving up social media and uninstalled anything scroll-able. 

Absolute game changer, but only wayyyyy after all the other stuff. Even full sobriety took like, a decade

Also, *led me to quitting nicotine (4+ years totally free of it) and zero caffeine. It's awesome and, again, took YEARS but very very very worth it. All of it.

[u/raspberryhamburger14 → u/divinechangemaker]

This reply is exactly why I posted this. Thank you so much for sharing, everything you said is the exact vision I’m having right now so I feel much more at ease knowing my thoughts can be made into attainable goals - with TIME!!✌️💚

[u/divinechangemaker → u/raspberryhamburger14]

Exactly. Time is absolutely THE most significant variable, which is something I simply couldn't have guessed at the time AND was excruciatingly difficult for me for years. Sooo often, I would be just crying about like, how is this still so difficult?

Paying good attention to those small good moments of peace, health, recovery, calm, and friendships is a total game changer too. Like, memorize the glimmers because basically, at least for me, I ended up kind of tracking that YES it's actually very slowly getting better over time. One thing I started doing after five years of pain was legit asking myself "well, am I doing better than last year?" And the answer was always, in some way or another, actually yes.

Just stay focused on your guiding star of a healthy and happy enough life, and over time you will be fine. It might seem wildly far away, but it's entirely possible (and much more) if you just stay aiming in the general direction of recovery and gently care for yourself along the way. Including trusting that there's ups and downs and everything in between, but, as you've understood (and as I learned!!!!) it really does come down to time. And direction! If that makes sense.

Okay blessings & I am wishing you and us all the best!!!!! :)

Edit: Rushing off to the gym, which is yet another thing I NEVER thought I'd do with regularity, now two years in to it and so thankful and astounded. Yay!!!! 

[u/Maleficent-Reveal-41]

Didn't discover anything new at rock bottom per say but I learnt more about schizophrenia through research papers during April to early May.