So, I’ve spent the better part of two years without any major bipolar episodes. I’ve had
ups and downs like any human being, but no dramatic, severe mood swings. Mostly, I’ve
had to contend with my anxiety. Occasionally, stuff going on in my life would get me
worked up and upset and how I handled it left a lot to be desired. But that’s not major
depression or anything.

Well, a couple days back I noticed some symptoms I hadn’t experienced in around two
years. Holding a conversation was beginning to consistently get difficult. My husband
would talk and I just couldn’t focus. I’d lose track of the conversation halfway through
and be confused. I also noticed that when I’d try to talk, I couldn’t complete full
sentences. I’d get halfway through the sentence and be unable to finish it.

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I will be running an ongoing series, ‘The Truth Behind my Struggles With Depression’, over the next several months detailing some of my experiences with depression, medication, and several other things — starting with the first in its series, ‘Part 1: Diagnosis’.

Part 1: Diagnosis

So that my readers understand more so where I’m coming from, I figured it would be a good idea to provide a run-down on the mental illnesses I’ve been diagnosed with and struggle with on a daily basis.

I was depressive back when I was 8, but it wasn’t until I was about 16 that I started showing signs of manic depression. My moods bounced back and forth without warning, from one extreme to the next. I was officially diagnosed with bipolar back then.

Fast forward several years to the birth of my second daughter. I was suffering from postpartum depression and my OB doctor decided I needed to be put on antidepressants to alleviate it. Well, as it turns out, that was the worst thing he could’ve done! Bipolar 2 patient + anti-depressants = trouble.

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