After years, my long depression was actually diagnosed as Bipolar Disorder.

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　　Thank you for visiting my note. I'm a patient of Bipolar Disorder. Actually I do not like to call myself "a patient", in this introduction, I’ll do so for convenience. (Japanese/Female)

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   One day, during my long-term treatment for depression, my doctor told me, "You must be a patient of Bipolar Disorder". These words were very unexpected and I was so surprised.
   I was shocked to find out  that "Bipolar Disorder is a condition that I will live with forever".
　
   I can't be healthy again at all?

   It took me long time to recover from this shock. I believed that my depression would be cured and I 'm sure to go back to work in the future.
　
   However, after reading several doctors' books and documents from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, I began to think that this was definitely the case.  I also knew that my parent might be also a patient of Bipolar Illness, and he passed away too much young.
    I came to know a flyer for the Nautilus Society. It contained the earnest words,  "Some people of Bipolar Disorder have sad ends, so we need enough treatment".
   After that, I read various books and deepened my understanding of Bipolar Disease. There is an article by Dr. Joji Kandabashi (psychiatrist) that says,
"Even if what you creates seems childish, they are the best fit for you."
I'm encouraged to read that. Also, the "Polyvagal Theory" was very helpful for my mental stability. I feel that the exercises at the beginning of the book "Igokochi Nerve Approach" (by Sakiko Asai) are effective.
　Such things have helped me more than before.
　I'm finally getting some rules and ways to live easier beside I am Bipolar Disorder. I devised them myself. My rules, for example, sometimes I try not going out, not casually emailing to my friends, and not commenting on SNS.

   Even if you give up on a complete cure, I think there are ways to make improvements. I think they will make my life easier.
   The commitments, studies involved in dealing with Bipolar Disease may be unremarkable, but you should not give up on your own happiness. Let's spread the studies to our friends that it is possible to have peaceful days with some efforts even with Bipolar Disorder .