My name is German and I am a 37 year old male.

I have a bipolar disorder since I was 18. I'm 37 now and I've finished a career in business administration and I work at a nursery. I have a son that is 2 and a half years. I lived in Phoenix for a year after high school. I live now in Mexico. There's been more than a year since I had my last episode of mania. I usually have them in the month of November, that is when my birthday and other important changes occur, it's also when the whether changes to winter. I'm very happy that this year I managed very well and I feel stronger though I keep thanking good care of myself. I'm taking medicines as lithium, carbamazepine (tegretol), paxil, and a combination of diazepam and sinogan to sleep. I think a lot of things have helped me to manage with my illness. First, I accept it. Second, I take my medicines, and third, I have discipline in some things such: I don't drink alcohol or coke, I try to sleep at least 6 hours in a row daily, I take zyprexa when I'm feeling irritated, I don't do too much exercise, I used to play 2 or 3 hours of basketball daily. I've reduced it to half an hour 2 or 3 times a week. I've found in my family, wife, son, fathers and brothers my greater support. I can say I've lived a beautiful life, I've accomplished many things that I dreamed when I was a child. I'm thinking about having my second child, though I'm not sure yet. I now it can get tough. Even if I cannot have another son I feel very happy. My son is beautiful and very loving. I don't know if I can share all this things with people that have the problem or that are affected. My first language is Spanish. I don't remember very much about the past. Before, I had the problem that I felt people wouldn't forgive me because I did something during my episodes of mania. I learned that first I have to forgive myself and after that is not very important if they don't forgive me. I think that reading and realizing everybody has gone to big problems in their life, either sick or not, has made me aware of how life is. I have to have more discipline. I've had problems with my wife yes, but talking when I'm feeling good has let her know that I've had a bad moment. She already know about my mood swings before we married. My sexual life hasn't been a problem. I was discipline when I was a kid, I'm just more now. No more hangouts, yes, but I have more important things in my life, best of all, I'm very happy and trying to help.

My email is: gpablos66@hotmail.com