We had two new members at our monthly bipolar meeting last Wednesday. Both have lived with bipolar disorder for years, but both have only recently received diagnoses. 

The other members in the group have been coming for years. We are very comfortable with each other and were conscious that we could be seen as a clique and so wanted to be welcoming. We asked about their history and how they felt about their diagnosis (scared, anxious and angry), and then we asked them the all-important question: what do you want and need from this group?

It was a question aimed at the regular members too, as we realised we had never asked this before. The answers were varied and illuminating:

·       To feel I’m not alone and to have friends who understand.

·       To get information about the condition.

·       To discuss medication and its effectiveness.

·       To talk about diet, exercise and talking therapies.

·       To get ongoing support through the bad times.

·       To help deal with the stigma.

·       To help explain it to my family and friends and make them understand.

Asking these questions in the group made me conscious of the fact that I’ve never asked this question of you, dear readers. I know that many of you read but do not comment – either because you feel you have nothing to say, you don’t have the time, or you fear that the community behind the blogs who do regularly comment would not be welcoming. But I would ask you to comment today. And for the “regulars” too, please do answer this question: what do you want from these blogs? It doesn’t matter if you live with depression or bipolar disorder, or are supporting someone in this community, or just find a comfortable space here, I still want to know your answer.

I’ll certainly do my best to write more of the kind of thing you want.

Mary

A Moodscope member