Bipolar or Making excuses?

Hi all!

Was diagnosed BP 2 at 18, am now 22. I just graduated university with a very good GPA (3.65/4) but I feel like it could have been so much higher had I not had bipolar. I spent the first 2 years of my 3 years accelerated bachelors battling insomnia, suicide attempts, medication woes, etc. That obviously affected my grades.
Is it just excuses to say that I could have been better, or should I just be happy that I did well even though I do have what I consider to be a pretty debilitating mental health concern.
I don’t make excuses for myself you know? After all, most students deal with something difficult in their life and they still manage to do well. The truth is that I really enjoyed my major and adored most of my classes, but I am indeed very results obsessed.

How do you deal with “blaming” your mental health problems on shortcomings , failed potentials, and fearing you are just making excuses for yourself.

Thank you all in advance

Gabby

I try to ignore the fact that I have bipolar other than taking the medication and keep living my life as I normally would. I don't seek sympathy from people for it and I don't talk to many people about it unless it's my psychiatrist. On the other hand it does greatly affect your ability to live normally so you have to cut yourself some slack if you don't succeed at your dream school major/job or whatever your goals are.

I don't think you're making excuses. Being able to do that good in college is a lot better than most bipolar people. Heck, it's better than I could ever do. A lot of people with bipolar disorder can't even manage to go to college, let alone do that good.

Undiagnosed bipolar wreaked havoc on my early college years. Couldn't concentrate, couldn't sleep, things like that. I'm sorry but no matter what other students go through, bipolar thrown in the picture is like this monkey wrench. When it's out of control it does damage, when it's stabilized, you do well. But you've been through so much that was out of your control. I say, "We (those who have bipolar and it is not stabilized) deal with a lot!" In this forum a lot of us know how you feel and some may have gone through the same thing as you.

well said quietgirl; it has been a great struggle just to live this long, be proud of your achievements. I find people are generally impressed with high-functioning achievements when they know the truth of you. And of course you could have done better, but I suppose everyone can say that.

I'm 35 now. I went to college had good grades made a lot of money when I was younger. You have to accept it this illness will ###$ your life up. You're not blaming your illness what I see is your illness is dropping your expectations of yourself. What you need to do is be happy with what you are doing with your illness. Your illness will get worse at least mine did to the point I am almost fully disabled now. Yeah I could have done a lot of things and I could look at the past. Just accept and be happy with where you're at. I could not even function in college the last time I tried to go. You're just young and I think you're trying to come to terms with your disease but not using it as an excuse. I have had to come to terms myself over 20 years as well. I love to blame the bipolar for everything. But bad and good $#%^ still happens in my life regardless of this illness. Remember your illness does not define you. Never has to.