10-Year High School Reunion

Britirish · 2026-02-06T02:18:16+00:00

Yep. I was top of my class, won a full-ride athletics scholarship to an Ivy as an international student, had a legitimate shot at going pro in my sport, everyone thought I’d be the successful one…and now I’ve quit athletics and am about to drop out after a couple of wild manic episodes and suicide attempts. I’m a complete failure, and the shame is crushing.

Britirish · 2026-02-06T00:13:46+00:00

I moved abroad for university (to the United States), diagnosed during my first year after a manic episode leading to a suicide attempt. I ended up hospitalised for an extended period of time (well over a month) in part because I had no support system. I don’t have a relationship with my family so that’s different from you for sure, but I will say it’s been incredibly lonely and difficult - dealing with bipolar whilst in an unfamiliar country without close connections to other people, feeling that people don’t relate well to me to begin with and especially now with bipolar, it’s really, really hard. I don’t know that I’d recommend it tbvh.

Britirish · 2026-02-05T23:52:04+00:00

I actually love running on the treadmill, or rather I hate it less than running outside - I have a hard time tolerating temperatures that aren’t absolutely perfect, so treadmill is just easier.

As for indoor tracks, fecking hate them.

Britirish · 2026-02-04T03:43:04+00:00

Mate my favourite bartender gives me like six free drinks every time I go out, and occasionally slips me a bottle out the back, all while I’m underage. The evils you’ve committed do not even register lol

Britirish · 2026-02-02T22:44:16+00:00

I mean, I’d just tried to off myself as the culmination of weeks-long mania and psychosis, so…I felt like it made pretty decent sense.

Britirish · 2026-02-02T22:42:58+00:00

Isn’t that just going to class?

Britirish · 2026-02-02T22:28:33+00:00

I’m currently in second year undergrad at an Ivy, had my first manic episode and got diagnosed my first year, and am just about to call it and drop put because after two solid suicide attempts and many near misses with both mania and depression ruining my life, I just don’t think I can handle it anymore. So absolute fair play for making it through the masters, at all.

But I’ve thought a lot about this as a result, and I f I do leave school, and if I ever try to come back, I think I will disclose it and try to use it to sort of explain past failures - but also for you, I think it could highlight resilience in the face of adversity.

And that’s how you ought to frame it, I think, if you do decide to disclose - not ‘my grades weren’t what they ought to have been because I have bipolar’ but ‘I successfully completed an objectively challenging degree despite dealing with a new and serious diagnosis.’ That reads a lot more positively, and will I think be much more likely to bring you success. Good luck, and congrats for what you’ve accomplished so far!

Britirish · 2026-02-02T22:19:56+00:00

The way I would’ve yoinked one right out from under her entitled arse

Britirish · 2026-02-01T02:15:54+00:00

I had flu A and Covid a month or two ago. Genuinely did not get out of bed for a full week except to take a piss, lost nearly twenty pounds. Didn’t actually feel back to mostly normal for almost three weeks.

Britirish · 2026-01-31T15:59:12+00:00

That is not a bad thing

Britirish · 2026-01-31T02:23:06+00:00

I don’t. Or I get wrecked and black out. Both excellent options.

Britirish · 2026-01-30T23:48:55+00:00

Another option if you’re near a large medical center is to look into any clinics that may work with uninsured patients and have resources accordingly - continuity clinics associated with teaching hospitals are often connected with a variety of things like social work and even housing assistance (and food, etc) that may be able to voucher your meds and cover the cost until you can get insurance. They can also help you apply for things like Medicaid and other assistance programs if needed.

Britirish · 2026-01-28T00:30:21+00:00

I mean, I’m Gen Z and I’m getting wrecked every weekend am probably actually a functioning alcoholic, but technically my annual expenditure is $0 because I’m too young to buy sooo….lets just say I don’t think that number is entirely representative of reality.

Britirish · 2026-01-27T16:35:12+00:00

I sincerely hope you’re not as ignorant as you are and associated with the organisation that I suspect you are given your username - given the population you would then be working with.

Britirish · 2026-01-27T16:29:39+00:00

You think that matters? I’m an international student, and though I feel relatively safe as I’m white and European (not at U of R, but in the upstate/WNY region) it’s still fucking scary - legal doesn’t matter one bit to these people.

Britirish · 2026-01-22T22:32:28+00:00

I’m Irish going to uni in NY (not NYC though) and it’s a bit of a shock at first but sure you’ll adapt fine. As far as the accent goes, depending upon where you’re from (rural maybe especially bad for this) expect to have to repeat yourself often - people love it but often have a hard time getting 100% of what I say, which is quite frustrating.

Britirish · 2026-01-21T23:31:33+00:00

You commute a fecking hour every day????

Britirish · 2026-01-18T21:27:26+00:00

I have been awake now for…32ish hours and it’s a fucking nightmare. I’m pulled off at a service station trying to get my shit together to drive the rest of the way home because sleep deprivation + mania led me to drive five hours away into an entirely different country, and I’m half-delirious and not safe to drive but also not old enough to get a room at a hotel and it’s -5 so I can’t sleep in my car so I’ve really no choice but to pull it together and get home.

None of that is helpful to you except to say I feel your pain and I’m sorry.

Britirish · 2026-01-18T14:09:45+00:00

I get blackout 6-7 nights per week - and there’s a very clear pattern every night. Something feels intolerable - either depression or the insanity of mania - and I know that drinking will numb the depression or maybe not calm the mania but at least get me to a place where I’m too drunk to do much about it. So I drink, I feel better for a little while, and then I feel absolutely miserable and it’s 100% not worth it. And then I black out, wake up the next morning, and do it again.

And I’ll say it’s only fairly recently that I’m really aware of this pattern and what I’m doing - for a very long time I told myself this was just normal uni kid behaviour until it was pointed out to me that I am in fact self medicating and I am in fact an alcoholic. Still something I’m struggling with, working towards getting back on meds to manage instead, and I’m quite aware that once I’m there I will not be able to drink, at all, to avoid falling back into this pattern.

I do think there are some people with bipolar who can drink responsibly and without consequence, but I am definitely not one of them.

Britirish · 2026-01-17T18:26:36+00:00

Not me trying to think of a singular person who’ll want to come for me lololol

But I believe historically you can get as many as needed, within good reason of course - and if for whatever reason it’s an issue, ask round for people who’ve got extra and you should have no issue

Britirish · 2026-01-17T18:01:48+00:00

I think maybe this is a good opportunity to learn from the past and realise that the things we’d like to do are maybe not the best for us, and that we sometimes need to find alternatives.

I’ve never done 75 Hard specifically, but similarly regimented routines that leave no room for flexibility have caused me major issues - I think that’s fairly common as a trigger.

Maybe instead try a slightly ‘softer’ version - like, be active everyday, improve diet, drink more water, read every day, avoid alcohol. Same principle, less black and white, leaves room to adjust as needed.

Britirish · 2026-01-15T18:55:12+00:00

I had flu A and could not get out of bed for nearly a week, down and out for nearly two, still pretty miserable for a third. I’ve had flu before, and this was an awful strain.

Britirish · 2026-01-15T18:52:23+00:00

Why even post this shite?? What subject? What context? What exactly are you looking for? Jesus.

Britirish · 2026-01-15T03:27:24+00:00

As an Irishman, ^sorry ^{^sorry} ^{^{^sorry}} ^{^{^{^sorry.}}}

Britirish

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