Tripolar

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TRIPOLAR: the story of a bipolar triathlete

This page has been created to share my story and journey from what felt like hell for several years while I was off the deep end into drug addiction, alcoholism, and other addictions, and unaware that I was suffering from bipolar disorder until diagnosed at age 27. I had been self-medicating with drugs and alcohol for years without realizing that was what I was doing, and it took a few more years after my bipolar diagnosis to accept that also. Denial runs deep in alcoholics, addicts, and people with other mental health issues. Today, I am over 12 and 8 months sober, and over 10 years being medical compliant with my psychiatrist and stable, as in not having an severe episodes in over 10 years. It hasn’t been easy, but it has totally been worth it. I finally surrendered and became really willing to do whatever it takes to get clean and sober and stay clean and sober by going to lots of AA meetings, working all 12 steps repeatedly, seeing my therapist and schrink regularly, and becoming more involved in service and volunteering; and by taking care of my physical fitness. I found a love for triathlon in 2009 after doing my first half-ironman triathlon that would take me onward to many more triathlons, including 12 ironmans, 1 double ironman-distance triathlon, 24 hour cycling and running events, and finish 7 x 100 mile endurance runs and lots of other ultramarathons and races. I favor trail running and ultra trail running events as I have found that hiking and running on trails out in nature best help to calm my anxiety and manic energy. I hope some others with similar struggles can relate and perhaps be inspired to recover in these ways also if they need to. I needed a higher power and professional help to get well, and I became empowered after finishing my first ironman triathlon in July 2010, helping me believe that we can do anything we want to if we pray, plan, and really put our minds to it.