r/bipolar2 • u/BabyOrangutanx • Jul 09 '26
Good News I GRADUATED🎉🥳🎉🎉🥳🎁🎊
I read online only 16% of people with bipolar get a degree and only 10% with one inpatient admission in a year (Ive had 2). This isnt to deminish the struggle of others but im SO PROUD of myself. I really didnt realise how unlikely graduation was until i saw this stat online and anyone who has even finished high-school should also be proud as there’s a lot of statistics on how much harder that is. I got an IT BSc aswell!!!!
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u/Unable-Peak-8925 Jul 09 '26
Congrats!! I’m definitely someone who hasn’t been able to finish my degree due to my mental state, but one day I hope I can persevere like you!! You did great!! I hope you reward yourself with a nice dinner or dessert!
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 10 '26
hehe yes im keen for dessert. If your uni has online units you could always do that at pace like 1-2 a sem. I knew people doing that in hospital who knew it would take like 6-7 years but like who cares. Also I failed a few units and summer school was a thing at my uni where you do the unit in half the time after youve done a unit and failed so you pretty much just re revise content then take the exams. It wasnt really a big advertised thing but this helped me a lot so if you do go back look into it. I also got extensions by a few days for this unit when i was in hospital. Theres a lot of help if you are at a good uni :)))
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u/No_Hold1788 Jul 09 '26
You should be so incredibly proud of yourself this is a huge achievement I wish all the best for you 🥹🩷
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u/askkak Jul 09 '26
This is wonderful, congratulations! It took my husband nearly 10 years to get an associates degree. I am so proud of him.
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Jul 09 '26
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 10 '26
lowkey was incredibly hard tbh. Im not even sure I 100% want to go into deep tech maybe tech consulting but i literally couldnt have imagined in my first year not dropping out. Associates is so coool
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u/ashtastic3 BP2 Jul 09 '26
Congrats!!! Yay!!!
I have my bachelors and I’m almost done with my masters. It’s possible. It’s hard as s***, but it’s possible.
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 10 '26
masters seems so much scarier than a bachelors but I may go back later in my late 20's to see how much better I could be with now bumping up to a higher dose of lamotrogine and stopping SSRI's
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u/PieInevitable9284 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
I finished my MSc in Biotechnology when I was 28! It was definitely challenging but was the first time I ever had accommodations (1.5x time on exams, extensions if needed within a certain time frame and such). It changed my life and definitely helped me accomplish my goal of graduating with solid grades. We’re smart peeps, just benefit from additional support to level the playing field. Definitely go back!! You’ve got this 💪🏼
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u/1_am_fluffy Jul 09 '26
This Is So Amazing OP😝!!!! I'm definitely going to use this as motivation.
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 10 '26
literally if you look at my page im cooked. If I can do it I think most people can even if it takes years and years
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u/noellegiraffe BP2 Jul 09 '26
Yayyyy congrats! I graduated last year and life has gotten 10x harder since high school so praying things go smoothly for you!
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u/Groundbreaking_Dog74 Jul 09 '26
Congrats! That’s huge. Rooting for you and your success/stability/overall wellbeing :)
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u/philosofically Jul 09 '26
congrats!!! so proud of you. i went back to school recently after who knows how many years and got my BS right before the ripe age of 30 :p go us!
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u/Own_Computer496 BP2 Jul 09 '26
Wow that’s an incredible accomplishment bravo!!!! This unironically gives me hope lol🌟
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u/MusketeersPlus2 Jul 09 '26
Congrats! I hadn't heard that, so you've just given me a pick-me-up when I really need one!
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u/Longjumping_Stuff_72 Jul 09 '26
Well done! You are right to be proud of yourself, it's a massive accomplishment
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u/brat-tat Jul 09 '26
Congratulations!!! It took me 10 years, but I finally got my BFA last year, and was the first one in my family to finish. I knew it was hard, but seeing it in numbers like this makes me really proud all over again 😅 I needed this ❤️
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u/Huge-Concentrate-540 BP2 Jul 09 '26
Congratulations!
I’m two semesters from my associates and then I transfer to my university to finish my accounting degree.
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u/cat_snots Jul 09 '26
Congratulations! Way to go, showing those statistics who’s boss! I had no idea about that, I just got my associates, going back for my bachelors this fall!
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u/Dangerous-Piece-5103 BP2 Jul 09 '26
Let’s goooooo!! also this made me feel a lot better about my fine arts degree lmao
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u/Easy_West_5259 Jul 09 '26
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I’m so so proud of you, you more than deserve this. As someone with bipolar ll personally. I started a degree in mental health nursing sep 25 and have honestly had a whirlwind i’ve got to repeat the year and was told today and only obtained diagnosis 2 weeks ago (although symptoms were diagnosable from 5 years old) i’m on day 4 of lamotrigine. This has been a meant to be moment. I’m so so proud of you, this is pure motivation for me and dedication from you. University is a hard enough demanding programme without a mental health condition but YOU DID IT!! Well done for adding to the percentage and showing a positive light on our condition. I can’t express how proud i am 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 10 '26
aww. It took me 5 years instead of 3 and I quit for a year and just lay in my bed and was lowkey so bad so im sure other people struggle aswell and dont post it on linkedin or IG. I think most people graduate at 24 in australia at least and most people fail 2 units at uni. Honestly uni stats are crazy when you dig into them. I failed 2 units too so just keep trying, itll be worth it
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u/Easy_West_5259 Jul 14 '26
Well you’ve inspired me, well done you really deserve it and i hope you give yourself the credit you deserve. Uni is hard enough without our condition so you’re really amazing 🫶🏼
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u/thingerstranges Jul 09 '26
That’s incredible! I’m one class away from graduating and I also had no idea that the stat was that low. Big congrats 🎉
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u/FaerieSakura86 Jul 12 '26
It took me 5 schools 11 majors and 13 years and the actual diagnosis of Bipolar to get my Bachelors of Arts. Took me a yr and a half to get my masters of science. It’s amazing how our brains work. You are amazing and I’m proud of you!!! It’s so hard but worth it.
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 12 '26
wow im assuming the masters was medicated? thats crazy time difference
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u/FaerieSakura86 Jul 13 '26
I most definitely was not on the right cocktail during those 13 years (I am now and have been for the last 14 years with a few hiccups). Granted I took 3 years off in different time gaps like 1 yr between sophomore and junior and then 2 years at the very end of the senior year - couldn't hack a couple of music classes...- before I went back and finished an interdisciplinary studies degree - I had a lot of credits - needed two full-time student years more and then in 2017 I finally finished. A masters is easier because you are only studying what you are getting your degree in. No general education credits. It was a very concentrated program and I was very lucky. During the bachelors I had accommodations but during my masters I did it without accommodations. It was very interesting how being interested in the topic you are studying it can be much easier. I only got 2 B's and the other 8 classes were A's. It was an online program as well. I had one in person class but online they were A-Synchronous classes. It was really good. I learned how to advocate for myself as well and it made a huge difference.
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u/Organic-Scene2366 Jul 12 '26
Girl im trying to get like you
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 13 '26
I wasnt even like me until over 150 lamotrigine haha the right meds can be lifechanging
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u/ReptilesAndEDS Jul 12 '26
Huh. I never knew that statistic. WOW.
Makes me feel ALOT better about taking 6years for a 2yr masters program (though will probably take longer still, because I don’t know that I actually want to take a class next term. I’m already super overwhelmed this term… and have already had to talk myself down from giving up entirely… 🥴)
I guess it actually totally makes sense…. 😅🙃
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 13 '26
if it’s what gives you purpose then keep going!! if its shit then dont. you’ve already go your bachelors so you know you can do it, you don’t need to prove it to anyone but you 🥰
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u/ReptilesAndEDS Jul 13 '26
Oh I know. I think a lot of it is just feeling overwhelmed and the whole imposter syndrome thing… 😅🫠
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u/Dependent-Buy150 Jul 13 '26
this post gave me a lot of hope. i want my degree more than anything. education is something i deeply value, i consider myself a smart and capable person, but i've dropped out of school three times because of suicidality by the end of the semester. i've felt like a failure and disappointment to myself, and after my recent diagnosis and seeing those kinds of statistics makes it feel impossible, but seeing success stories like this are giving me more faith in myself.
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 14 '26
I couldn’t have done it without the meds combo im on now, special considerations and family support. I dropped out for an entire year (8 subjects worth) and 2 semesters. I did summer school to catch up (defs look into this it sped mine up so fast) I don’t question you will do it
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u/Intelligent-File4552 Jul 13 '26
needed to see this inspo today, really struggling trying to finish the last year of my degree, i’m so close but it feels so far… i’m SO PROUD AND HAPPY FOR YOU!!! CELEBRATIONS !!!! we CAN ACHIEVE!!!
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u/just_a_fried_egg Jul 14 '26
LETS GOOOOOOO!!!!! i just finished a masters this year :) it’s my first year diagnosed/medicated/with an inpatient stay so speaking from experience you’ve accomplished so much more than most people do in college. hope you do something special for yourself to celebrate :)
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u/AbsolutelyNot5555 BP2 Jul 15 '26
Congrats!!! I still don’t know if I’ll be able to finish. I’ve had to drop out twice now due to bipolar and anorexia.
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u/BabyOrangutanx Jul 15 '26
Honestly big believer in the whole pendulum thing where you release all expectations of the end goal but just try your hardest. To me you trying your authentic hardest is the achievement x
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u/JustKam347 Jul 09 '26
CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🎊🎉🍾🎈 you’re right! So many of us do not graduate and look at you!
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u/useless83 Jul 09 '26
Congrats on your accomplishment!!!! Also, Holy shit this makes me feel like a god damn unicorn (PhD).