Can a rape victim and a biplor patient leads a normal life

What you survived has apparently left some seeming indelible psychological damage. The reality is that you can heal – even the most severe forms of trauma can be overcome with time and work. Time does not heal all wounds. It is the work you invest in during that time since the trauma that makes all the difference. 

 

I imagine what you mentioned is not easy to have lived through let alone talk about, but I admire your strength and courage in reaching out for help. You asked if a rape survivor diagnosed with Bipolar disorder can lead a normal life. I am not sure if I can answer this question to your satisfaction without knowing your definition of “normal.” What I can say without equivocation is that change is possible. People can heal from their past trauma, including rape survivors. You can additionally manage Bipolar disorder with the proper medication regimen, psychotherapy interventions and lifestyle changes.  It sounds like you also engage in self-injurious behaviors, self-reported anger issues, and insecurity. Self-injury, anger, an insecurity are all very common and normal responses to trauma. When you work on healing from this trauma, you will hopefully also learn healthy forms of coping to replace the self-harming as you get to the root of your anger and insecurity. 

 

In spite of all of this, it seems like you have a goal of being a successful woman. I believe you are capable of much more than you may even think possible. The fact that you survived something so devastatingly traumatic, and live with a mood disorder to boot, speaks to your strength. You overcame something that some people do not live to tell the story about.  I encourage you to adjust your word choice as words make worlds. What you speak to yourself becomes your truth. For example, you identified yourself as a “victim.” You are not a victim: you are a survivor. There are many people who end up living what society would deem a “normal life” and “successful” despite having survived rape and living with a mood disorder diagnosis.  It is possible that you may have even come across some of these people in your daily life unbeknownst to you! Not unlike these people you may have come across in passing, your past trauma, too, is not something anyone will know unless you choose to divulge that part of your past with them. You have the power to share your story if you wish.  Speaking of which, I encourage you to work with a therapist to partner with you in your journey to healing and achieving your goals of normalcy and success.