Hi,
How’s it going?
I hope you’re ok.
I have a friend who calls himself a “recovering alcoholic.”
One day I asked him what’s the difference between a “recovering” alcoholic and a “regular” alcoholic?
He said, “I don’t drink.”
So what’s the difference between a high functioning person with bipolar disorder and just a “regular” person with bipolar disorder?
For one thing, if you were to look at a high functioning person with bipolar disorder, you’d never know that they even have the disorder.
They are productive, stable, and successful, and live a pretty normal life.
So what else makes the difference?
Usually their attitudes.
A high functioning person has a positive attitude…
While a low functioning person is just the opposite – they have a negative attitude.
Another difference is that one is willing to do whatever it takes to reach (and maintain) stability, while the other one isn’t.
Guess which one isn’t.
Right.
A low functioning person is like those people with bipolar disorder who you hear complain all the time, or blame all their problems on the disorder.
A high functioning person will do the things like I teach in my courses/systems:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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They will change their lifestyle to suit their stability.
They will eat right, exercise, and keep a good sleep schedule.
They will be productive.
They will take all their medications willingly.
They will see their doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist faithfully.
They will have a strong support system.
They will avoid what they’ve learned are triggers to a bipolar episode for them.
They will keep their stress and anxiety to a minimum.
They will watch for any signs and symptoms of episodes, so they can avoid them.
In other words, in one word, they are STABLE.
And they worked hard to get that way.
While the low functioning person is just the opposite.
They won’t be medication compliant (or will complain about having to take it).
They won’t have a strong support system. They think they can handle this on their own.
They won’t go to see their doctor, psychiatrist or therapist, because they don’t think they need them.
They will probably sleep too much and even be lazy and unproductive.
They will go through several episodes.
In other words, they are NOT STABLE.
What’s the difference?
Just what I said in one sentence before:
The high functioning person with bipolar disorder will do whatever it takes to get and stay stable.
Willingly and with a positive attitude, they will do WHATEVER it takes.
Are you doing whatever it takes to maintain your stability?
If not, you could lose it.