Hi,
How’s it going?
I hope you are doing well.
Hope you have a great day today.
Yesterday I got into a big argument with someone that basically said, “oh poor me, I have bipolar disorder my life is a nightmare….You don’t understand what it’s like Dave. It’s impossible to do anything.”
I disagreed of course and tried to explain that bipolar disorder has many advantages.
Think I am out of my mind?
Do you think there are any advantages to bipolar disorder?
I DO!!
I try to get people to see the positive side to things all the time, because I’m a pretty positive person to begin with, but this is a pretty hard topic to get people to see the positive side of.
But at least I try to get people to see the good and the bad side to the worst of things, even a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which is some- thing I go over in my courses/systems:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
With that being said, I know you live with bipolar disorder every day, so you experience the bad side of it. But let’s try to see if there are any advantages to it.
I talked to Bill and Michele about it, because they’re married, and they both have the disorder, so they both see it from being survivors AND supporters.
They said in their opinion, there ARE some advantages:
They were diagnosed in the first place because they were really stressed out in the workplace, so these are some of the things they now see as advantages:
- They are out of the workplace.
- They have less stress.
- They live a simpler life-style.
- They get to spend more time together.
- They are more creative with their time together (ex. They go on a date night every Friday, even though they’re married).
- They are closer to each other now (fighting the disorder together).
The main thing is that dealing with bipolar disorder is not a death sentence, for one thing. although there is no cure, there at least is treatment.
And with treatment, as you just read about with Bill and Michele, you can live a pretty good life.
The thing is, that good life depends on a good attitude. If you have a negative attitude, you’re going to be focused on the disadvantages of the disorder.
But if you have a positive attitude, you can be focused on the advantages of the disorder, like the examples above There are other advantages that I came up with, too:
- Increased creativity.
- Learning to manage the disorder
- Learning to manage stress
- Learning to manage time
Can you think of some more?
Hey I have to run. Catch you tomorrow. Have a great day!
David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.
Post responses below.
I read this morning in a magazine that Omega-3 would and could help with bipolar disorder. Is this true? If so, what type do I need to get and how much should they take and how often.
I definately agree that there are positive sides to having bipolar disorder. Benefits that I have noticed that David Oliver didn’t list are:
-Increased physical and mental ability when in a manic part of a mood swing, I tend to get in “the zone” a lot more and my mind and body react faster and run smoother.
-Having Bipolar Disorder means that you understand about it and can relate to other people that are having problems with it, you can help them through rough patches.
Dear Dave,
I was diagnosed with Bipolar two years ago. To me, I think it is an advantage. I retired from teaching after teaching for thirty and a half years. I am relieved to know that I have Bipolar because I suffered from years with depression and hypomania. Now I am an even keel so to speak. I have more time to spend with my mother who is in a nursing home and I also make time for myself.
Thanks for all you do.
Sue
the creativity thing is arguable – I am a bipolar artist/writer and it is the depth of dispair and sadness that often draw me to write about them, there is a certain beauty to it, albeit haunting at times. As for mania, if you can look at it in a lighthearted way you can get a really good, maybe dark, but good sense of humor and alot of funny incidences to relate, that is, if you have a decent,caring audience. my creartivity is sparked by the intensity (and memory of) of emotion, so my bipolar does make me an artist. some don;t have this though. go figure!
i’m not doing good with is man i’m up and down not good at all i need some one to talk to abont this
There are many things I have learned from having bipolar that I have been able to but to good use in other areas of my life. the one I use all the time and find most useful in almost any situation is the breathing skills. These I use almost daily to help control the constant pain I am in. I avoid pills as much as I cn and find that if I just concentrat on my breathing in the good and exhaling the pain it seems to help control the pain. This may sound silly to some but if I just want to get away from it all when I am having trouble concentrating I go to my “secret” spot in my mind for a few and my mind clears up . These little breaks also help in other areas which I won’t go into. Deep breathing also works for a multitude of everyday things we are faced with. So you see that by having the bipolar and learning skills to help me with it has branched out into other areas of my life which I most probably never would have learned had I not have the bipolar. Try using some of your skills you learned to control it and you too might find out that there are skills you never would have thought of using in your every day life.
I have a son who has bipolar and to be honest with you I can’t find one advantage to having bipolar. I thank God he is on medication but he still strugles with life daily. I don’t mean to sound negative but that’s how I feel…
Hi Dave,
I agree that it’s best to look at bipolar with as good an attitude as possible! I am bipolar and have been radio news jounalist for 9 years. I take my medication and try to stay as stress free and stable as I can.
While being bipolar is miserable for the most part, there are some bipolar attributes that make me good at my job. For instance I can out-talk any other radio announcer. I’m a lady that works in the radio business with a lot of men, they can’t out talk me when I’m hypomanic.
Also, I’m very creative and have won state jounalism awards. Our sales person in the station I work in always asks me to write commercials. This year I plan on entering some of my ads in a state broadcasting association competition.
There are downsides, but in the years I’ve worked in radio I’ve found out some tricks to get around things that I can’t do. For instance it’s hard for me to concentrate enough to read a news story all the way through. So, I use a pen to point out every word one at a time and keep me focused. No one has noticed the difference.
It’s stressful, but I have the greatest bosses to work for and will probably always be in radio (and dealing with bipolar)
Keep up the great work Dave!
I enjoy your daily newsletters and have learned a lot!
Dear Dave, I am a supporter of my wife who has a bi-polar disorder. I am a member of yours, so I received your books and cd’s that you sent me last week. I am reading them as we speak. My question to you is that she has been with the same psychiatrist for over 28 years. Med’s have been changed, up, down, and all around, but there is never any light at the end of the tunnel. She cannot stay stable for a long period of time. Her life is basically simple. In the past she had only part-time jobs. She couldn’t handle any of them, so therefore she doesn’t work. Kids are grown, so there is no pressure there. I take care of the bills, groceries. The only thing that she has to do is to get up in the morning and do household chores, which by the way, she doesn’t do. I have never had any problems with her spending money wildly, or attempting to harm herself or others. She is basically, slow, confused, takes things the wrong way, her sleep patterns are messed up, doesn’t want to be with others socially, if she does buy something at the store which is not a large amount of money, she doesn’t ask if we have the money or not. I have given her to my knowledge a really care free life because she can’t handle any stress. Every responsibility is on me. What can I do? Sometimes I believe that after all these years, she still isn’t on the right medication. Her doctor seems to be a good doctor, but who knows. I am truly beside myself especially now because I had a operation 7 wks ago and I am in a wheelchair recovering. The last 7 wks have been so bad that I can’t even begin to tell you what I’ve gone through. My son took her to the University of Michigan hospital to seek a second opinion 2 wks. ago and that doctor is supposed to get in contact with my wife’s doctor with his observations. After 28 years of hell, I am truly beside myself. Can you please give me some advice?
hey david i am living in a relationship with a man and kids i think have this disorder but i was trying to find out a little about this disorder. who knows i may have it also i know i can become real angery real easy and i can not come down off that high for a while ( i call it a high because that is what it reminds me of being high) but i would like to know a site to go to to give me some of the way of knowing that you have this disorder or how to tell if a person has this disored i have tried to find information about it that is where i got your web-site.
Right now my husband has moved out (he has bi-polar) We had a
bad fight and he left, then came back for his stuff the next day. I encouraged him to take his things. This one was building for a while
before it happened ( in hindsight on looking back at it ) We are in
counselling but this is a very painful and very hard time for me. He says
he will not come back until I have a job. I have an interview a week
from today. He has been a compulsive gambler all our 30 years together. We lost two homes over these years. I have a $17,000.00 inheritance and thats it. We are in an apartment. That’s not so bad,its
just that I am grieving over the death of my Mom ( she died last Dec.) as well as what he is doing to me. He will not forgive me. I was having a
very bad day that day and I just lost it, after constant harassment from
him. Maybe I haven’t really forgiven him either. Sometimes it seems some things are just too much to forgive. I’m angry that he is out of the
home but yet grateful for the peace. Believe me I’ve put my whole self
into this relationship, to the exclusion of my own financial well-being. At
present, I’m not sure it’s worth it. Hopefully this counsellor will be able to
unravel the mess and help me decide what to do. He wants to come home but says (he won’t) until I have this job. Right now, I’m not sure I want to let him and if I don’t, I don’t know how I’ll manage financially. I’m taking it
one day at a time.
I was diagnosed with BiPolar 11 years ago. It’s been a long hard road, but I’m a better, more campassionate person for it. When I was in college, I was not diagnosed yet and was manic or hypomanic 90% of the time. One benefit other than the creativity, is that I was a triple major. Stress would always send me manic, so during exam times I was able to out study and learn more than my friends. I graduated in the top 20% of my class. Also being manic I can think of about 8 different things at one time. My brother is one of my best friends and me being manic drives him nuts. But he does say that now that I’m stable on my meds (that only took 8 years); in a happy, loving marriage with a true prince in dull armor (I don’t need rescuing – so he doesn’t need shiny armor) my life is exactly what he wanted for me.
There is hope. New break throughs are being made all the time in medication and treatment. Counseling helped me and so does having a loving family and a best friend who’s mother is Bipolar but not stable. She reminds almost daily how wonderful my life is.
I think the most important thing that any one can learn – wether they have bipolar or are just “normal” is that YOU control your life. YOU choose to get out of bed every day with a smile on your face. Even if you are sad on the inside a smile does wonders for cheering you up.
One thing I know that really helps me is my pets. I’m a housewife and my husband is in senior management. That means he works long hours, usually 6 days a week. So when I’m depressed or feeling lonely my cats demand I get out of bed and feed them. That are great therapy for me.
And remember – Normal is simply a cycle on the wash machine or a town in Illinois.
Hi. Dave. Been reading your e-mails every day now for a while. Thank you. I appreciate you and every one who contributes. For such a long time, about 14 years I have been alone in dealing with my husbands bi-polar disorder. Like yourself, I didn’t have a clue and had to find out everything on my own. Of course. this is the first time I’ve had a computer. Just reading your e-mails has helped me a lot. I don’t feel so alone anymore. You have been “right-on” about many, many things, especially about medications and doctors. I’ll tell you a little about myself. I am 67 years old and have been married to a bi-polar man for 14 years. I am a christian. I am also taking care of two teenage grandsons, 19 and 17. These boys are the “light of my life” but they have got problems too. They are FAS kids. Do you know about that? They didn’t have much of a chance since birth. So my plate is full. By the grace of God I make it day by day. Just wanted to let you know how you have helped me. Be encouraged. I may not blog very often, but I will be paying attention and enjoying your e-mails every day. Bye for now.
Sometimes I can’t find the positive in having bipolar. I can’t even figure out when I’m about to switch from hypomania and depression. People say they are creative and such. Well, what if your not creative? I think some positives about bipolar are probally the hypomania. I like having this. I become this bubbly, positive person. Does anyone have any advise on how I can better figure out how to cope with my disorder. Like the mood swings and such.
I totally agree- it’s the attitude you have that will determine if you see BP as positive or negative. I am a supporter and a very positive person. I see my husband’s manic (very mild) episodes as a great time to get projects around the house done. He gets sooo productive and he feels some value to his life when he sees what he has accomplished. He, on the other hand, is a very negative person and no matter what good comes along, he will find the dark side to it. I can keep a positive attitude even during his depression episodes as I keep telling myself, “This too shall pass”, and it does.
I know everyone’s BP is different and everyone’s situation is different. I can empathize with anyone dealing with such turmoil. As a supporter you do feel helpless to ease some of the pain and at times it is very difficult to keep that positive attitude. I just look at my children and know that my attitude is what is keeping us together and making their lives better.
BP has brought a lot of chaos into our lives, but I keep focused on all of our blessings and how fortunate we are. I think there are a lot worse diseases and disorders to have. At least we are able to lead somewhat normal lives with a little disruption. People don’t even know there is anything wrong unless we tell them.
Yes, it is true that as a supporter, I tend to focus on the negative aspects of the disorder. However, I agree that anything can be turned into a positive experience, should one wish it. I would also like to comment on something that you have mentioned a few times, namely, employment. My husband is currently putting together his own business. Ever since i have known him, he has wanted to do this and I have been in favour of more traditional employment. Finally, after many dramas related to work, I see that his instincts had been right all the time. He does not belong in the corporate world in the traditional sense (as employee). He needs more flexibility and less constraint in order to manage himself. thank you for all articles on this topic.
The only times I have been REALLY creative are in manic episodes. When I was first hospitalized for mania (1968), I could sketch in charcoal, anyone, and capture the very essence of their personality. I also could sit at the piano and actually PLAY, having not played since I was 12. I even started on working with oils, but was discharged to another hospital before I could continue with that.
However, between episodes – when I’m “maintained” or “normal” – the ONLY creativity I show is in my typing skills. I have been timed at 121 w/p/m, and when I really get going, I can out-type anyone. It is my “fit” – instead of falling out on the floor in the psycho wards, I have turned it into something constructive.
Yes, there ARE advantages to being bipolar. For one, I have become a more compassionate person; I can relate to anyone who has problems, as believe me, I have had my share of them. I can console the bereaved, rejoice with the bride, and all things in between. This, literally, has saved my life…
Right now, I’m “maintained” on the proper “cocktail” of medications; however, they are mixed with strong opioids for my chronic pain, and sometimes I’m afraid they all are working against each other. I go through periods of anxiety, but with counseling, I usually figure out what to do to control it.
I empathize with all bipolar survivors AND supporters through personal experience – it’s NOT an easy “row to hoe.” A mood swing disorder is very difficult to deal with, but all of us have to learn how to do it in our own way – with the help of our psychiatrists/therapists, and especially medications. I have not had a major manic episode since 1977, although I have had minor episodes treated on an outpatient basis. I have lived 40 years with bipolar, and consider myself a “survivor!”
May God bless all bipolar survivors and those who love us. Rest easy that He has a plan for all of us.
Well, right now I will not agree with you. I am 43, was diagnosed about 4-5 years ago and had only one depressed episode until now. I usually lean toward the high side but the stress from my job is phenomenal and I am afraid my coping skills are lacking. I am a zombie, catatonic adult female trying to do my job with excellence and no matter how hard I try I can’t, even though it use to come easy to me. I am exhausted, tired mentally physically and emotionally. My life is consumed by something I cannot control and I must admit…I am not happy at all. So there is my take on my situation.
What now???
Hi Everyone,
For everyone who posts questions here needing answers, there is Dave’s Bipolar Forum, the Bipolar Inner Circle. That is the place for supporter and survivor Questions and Answers. You get notified by email if you check the box at the bottom of the “post type in screen”. And I go there almost every day to check for new posts. So if you have a question, I will do my best to answer it there and other people have input in there as well. So for Q and A, The forum is the best place to get answers… It is at this url:
http://www.bipolarinnercircle.com/phpbb3/index.php
If you can post here, you have access to the forum, which is a great place for more personal replies to your questions.
As for Advantages of being bipolar, I think there are a few…
1. We have a more rich life, which can be too rich sometimes, with more intense emotions than people without bipolar. We have higher highs, but lower lows. But over all I would say we have more of a life from one side of the scale to the other.
2. Creativity is my strong suite. I have a great capability to create new things.
3. We have a different perspective of life than people without bipolar.
4. We can be more productive, when manic, get a lot done, or stick to a task until it is done.
5. We tend to have determination that I think is notably pronounced with our condition. Most people are not as “Driven” to accomplish things.
6. Just having bipolar makes us “Have” to be a stronger person. So our will and our stick-to-it-ive-ness is much greater than your average Joe.
7. We are generally more kind hearted, I know some of us aren’t, but some of us are really, really, really, cool people.
8. There are more colors in our kaleidoscope of life that we see through, most people see a few colors, our kaleidoscope has many colors.
Well, that is all I can think of right off the top of my head. But it is like the “glass half full or empty” Sometimes our glass is full, sometimes it is empty, if we learn to be grateful for the glass, it won’t matter how full or empty it is, we can be glad we have the glass… which to me is life. When it is full, we are manic, when we are depressed it is empty, but we can be grateful for our lives, which enables us to not be swayed by the emotional condition we are in at any give time. For people without bipolar, their glass just stays half full, and they never get to experience a full glass.
Thanks, And please try to check out the Forum, it is there for question and answers…
Bob
To JILL: I was in your position with the first (and only) time I suffered from clinical depression. I HAD to work; had just gotten out of a psychiatric hospital, and had bought an apartment house that I had to manage. The job I got at the local Univesity was in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (dull, no?). I had little to do; not much in the way of stimulation on the job. I’d get my “little” work done, and stare out the floor-length windows for HOURS.
Then, I’d come home and collapse on my bed and read, just to escape the monotony of my life. I was never so exhausted after doing nothing. Thank God, the tenants took care of themselves, and nothing went wrong with the house during this time – I couldn’t have handled it. For a year, I suffered through this depression, until my PCP referred me to the local Community Mental Health Dept. I saw and talked to a psychiatrist, and he prescribed an antidepressant. GOOD NEWS!! Within a month, I started to start to feel ALIVE again. “Better living through chemistry.”
I suggest you see your psychiatrist, or if you don’t have one, get one. There are such new “cocktails” that have shown to be proven to help through depression. I’m SURE something will help you.
I have had bipolar all my life but wasn’t diagnosed until I was 26 and I find that some advantages to having this disorder are that your not alone and that there are medicines out there that can help you to maintain in this crule world. I have found that I am a suvior of bipolar and that even though the diease is life long with the right support I will do just fine.
Excellent post. At first I thought, “No way!” But as I read further, I spotted some advantages I had already recognised. Just hadn’t put them into context! What? For a start, it got me out of a job that was destroying my health and out of the way of a bunch of bullying senior managers who were making my life Hell! Indeed, I only wish this had happened sooner! Feels like I’ve lost 30 something years because this wasn’t diagnosed earlier. But hey. Better late than never and, besides, I always said I wanted to retire at 50!!! Having a late marriage and family looked set to beggar that plan until … the BP Bang! Now I am NOT one of those folk who thinks the hypomanic periods are a great advantage for being creative. (Mind you, given the right partner they sure can enhance one’s sex life!) Indeed, I believe it is dangerous to think hypomania is “good”. It ain’t, and should be avoided, not encouraged for the sake of creativity. There are healthier ways to stimulate the creative juices. That said, I have quite a few good songs and poems, which I managed to spill onto paper when I was hypo’ but also some that came out when I was depressed.
Another advantage is that it’s helped me develop a good sense of humour. Okay, it’s what we English call a “black” sense of humour (nothin’ to do with ethnicity, bro) but I can make myself laugh and others too when things go wrong. Had I not got depressions, I’d not have developed this kind of survival skill, which is my humour.
And there is another connection … The creativity led me to write some songs. In turn, that encouraged me to learn to play an instrument so accompany the songs. Now, I play around 12 instruments! Okay, maybe not all of them well … well, maybe most of them not well! But I used to get paid for my musical performances. And then THAT led to playing in support of Clannad! Playing in support of Clannad … that far all because of Bipolar. A chain of events, like dominoes in a fall, leading from bad stuff all the way to one of the most exciting times of my Life.
David;
As a former “supporter”, I see the dark side of your recent email. I thought immediately about the girl I’ve broken up with, after a nine year “relationship”. This because she is so headstrong and stubborn, and has refused any treatment, besides self-medicating with illegal drugs and alcohol. It was pointed out, by another friend that she has not only incorporated her sickness into her personality, but uses it regularly to manipulate the people around her. She became so angry and abusive towards me, that I have broken it off. I suspect this is because I know her so well, and her manipulative games don’t work on me anymore. When she is around people who don’t know her that well, she comes across as “lovely”, scintillating, and as “pretty” as the reflection she sees in the mirror. Well, if you took a corpse, and put on that much makeup, and one of her wig collection, it’d look as “pretty”. Moreover, she has surrounded herself with people who will agree with her, who are paracites, who are using her and her money. I call them her “yes men”. She lies about herself constantly, and is headed for a bad end.
May I recommend the works of Eckhart Tolle to you all. His groundbreaking work, on the subject of separating the “ego” from who you really are really has helped me in my life. To not ruminate on the past, or dote on some future achievement, but to “Practice the Power of Now”, because the present moment is the most powerful place you can reside in. I can no longer reach her, she has walls built around her formidable ego that are impenetrable.
I believe that one of the advantages, at least for me, is that I am a very compassionate person and can sense someone’s pain very easily. We people who are bipolar are very sensitized people, and that makes us easier to listen to others. Other people in my family who don’t have the disorder don’t have those qualities.
I am a very positive person and my 20yr old daughter has bipolar& borderline personality disorter…its a challange on a daily basis. I love her and support her fully…. She is a very angry person all the time??? I have always been positive and very laid back, its so hard for me to get her to understand (or learn how) to be positive even in small ways? Life is a never ending school, we are always learning and I try to find something positive everyday of my life. Thanks Dave for your web site….Cathy
Hello David,
Thank you for your info on bipolar disorder.
I’m wondering if you have looked into the idea of past life regression in the healing of bipolar disorder. I am a rebirther (20+ years now) and one of the things I have been struck with is how many of us carry into this life patterns, cellular memories, and emotions that, once searched into, appear to have been created in another life, the emotions most strong apparently the ones we were feeling when we died then.
I can’t say I have studied it in depth as related to bipolar disorder, but I do want to relate one story (should you have time to read it) that convinced me that bipolar can be created as I have described. (mind you, the person did not consent to a session….). The person involved was my daughter’s boyfriend while she was in high school. The first time I saw him as they walked into our yard to get ready for a bike ride, “Seneca” went through my mind. It was an instant “recognition.” though I did not know of any life I might have lived in those Roman times. After 2 years of their relationship, where I observed erratic behavior (paranoia, thinking others were out to get him — coupled with extraordinary creativity in working with children in a day care setting and coming up with incredible short plays), I decided to consult the encyclopedia britannica and see just who Seneca was.
You may know. He was born in Spain and sent to Rome to go to school. It was in the time of Nero. He excelled in writing and theater, became a teacher and playwright, was at one time exiled to an island, and ultimately sentenced to death by Nero (who was, I think, afraid of Seneca’s power). Seneca had to choose his own way of dying, and opted for slitting his wrists in “the bath” — (as in hot tub as we might know it now.)
Pretty dramatic.
He and my daughter became parents, and at the baby shower his mom was there. As my daughter unwrapped a small bathinette for the new baby, his mom said, “Wow, I sure wish I would have had one of those when ____ was a baby. He wouldn’t take a bath his whole first year and then some!” Hmmm.
I would sometimes suggest doing a past life or some sort of treatment, but he declined, not only with me but others. He is on meds, and now, 20 years later, is a little smoother, but has not achieved all he could in this life. He still has his sons come and visit, though my daughter split with him after about 6 years. I moved from their area over 15 years ago, so I have not observed lately.
Have you noticed any help available through past life regression? The power of the process is bringing to light the experiences that have created the patterning and the opportunity to release the emotions and to transmute the thoughts and decisions associated. I would be interested to know if you have discovered any benefit here.
Thank you for your work.
Anita Coolidge
760.723.9141
http://www.wingsofbreath.dreamhost.com
Letty,
Omega-3 & -6 works for a myriad of things, they are pretty simple supplements, so any health shop will be able to help you (and maybe advise you on how to adjust your diet to get the best results.) The only thing you may want to research is the price – I am sure you will be able to get well priced product online as well.
Here is some info I copied for you:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Support the healthy functioning of the immune system.
Omega 3 fatty acids support the cardiovascular system and healthy blood circulation.
Maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels: Helps to reduce high levels of triglycerides and maintains or increases HDL (“good”) cholesterol, thereby indirectly helping to lower high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
They also help in the prevention of thrombosis by reducing blood platelet aggregation.
Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties.
Helps to reduce joint pain and discomfort associated with arthritis.
Used to assist in the treatment of psoriasis, which is an inflammatory skin disease.
Helps to form protective membranes around cells.
Omega 3 fatty acids may help to alleviate migraine headaches.
Fish Oil contains DHA and EPA, that are important building blocks for the nerve and brain cells and therefore important for optimal memory and concentration.
Fish Oil supplementation is recommended during pregnancy as it supplies healthy nutrients for the optimal development of the baby’s nervous system and brain cells.
Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Helps to maintain healthy skin.
Supports cardiovascular health by helping to reduce high blood pressure and reducing the risk for thrombosis.
Helps to produce prostaglandins, which play a major role in lowering cholesterol.
Helps the body to regulate female hormonal imbalances.
Helps to ease pre-menstrual tension, as it helps to balance female sex hormones.
May assist in the treatment of eczema and other skin problems.
Assists in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Hope this helps !
There are many things I have learned that I might not have, if I weren’t bipolar (or maybe it would not have been necessary to). Here are some thoughts:
– i am not always right
– my actions have consequences
– i am responsible for those consequences
– i am very often wrong, but it does not make me a bad person
– every person deserves care and consideration
– i need to be super-aware of being callous
– sometimes all they can do is tolerate me
– sometimes all i can do is tolerate them
– i need to appreciate the small things
– say thank you and sorry immediately, because i will forget soon
– when angry, put reacting off till later
– when happy express it immediately
– leave the credit card at home
– when apologising i must be 100% sincere, for the sake of myself and the person i hurt.
– don’t make promises if there is the smallest chance i won’t be able to keep them.
In bipolar everything is a two way street. You can’t just say sorry to someone, you need to reflect on the action that caused the hurt to begin with and make sure you understand what went wrong and why you are sorry about it – and make sure you gear yourself not to do it again, or really try anyway. This is true in many aspectes, not just regret.
Apart from liking the hypomania, I don’t see real advantages in this disorder.
Not sure if i’m making any sense today.
Have a good one!
m
I think no two people experience bipolar the same way. Those who are stating it is an advantage probably have periods of hypomania in which they are very productive. I have spend most of my time in depression and it is hell. The times mania has kicked in it has sent me off to the hospital extremely paranoid, delusional, and hallucinating. I don’t have very many normal periods. I know I don’t feel right and it is NOT my attitude. I work as a peer support worker and know all about getting out when you’re feeling down, exercising, and what it takes to fight the depression, but when the depression is severe it just doesn’t work and it is NOT caused by a negative attitude. Being positive is better than being negative and it is a good coping strategy, but those of you who have bipolar and think those of us that view it as a disadvantage are just being negative…. No two people experience bipolar the same way and for others the disease is far more debilitating and far more painful.
I get up and get going every day, I take my medicine, I meet with others who have the disease and we go for walks, talk about getting part-time jobs or volunteering, etc. Despite all this I still feel like crap every day and am chronically depressed even though I am not indulging in depressing thoughts and fighting it tooth and nail. I can feel my mood shifting around and all of a sudden I will have periods where I feel well and I can enjoy an hour or two here and there of feeling okay once or twice a week and that is all I get of a normal mood. The couple of hours a week I feel well are not caused by anything I did to induce it. I’ll just notice all of a sudden I feel okay.
I think each person with bipolar is going to view it differently because some people are in much more pain than others due to the severity of their disease and the way they experience symptoms and how many normal periods they have and NOT by their inability to be positive.
I believe some people have a very positive experience with bipolar….hypomanic people, but for those of us extremely depressed without normal remissions and that go straight into paranoia and extreme mania it is a living hell NOT caused by a negative attitude.
I agree, a positive attitude is a huge necessity for living with bipolar. I’ve watched my boyfriend go from being misdiagnosed with depression and go through TERRIBLE times to getting diagnosed, learning about his disorder, and learning slowly how to handle it. Now that he knows he has it he is determined to fight it, has started to finally enjoy life, and has had a lot less angry blow ups. He is determined to fight his bipolar, and refuses to let it win. I’m so proud of him. 🙂
One thing he tells me is an advantage of his bipolar is that when he’s hypomanic he gets a lot more energy which he uses to go work out and go on bike rides. They keep him in shape so he feels better about himself, and help to burn off his extra energy. In his words, “It makes me feel like a God.” Hopefully someone who’s struggling with the same problem he had with the extra energy will read this and be able to do the same thing.
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Big argument over advantages to Bipolar Disorder, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
Angrily and vociferously refutes what he calls labelling. Diagnosed BP2 at 17 now 27. Hospitalised with mild mania once, discharged sfter 5 days. Uses threats to prevent all discussion. Prescribed LITHIUM CARBONATE but does not take it with any consistency. Very intelligent but tends to abandon courses when bored. Mostly gentle and pacific but once used threats after a row with the girl he says is his true love but who controls him utterly and through him attempts to control his friends. On one hand she is very good for him but at the same time she exploits him financially.It is not advisable to utter one word of the mildest criticim. I must admit I have made many mistakes in trying to cope and both of them hate me. Where do I GO FROM HERE.,ADVICE PLEASE Annarose.