Bipolar: Attitude is Everything

Hi,

I got this email lately and I wanted to share it with you, because this woman makes several good points:

“It has taken me years to realize attitude is everything not only with BP, but with life in general. I lost my father when I was 15 years old and went through periods of manic followed by depression with periods of extreme anxiety. It was not until I reached the age of 24 that I was diagnosed with BP disorder. For many years I felt like I was stuck at the age of 15 and although I was in denial about my mental condition, I knew something was terribly wrong. Yes, I had periods of suffering in the past, but I am beyond that now. Today, I am 67 and understand my condition and I am no longer in denial, yet I have discovered I can be a happy productive person and enjoy my life…Also, I have learned…that I can recognize when I am going to have an extreme mood swing and control it. Over the years I have discovered tools that are so helpful such as Meditation, exercise, and reading positive thinking books…Everyone does have the power to change their attitude and transform their life for the better. I think change is a process…My life feels normal most of the time, and I have discovered a new kind of contentment and happiness. Also, I have grown spiritually as well in the process. I no longer allow labels to define who I am. –Joy”

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The first point she makes is that: ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING. And I totally agree with that.

In fact, I’ve talked about that on several occasions. Attitude can determine whether you have a bad or good day. It can also determine whether you have a bad or good life. Like Joy says in her email, “…attitude is everything not only with BP, but with life in general.” If you have a good attitude, things will go much better for you. On the other hand, if you have a bad attitude, things will be much harder for you.

The next thing Joy talks about is how she was in denial. When you’re in denial about things, it makes it that much more difficult to cope with them. That’s because it’s necessary to accept something before you can cope with it, and denial interferes with the acceptance process. That’s how it is with other things, not just bipolar disorder. But it is especially true with bipolar disorder. But Joy says: “Today, I am 67 and understand my condition and I am no longer in denial, yet I have discovered I can be a happy productive person and enjoy my life…” So one of the ways to get out of denial then is to understand your condition. And I’ve always said that about denial: That you need to get educated so you won’t be in denial any more. And if you do, you too like Joy can be a happy productive person and enjoy your life. It means that you accept your disorder. Then you can go on toward stability. And then recovery. And recovery is when, like Joy says: “Also, I have learned…that I can recognize when I am going to have an extreme mood swing and control it.” If you can do that, you are in control of your bipolar disorder and not the other way around.

Then Joy ends by saying: “I no longer allow labels to define who I am.” Now that’s real stability.

That’s recovery.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

  1. YOU ARE ON POINT – I’M DATING A DARLING YOUNG MAN HE’S A SAINT BUT WONT ACCEPT THAT TITLE; HE USED TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH QUITE A SCREAMER!!!!! EPISODE CITY!!!!!

    HIS ATTITUDE WAS MEEK, KIND HEARTED AND UNBELIEVABLE DIVINE – I HAD TO STAND BACK IN AWE AND SAY “LOOK THE MAN”!!! NEVER RAISED A HAND OR VOICE AT THIS VERY SICK YOUNG WOMAN – HE CLEARLY CARED FOR HER; I ONLY HOPE TO DEMONSTRATE 20 PERCENT OF WHAT THIS MAN HAS DONE. YOU ARE SOOOOOO RIGHT WHEN UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE OF CARING FOR A “LOVED ONE” WITH THE DISORDER – STAND FIRM AND KNOW IT IS NOT YOUR SICKNESS IT’S THEIRS ADN YOU ARE HERE TO HELP THEM GO THROUGH IT WHILE SEARCHING A CURE…….

    A GOOD DAY INDEED!!!!!!!

  2. But how do you control a really bad manic episode? My husband is in one and this time he knows he’s having one yet all the behaviour’s there -the spending,inappropiate remarks,staying up all night,going without food all day and gorging at night.The psych gave him tablets last week which he took one of and said he didn’t like and goes tomorrow again.Need something to stop this-he’s just come back from supermarkets again with another load of stuff.Does it every single day – help!

  3. “Standing Amazed” reports on Feb. 4 that her husband goes without eating all day, stays up all night,and then gorges himself with food. Yep…my friend is doing exactly the same thing right now. (This sequence of behaviors is not anything I’ve read about in a book or on a health Website.) I’m not sure what to do either. But, our psychiatric nurse practitioner said this bad behavior is a matter of poor discipline. My friend and your husband must recognize that their behavior is unhealthy and make a conscious decision to stop. (Easier said than done.) By the way, my friend is taking depacote and Ativan, which is supposed to make him sleep. His sleep is somewhat better overall, but he is still unable to go down until 2,3,4 a.m.

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