Hi,
There’s a saying that goes: “If life gives you scraps… Make a quilt!” I like that saying. It really shows a positive attitude. Like no matter what life throws at you… You can still make something good out of your life. I like that, I really do. Because I’ve known a lot of people with bipolar disorder who’ve done just that. I’ve interviewed many, many people who have bipolar disorder… Who are success stories… And they have overcome some very serious things to get where they are today. It wasn’t easy, but they’ve done it. Some of them have really been dealt some life “scraps,” like the saying says. But they have really made some beautiful quilts out of their lives. And now many of them are turning around and helping others to turn their own lives around, too. One thing I’ve found is that, at least in many of them… Once they recover… They have this desire to help others recover too. There are a couple of them who have started blogs to encourage other people with bipolar disorder. A couple have written books. Most are members of support groups. But the thing I respect most about these people is… That most of them are open about the fact that they have bipolar disorder. They talk about it openly, and they try to help other people by talking about it.
Like my mom, for example. She talks to people and she’s not scared to tell them that she has bipolar disorder. If it comes up, I mean. She wants to help them. See, at first she was like many other survivors and supporters. She felt really alone. She thought there were very, very few people who had bipolar disorder. So she was ashamed. And she didn’t want anyone to know that she had it. But then after I did my research and found out that MILLIONS of people had it… She felt SO much better! She didn’t feel so alone any more.
In fact, I told her to think of it this way… That if, say 13 million people have bipolar disorder
in this country… And, say, for each one, there are at least two supporters… And a doctor and therapist treating them… That would be at least 65 million people who know about bipolar disorder! And that’s not counting all the researchers and people in the field of mental health!
And think about it – so many people have more than just two supporters in their support system, too, so that number is way low, too! See what I’m saying? It just grows and grows and grows…
More people know about bipolar disorder than you think. The point is, you are NOT alone!
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
Hi David, Your comments about making quilts is spot on, but even more so is the point about helping others. In my own experience both as someone who has lived through depression (not bipolar, although I think my husband may be) and as a family counsellor I honestly believe that helping others is a very useful and effective way of helping yourself. Depression and many other conditions often make you selfish – not in the usual sense, but in the sense that you are over-aware of yourself and your problems. Focussing outside yourself has a powerful influence on your level of introspection and frequently reduces – even minimally – the feelings of helplessness and frustration, both by doing something useful, and by reducing the time available to think about yourself. It’s also just a good thing to do. Encouraging people to do a bit for others even if it seems really trivial like putting out the garbage for an elderly neighbour or carrying groceries or whatever is what used to be simply called ‘neighbourly’. It makes you feel good, even if you don’t get gratitude or thanks you’d like (realistic expectations), and sometimes you find great friends this way. David – Keep up the great work! Vivien
I love quilts. This is a fact that you can mend your life like a cozy quilt. We must remember the steps we took and the pieces and time it took to make the beautiful quilt of life.It’s not perfect but sometimes feels just right.One negative thing i need to get out is the stuffing we put inside the quilt it sometimes gets me frustrated having Bi Polar because a little something extra called Psych Meds goes into us and causes side effects and all the trial and errors that you have to endure. We can just hope at the finish line of our quilts that we will have rised above it all so we can enjoy the comfort of our quilts that we put so much into.If we can only get passed the hardships of our psych meds we will truly enjoy the comfort of our quilts.I know we’ve come so far and got through so much already,with this med, then that med, and now another new one. Sometimes a cozy quilt that we’ve made gives us that warm feeling of hope during these frustrating moments.I want to make a quilt of my own but i always seem to feel defeated and lose focus why i’m even doing this. I have a quilt a family member bought and its cozy but it’s not something i made and could be proud of and make it my own.I just hope i can find the right materials and the right motivation to keep me focused so i will want to keep moving forward and find ways to make my quilt and add the extra coziness to it along the way.Thank You. Love and Hugs to all.