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BipolaRNurse · Apr 07, 2013, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultramar

Something I've noticed on the bipolar forum, which I think I've mentioned before in different ways, is that I find sometimes that when someone mentions a behavior or characteristic, etc. that at least I feel is just something human/normal/or a psychological issue is quickly interpreted as an indication of illness. In this case, for example, mania or paranoia.

It's just a pattern I've noticed which sometimes baffles me.

I always thought my questioning/argumentative ness/negativity was a sign of my intelligence. I'm SERIOUSLY looking at that now!

Case in point in how this can affect how people feel about themselves. Dylanzmama, I hope you do not start to question whether what might at least be in part an indication of your intelligence is something related to illness.

I understand I'm taking this a little to the extreme, but I feel that if we continue to interpret so many things in this way, what will be left of our identity except that of having Bipolar Disorder?

Well, in the case of folks like me who are still relatively new to the diagnosis, there is a learning curve at play here. I know I myself am still acutely aware of every little burp and every minor shift in mood, and I still run frequent mental self-checks to make sure nothing evil is brewing in there. Last week, I had a meltdown at work that was actually a symptom of stress overload rather than a new and scary manifestation of my bipolar, but until I talked with someone who knew more than I did, I was freaking out about freaking out!!

So yes, we newbies over-think things (and isn't that a BP symptom too?

), but we have to experience many different variations on a theme before we can be reasonably sure of what is related to our illness and what isn't. So a little patience and understanding goes a long, long way toward helping us figure this stuff out.