Hey I'm Bipolar, TOO!!!

HEY, I'M BIPOLAR TOO!!!! And you thought it was just you!

I'm just like you - No way, there could never be 2 exact Bipolars.

NEXT Mood Change in 5,4,3,2,1 minutes

Starlite, whatsoever you are and howsoever your mood swings are; we like you because you are YOU and nothing else. A lot of things change and are in constant state of change in the world... weather, time, temperature, lengths of days & nights, and these changes are necessary even if we don't like them. Your change of moods is just so very natural. It comes not from the person you were born to but from the planet and universe you belong!

I have to disagree on one point, this disease is genetic so we are born with this "mood disorder". There was a time (I believe in the late 1800's when we were described in a medical journal as "insane geniuses". This of course was many decades before the first effective mood stabilizer (lithium salts), thus the effected were pretty much prisoners to our moods which are often shaped by external stimuli. Yet the more bipolar people I meet and the many lengthy lists of famous successful people who have both lived and died with bipolar disorder, I really do understand that term "insane geniuses" as there seems to exist with our hypomania a source of inspiration that is much more rare in people without the hypomania experience. Unmedicated, untreated, isolated and uneducated; we are doomed to the same misery that those patients in the days of old experienced but now in this enlightened time when we have so many options and resources, we also have the opportunity to harness our moods and use them to our advantage. What form that takes is as dependent on the particular mood and our individual response to said mood. If you are having problems handling a mood state that is not life threatening, try to change your response, attitude and activate a pre-planned activity to utilize the mood so that it becomes a positive source of energy in your life.
I hate that I wrote all this out as a command or suggestion to YOU rather that personalizing it and writing in the first person and sharing with you how I am able to have days where I appreciate the genetic gift of the bipolar order. As long as I keep my recovery first and stick to my recovery plan, there is rarely disorder in my life. Why focus on the negative of this condition. I am bipolar and I grateful for each day, just as I am for this forum.
hugs to all,
ptk

Thanks PTK for the insight..we all need to be reminded once in a while...now if you could only convince my husband how great I am...

Maybe the better term would be "extraordinary," and never forget it... even if you have to write it in neon colors and post it on the refrigerator!

yeah...don't think he'd even notice that....

Hey I'm bipolar too! I'm not afraid to admit it, it makes me who I am. I have my up and downs just like the rest of us. At times I have a hard time controling my moods & my emotions. Thank god for my meds, they make me feel "normal" or whatever normal is. Mood change coming soon, I'm sure.

Welcome Eileen G....
That was my grandmother's first name and middle initial. I will not forget you so you have to come back and keep posting, pinky promise?

I am glad that you have found some self-acceptance, many others struggle with this. Unlike you, despite the meds, I am not sure I feel normal but nor do I aspire to feel normal. Why would I want to limit myself to such mediocrity? Yes, we can fall deep into the pit of despair but we can also soar amongst the clouds. I suppose the next step that I had to take beyond acceptance was to learn self-discipline. Yuck!

Even if I plan to spend the day in bed, I get up in the morning, make my coffee and breakfast, brush my teeth, change from my night gown into lounging clothes, make my bed, eat my breakfast, do my dishes and then go and lounge on my tidy bed. Simple, I know, but it began for me with the baby steps. I kept adding just a few more requirements to benefit myself, how I am. I made a list of approved manic/hypomanic activities that are healthy and non-destructive in any way, shape, or form. I also have an approved depression list and suicidal behavior is not an approved activity, nor is self-medicating, nor is cutting, nor is skipping my meds, and I have to call three people and tell on my disease... that I am in the pit... etc.

Each day, I remind myself that if I walked 15 miles into the woods, I can't expect myself to get back out just by retreating one mile. This will take time. For me, I have to learn to do everything different because what I was doing before REALLY wasn't working. Its a new way of thinking, a new way of feeling and a new way of living and you know what - this is the greatest adventure of my life! I can't wait to see who Im going to become when I grow up!

Ill close with this. My daughter played a song on her car stereo for me not to long ago. It was by a band named Cold Play, the song was "Fix you". It was all about how she was going to fix all my problems, take away my pain and fix me. I must admit, I kind of took exception to it! "Danielle, I'm not broken. God made me this way for a reason and God doesn't make mistakes ergo, there is nothing to fix. I don't know what the reason is yet and all I am is an extraordinary mind trying to figure out how to live in an ordinary world. One of the hardest things to do is to be different from everyone else and still feel comfortable in your own skin. You are growing up but so am I, in my own way. Be patient with me as I am patient with you. At least I don't pitch teenager hissy fits like someone I know!"

That shut her up!

Peace!
ptk

been thinking about this.... I am thinking glitter, spotlights and a bullhorn? Maybe even a banner plane is in order.... "Hey dimwit, the girl is special, now bow before her and serve!"

I have felt this way for as long as I can remember. When I was a child, I used to feel I was not a part of my family somehow...even tho I was there physically and knew I was related, I just felt like there was this plexiglass wall between us..

I would sit alone in the dark in the back yard gazing up at the stars begging for them to come back and pick me up because I sure as hell didn't belong here!

Ironically, it turns out everyone in my family is BP (my dad passed away in 1997, so that one's an educated guess), so I really should have felt like I belonged!

Thanx Eileen - As this post is and was just a post of my moment of silliness in acceptance of my bipolar in one of it's moments.

As born with yes, as conditioned due to situation or environment, another yes to poke those chemicals into motion.

HEY ZILCHHOUR thanx for just always letting me be me as you are always just you!

HELLO MS/MR PTK, ETC -

This was in fact NOT MEANT TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL THREAD, But a light hearted just as I said, quote, "Hey I'm Bipolar TOO"

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say "Congratulations!" but I am glad to hear that you have been diagnosed. And, as I've said many times to people, you are not alone.....We're here--at least when we're in the mood for it! (Ha)

Been diagnosed for years... Just felt in the moment to reach out to other fellow Bipolars - AS WE ARE UNIQUE! Isn't that great.

Thanks for responding Payne

Obviously I enjoy writing, I do it well and I have something worth sharing. If you don't like it, don't read it! So, what, I am just supposed to sit here and not share because you don't want me to? NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM DONE ISOLATING. Am I supposed to get a word count approval first? To hell with you... my recovery depends on this forum and my life is at stake here! You might just be having a good time but I am here to recover. You will not dictate my recovery.

promisestokeep, I don't think you are understanding how psychcentral works. We are here to support each other when we can. I am certain that you can pull some words of wisdom from your own experience with bipolar to share with others like starlite and me who are bipolar. "To hell with you" isn't supportive and I am not sure what provoked that.

Perhaps, not. You are correct. I have been up for going on 3 days now and am a bit emotional. I felt criticized and scolded. Do you really think that I would have spent the last 36 hours sitting here and writing unless I absolutely had to? What gives Starlite or anyone else the right to judge whether or not my post belongs here? If this is supposed to be such a supportive environment, why would she publicly scold me and humiliate me when all I am trying to do is be kind and share positive things, even when, especially when, my mind is cluttered with the negative? She could have either ignored me or sent me a private message. Embarrassment gave way to anger and then I wanted to turn tail and run, never to return. Is that what you call being supportive? If you are interested in why I am so upset, you can refer to the post, WHY ARE YOU HERE.
And you for that matter, you could have messaged me privately and called me out on my post or questioned why I would say such a thing rather than calling attention to me publicly just as Starlite did. Did you want to further embarrass me, humiliate me? Do you feel morally superior now? I hope so. You sure did succeed at making me feel inferior.

oh, btw... you have made this a REALLY supportive experience for me, both of you!

In all actuality this was/is MY THREAD.

If you feel the need to express your ideal of well spoken word, then so it be best you choose to start your own thread.

Such is life, my friend, Such is life

Hi starlite - you're right, it was your thread..I'm not sure why you would post it if you didn't want replies? I thought that was the whole idea...

I shall do you one better - I shall direct you to the moderators or DocJohn so that they may explain the forum policies to you.

As for 'blocking' they will explain that as well. As I am at a place of peace and need NOT further this idiocy.

Thank you for acknowledging that is/was my thread.

As for replies, as the title does show - This was/STILL is intended to be a Lighthearted and self afirming gathering of fun filled Bioplars!

Life in the bipolar world is difficult enough without depressing it more!