[Curiosity77]

I just posted a long answer in the thread about what is hard about bipolar, so I wanted to balance it with a thread about things that are good.

I think we hold a secret kind of knowledge, knowledge of extreme states and intensity. Passion beyond what most people ever feel. Moments of wonderful insight and creativity. I think in a lot of ways bipolar has made me more fully alive, and more keenly aware of my existential state. It's kind of ironic that I believe that an illness which has made me suicidal so many times, has also allowed me to see and experience life more fully.

I am extremely sensitive and intuitive because of my experiences. This makes it so I can connect easily with people who are suffering, and I am not afraid of other people's extreme states of consciousness. This helps me in my work as a nurse in psychiatry. I would have been compassionate anyway, but I have extra insight when helping others because I have also experienced extreme states.

I like the description in the Icarus Project books about bipolar as a dangerous gift. I like the image of being able to fly, but sometimes flying too close to the sun. This illness has taken a lot away from me, and I struggle with the symptoms and accepting myself all the time. But it has also given me some amazing experiences.

Being able to clean the house meticulously when I am hypomanic. That is always helpful. Unfortunately it does not happen often.

[BipolaRNurse]

I totally agree with what you've said, Curiosity. Bipolar is indeed a double-edged sword, dangerous but also intriguing. We experience the world in so many more dimensions than the average person! It's funny, my 'normal' friends and family members can't even fathom why I respond to great beauty in nature and people and music with so much emotion. I don't know any other way to be. And in some ways, I feel sorry for those who DON'T thrill to those things the way I do......they are missing so much, and they will never know.

I feel like I wouldn't be so creative without bipolar disorder. I'm not sure I could have one without the other. And there's a long history of artists and writers who struggled with this illness.

[MagicsMom]

I'm not creative but I'm very empathetic and take great pleasure from nature. A beautiful flower or bird can bring me to tears in a happy way. I feel things more deeply and love more deeply. The coming spring is making me very happy - I can't wait to see green again and flowers blooming!

[Side2Side]

My ability to learn is increased during mania, during depression I gain weight due to eating lots of chocolate lol (that's good in my eyes lol chocolate is awesome lol