Will I Ever Be Happy?

My girlfriend asked me the other day if I would ever be happy in life. It got me to wondering, "Well, would I?" I seem constitutionally incapable of finding happiness. I'm not sure if this is a character flaw, or if my illness makes this more difficult than normal.
Sure, I have happy days. I have happy hours, moments, and occasions. But overall I seem to be always searching for something else, something better, something that will feel, well, RIGHT. And I guess I've convinced myself that this right place is happiness.
I find that I am unable to tolerate the negative things in life as easily as other people. Things set me off.
Here are my questions: Do other people have this challenge in their life? Do you think that this is exacerbated by the bipolar, or is something that therapy can change with lots of hard work? I want to be HAPPY!

I can appreciate to an extent what you're experiencing. I think most of us with bipolar disorder are searching for happiness.

I hate being bipolar because for me, since of had such wonderful hypo manias everything else is a low.

I as well understand what your saying... I've really never been happy since I can remember... I have pockets of happiness but never a just a natural high from life so to speak

I understand where your coming from ... My belief is ..., When a person is diagnosed its during a horrible time up or down normally ,right? Then you start medications usually so you battle not only the Bipolar but the chemicals your taking ... So its alot of stress mentally and physically .

Bipolar lies to us ... Its just part of the beast .. Yes everyone will cycle from one extreme to another. Some faster or slower.

The age old question of " will I be "normal " again There is just no such thing as "normal" I have a friend no mental health issues and shes always feeling terrible and has more problems than I do.

When will I be "happy" again ... Its all valid concerns ... I use to worry everyday if I was going to be happy again . I stopped over analyzing my mood and realized I was in fact having good days I just spent to much time chasing "happy" when it was right in front of me half the time.

I have alot of bad days too and it sucks and Bipolar sucks... I wish there was no PC because none of us would have a need for place to find support.

Did I mention Bipolar sucks a lot

Yes. It's so easy to over-analyze -- especially with BP. Though people without BP do it too. It's so easy to not see happiness because we're caught up in obsessing over the past and future. But we're not in either of those places. The concept of mindfulness was a real eye-opener for me. It's not that the present is all fabulousness (lol!). It can be damn excruciating. BUT. That doesn't negate the truth of missing what is good when we're focused elsewhere.

Anymore, I consider happiness to be contentedness. Do I spend a lot of time there? No. But when I catch it, I hug the bejeebers out of it.

Another thing is waiting for the big picture to be all aligned. Everything great all at once? That's not going to happen, really. So we have to look to the little things in the midst of everything else. Mindfulness.-- the hot water in the shower, the snuggliness of a blanket, the relief of sitting after standing too long, cool shapes in the clouds. If we can hone in on the really little things, we probably won't miss the bigger ones.

Camel, something you said caught my attention. That you are always looking somewhere else and that you've become convinced that's where happiness is. Do you realize that in saying that you've pretty well precluded happiness from being where you are? But you've got to remember. It doesn't exist in just one location. Even if it is IS over there, it doesn't mean it can't be here as well.

To your questions: Yes, this is a challenge for me. Yes, I think BP can make it harder (though…. I also think we are more able to embrace the humor of the ridiculous and see things in a different light). And yes, therapy can help. Especially regarding mindfulness. Did I mention mindfulness?

A question I ask myself nearly everyday. It tends to perpetuate hopelessness for me, but I still ask it. Can I have happiness?

I'm not sure I've ever known what it really is. Just a phantasm haunting me throughout my life, it's wail calling me to an early grave.

Oh, my dear friend, you make me wanna just reach out through my computer and hug you This is such a great, and deeply philosophical topic !

I used to ask myself this question all the time. First off, this is not a yes/no question. I think that our polarized thinking can cause us to be idealistic - either something is really good or really bad. Either we're happy or sad, with no realistic middle ground. This can cause a lot of the trouble we go through everyday.

It is my opinion that there is no on/off switch, but a continuum or spectrum of emotions, and we are all working to get towards the positive end of the spectrum. That's all ! Some of us may get farther than others for reasons that are some complex function of our hard work (therapy, self-improvement, etc), luck, which country and/or state you live in, blessings from the man upstairs (if you believe in God), etc. We may never get there, but that's OK !!! Let's die trying and have no regrets !

Sorry if I've disappointed you. That was not my intention at all. I think we can all have rewarding and satisfying lives, and that it is best to rely on only one person - the person we see in the mirror, to get there. Self-improvement is what it's all about, in my opinion. Want something in your life ? Get off your ***** and go get it !

You can totally get to the positive end of that spectrum, and I urge you to rely on no one but yourself to get there !

But, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of "happiness"

I feel like if i allow myself to be happy soemething bad will happen but i long to be happy to be able to enjoy the simple things in life but i don't know if its possible but i do feel good right now but not exactly happy

Thanks to everyone, for the splendid and thought provoking responses! I found them to be very helpful....

I feel much the same as that - never satisfied, rarely excited!

Okay ... If your mania's are euphoric insane loads of exciting fun .... Your not going to find that in normal everyday "happy"

Happy is just a word .. that's all it is .. When you wake up and feel content that's really what happy is all about. or when you wake up and cant wait to get out of bed and watch the sun come up , or have that great first cup of coffee , the smell of bacon etc etc

Honestly Im not in a real good place right now myself .. But I look for a bit of good everyday.. Yesterday while walking my dog a Dragon fly tagged along the entire walk. no big deal right? Well it was a thing that my dad and I had,,, its means love ... Hes been gone since 97, So it made me smile.

That is why regardless of how I feel I am around PC offering support to others even tho I feel like shyt sometimes Why? Because it takes my mind off myself and maybe just maybe I will bring a smile or help to someone thats struggling.