[BlackSheep79]

Does anyone feel like they overreact about everything, like they are too passionate? It's like at work the smallest issues drive me crazy. I can't stand it when the same problems occur repeatedly and are never addressed, where others would just go oh well. I have to voice my opinion or suggestions because I believe in continually making improvements. My husband thinks it is my BP, I think and/or maybe the OCD. He says I see the world differently. He believes that people with BP are evolutionized and there is so much going on in our brain, constant firing and ideas, that were creative and perceive the world differently. He says he looks up to me for that, I feel like it's a curse in only the fact that I become so passionate when I just don't understand why people can ignore things and I can't. It's so stressful, I can't let go of the smallest issues. I feel so different from everyone, like there looking at me like I'm crazy? Is it just my personality, or do you guys deal with this also?

[cashart10]

First I just want to say WOW! What a supportive husband you have when it comes to your illness. That is hugely commendable!

Yes, I do the same thing. Especially when I become very very manic, I become hyper focused on a subject (religion, politics, theatre, etc) and become all encompassed with it. It's like my very being collides with my passion and it becomes my life, my everything. I want to change things, better things, understand things that others just seem to let go. It is both maddening and saddening. I also feel like I know things that others can't possibly know; I believe that I have understandings that others cannot possibly grasp.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I do it and I used to do it a lot more when I worked. I always feel like if people aren't willing to throw everything into what they are doing (and by everything I mean with manic dedication) then they aren't doing it right and it stresses me out. I demand the same from myself though. I still worry about things that happened when I worked and I stopped working nearly 4 years ago. I get haunted by things I made mistakes with and know I could have handled better. This episode included a voice yelling at me for those things. And they are just so long ago that I can't imagine that any of it matters now.

I do this with everything I care about and it's not a good thing in most cases.

[BipolaRNurse]

I know how that goes. Eventually you have to learn to pick your battles, but it's hard when you're bipolar and see the world in stark black and white (to say nothing of its vibrant colors). Of course you're passionate. We all are, at least until we get on the right combination of medications and learn to relax a little. Sometimes I miss the fire and the passion of my old life, but I couldn't keep a job or manage my life. I'm a much more pleasant person to be around now that I can keep my mouth shut and my mind a bit more open. I also don't run around screaming at people or throwing telephones against walls anymore.

[gloamingone]

Yeah, I have that problem, too, especially since I have severe insomnia. My emotions are so hard to control sometimes! It's rarely expressed through anger towards others; usually I focus it inward and end up crying hysterically. Lots of fun.

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[BlackSheep79]

Originally Posted by cashart10

First I just want to say WOW! What a supportive husband you have when it comes to your illness. That is hugely commendable!.

He's been great. We've been together twelve years and I was diagnosed eight years ago. I know he gets frustrated, I don't blame him, I get frustrated with myself.

[~Christina]

Oh yeah ! Sure , 100%.

I have learned to tune at least some of that out. It will always been an issue. I also have the OCD firing off to !

As you know I was diagnosed late. So prior to that I just assumed it was the perfectionist in me causing the problems that I had just letting things be..

It's really hard to learn how to let stuff go.. I finally had to ask myself...Does this really matter? Does it matter enough to me...to allow myself to get really upset?

As BipolarRn said,, You need to pick your battles. I have learned (finally) that life is hard and I really don't need to make it even harder.

I'm glad your husband is so supportive. I also have a Gem that even tho it took him a while to get on board, he is now and I don't take that for granted.. I know how hard it was when he didn't "get it"

Advice? Well... maybe some self grounding would come in handy when your getting annoyed over things that you probably can't even control.. Self grounding is a good tool to use, takes practice of course, worth a shot.