[cashart10]

I'm curious to know if you are more apt to use your emotional mind or if you are more apt to use your rational mind.

I use my emotional mind much more frequently than I used my rational mind. I thought that those of us with Bipolar are more inclined to use our emotional mind because we feel so deeply but I am not so sure. How do you think/react to situations and people? Is it different if you are in an episode?

i used to cater to my emotional side more but through therapy and all that i have been learning to listen to my rational side. right now its about 50/50 but im hoping that i will get better at overcoming my emotions to think more rationally.

[Standup2me]

Rational. Totally.
Often to the point of sounding callous and/or detached

[larali]

When I'm off my meds, it's emotional... usually, rational.

[Nammu]

I'm rational when I'm stable but very emotional during during episodes especially mixed.

I am very strongly rationally-minded, very left-brained, logical. In a way I think that has saved me because I found learning and using skills a very natural thing to learn to do. I think that kind of skills learning is probably more frustrating for those who aren't comfortable working with their rational mind. The downfall is that working through the emotions that I needed to about my past, etc. was harder to get to, but once I learned to access my emotions, I was able to work through those issues using skills such as REBT/CBT. I have become a bit more balanced between emotion and rational thinking, but I still lean to rational mind.

[Sesiley]

Originally Posted by sidestepper

I'm rational when I'm stable but very emotional during during episodes especially mixed.

I'm the same way

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I am rational on a day to day basis. I think it is helps with my mania and impulse control.

[Wander]

I am a very rational person who is in touch with their emotions but when I am in an episode that goes out the window and I become very emotionally driven and sometimes extremely irrational and difficult to reason with.

[BlackSheep79]

Emotional, but the last few years moving towards rational. I'm very passionate and I go over the top, especially during the highs of this illness.

Following along the lines of others, when I am in an episode my rational mind is gone. I have periods of time when I can connect with it during an episode which are increasing with intensive therapy.

Majority of the time I am rational mind but I certainly fall into the emotional mind quite easily. Now days I am much better at engaging the rational but sometimes I need help which I find this forum helpful for.

[StressCadet]

I am also very rational minded. I was a computer programmer for 25 years, so logic is the way I tend to think. I will tend to maybe get emotional when I'm manic, but it's either anger or elation. Makes me want to buy stuff.

[UCMATH]

Rational. I've been told that I'm like Data or Sheldon Cooper. But that totally disappears when I'm manic or very depressed.

This is a really interesting post.

[Trippin2.0]

Rational, and I think its what has kept me (relatively) sane throughout this bipolar ride.

Its made research, coping skills, emergency plans, and contingency plans possible. Its made them my natural response to dealing with BP.


Nowwww, when it comes to my BPD bullshyt, way too emotional for my liking, but luckily, that mostly only happens with BF and a few insiders and even luckier, I am learning to over power the emotional crazy with my rational side.


I can mostly talk myself down rationally when I'm thinking and behaving emotionally.


While I'm no brick wall, and certainly do feel things, most things, on an innately deep level, I'm glad I don't always feel like I HAVE to act on my feelings.

Right brained here. I think via feelings. It doesn't mean I don't "see" rationality, I see simultaneously both. Also, I am very rational when it comes to others' issues/problems/predicaments. But regarding my own, emotion holds the greater sway. Yet, I can look as an outsider. This is a good thing for insight, but the results are mixed. It does help with detachment and (generally) to moderate my response.

I think sometimes there is an impression that there's no logic to it, but (at least in my experience) that isn't the case. It's just the factor that compels me to a greater degree.

Edited to add -- Oops! Forgot to answer last question. When in episode, emotional rules big time. Sometimes, logic can be there in the form of a little (tiny) voice. That I think is stupid and wrong and totally illogical Still, it's the only thing to fight the other side, so I try to let it have a say. Even though it is stupid. Lol. It's the only thing that's gotten me through though.

I "Think" I'm more national when stable (But who knows really) I'm definitely more emotional when in an episode.

I wonder if we, as bipolars, have developed our rational sides to help counteract the emotional instability of our cycles?

[yanks7]

I feel I over compensate with rational mind after all the embarrassment from my emotional episodes. I'm hoping the pendulum will settle in the middle some day.

[Imah]

I thought I would be emotional too- but was surprised to discover I actually use the rational part more. Probably because of the constant battle with strong emotions in an suppress emotions country. (USA - we don't allow many feelings in the work place).

I think the constant rationalizing has made me more diplomatic and communicative. It has also hindered my ability to know what I truly feel, until it comes bursting forth.

Best of luck to us all.

[Ripose]

I used to be very rational but as my bipolar worsened I became very emotional. That is until I stumbled across an OTC med that dulls mania and emotional pain, as well as physical pain. However it also screwed my rational thought as well, now I am an emotionless, irrational mess. I see my doc soon though and will slowly get things back to "normal".