[Pearl9327]

I'm starting to think that chronic negativity is a bipolars' natural state. By that, I mean depression, pessimism, intense anxiety, irritability. For me at least, being positive, optimistic, hopeful and finding humor in things is a daily fight. I've been this way all of my 33 years. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Granted, I've been under a lot of stress lately. My finances keep tightening more and more, and I am getting more depressed about it. Maybe I'm about to be triggered into a hypomanic episode, which I certainly hope not. Luckily, I have finding and pursuing ways to help my financial state improve and I'm not letting this ruin me nor am I sitting around doing nothing. But damn, I am so irritable lately! Thanksgiving just passed, and I am grateful for nothing. Just now someone bumped into my table, and I felt like screaming. Just moody, pessimistic and irritable. And the fact that I am like this makes me even more down and feel lousy about myself.

Does anyone else believe negativity is a bipolars' natural state?

[Blue_Bird]

I don't, I'm generally a very positive and happy/content person unless I'm having some severe episode but I've been stable for a long time so that's rarely ever.

[venusss]

I am bit of grumpy cat naturally. And I always say that pesimist is a well informed optimist.

[CopperStar]

I think my negative nature has more to do with everything I've experienced in life. I have learned through experience to be very pessimistic and mistrusting. I can understand optimism and whatnot in theory, as a theory, understand it on an intellectual sort of level. But it's not what I know.

[raspberrytorte]

I've always been a negative person. I don't think it's a bipolar trait though.

[Pearl9327]

Hmmm. Maybe its a natural trait of mine. Everyone in my family is very negative, so I guess I picked up on it or inherited it.

But also, times have been tough for me, and I'm worried sick. That's likely contributing to my depression and irritability. So, maybe it a combo of both.

[Cocosurviving]

I'm BP 1 since I've been stabile which has been a while now (over nine months). I have more good content days. I usually look forward to the next day most of the time. I do have sad days when anxiety gets to me that's when bad thoughts get in I take a PRN med that takes it away. In a nutshell I do not believe regular negativity is a BP thing

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[B2008]

Newly diagnosed but yes all my 33 years also since I can remember I have to remind myself to smile and laugh everyday. It doesn't matter if I want to I just keep myself from doing it.

That's a really good question. I was more optimistic before my diagnosis last year and often find myself missing that bright, happy girl. I keep thinking that once I loose the weight from my medication induced weight gain, I will be back to that state. This constant depression and negativity are weighing me down, I have to hope/believe it will get better.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

The symptoms you've described sound a lot like dysmorphic mania. You should google it. Because it's deff not ok to feel the way you're feeling. At least it's not a "normal" feeling.

Dx: BP2, PTSD, bulimia/anorexia
Risperdal 4mg
Trileptal 300mgs
Buspar 45mgs
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvance 70mgs PRN

[jacky8807]

She said she has been like this her whole 33 years so I don't think it's dysphoric mania
Man I can fall into the negativity trap but wow what a difference in life when I actively seek out positivery thinking

[Pastel Kitten]

Some people have told me I'm incredibly pessimistic, but if that were really true, I feel my most severe depressive episodes would have taken me by now. I always have that inner hope, even in my darkest hours. In my brief stable periods before skyrocketing up to hypomania, I find myself quite optimistic, so I'd like to think that I am naturally optimistic if bipolar weren't a part of my life.

[Alone & confused]

Originally Posted by Pearl9327

I'm starting to think that chronic negativity is a bipolars' natural state. By that, I mean depression, pessimism, intense anxiety, irritability. For me at least, being positive, optimistic, hopeful and finding humor in things is a daily fight. I've been this way all of my 33 years. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Granted, I've been under a lot of stress lately. My finances keep tightening more and more, and I am getting more depressed about it. Maybe I'm about to be triggered into a hypomanic episode, which I certainly hope not. Luckily, I have finding and pursuing ways to help my financial state improve and I'm not letting this ruin me nor am I sitting around doing nothing. But damn, I am so irritable lately! Thanksgiving just passed, and I am grateful for nothing. Just now someone bumped into my table, and I felt like screaming. Just moody, pessimistic and irritable. And the fact that I am like this makes me even more down and feel lousy about myself.

Does anyone else believe negativity is a bipolars' natural state?

I have been thinking the same thing about myself for YEARS now. No matter what I do, I can't seem to make myself believe there is any real reason to bee optimistic about anything in my life! Even when I do manage to muster a little bit of hope, I almost always 32nd up disappointed. I sometimes wonder if it's that I simply can't be happy or pleased with anything no matter what, or if it's that things just really go wrong. I tend to want to blame life's circumstances, but most if the people around me seem to think it's ME that's the problem. Whatever the case may be, I know my view is very negative and I have no idea how to change it! Especially since it's my opinion that seeing the "ugly truth" about things is simply being realistic. I feel that being overly optimistic is just "pie in the sky" type thinking. It doesn't seem realistic to me at all to believe the BEST in everything.

[Pearl9327]

Originally Posted by RxQueen875

The symptoms you've described sound a lot like dysmorphic mania. You should google it. Because it's deff not ok to feel the way you're feeling. At least it's not a "normal" feeling.

Originally Posted by jacky8807

She said she has been like this her whole 33 years so I don't think it's dysphoric mania
Man I can fall into the negativity trap but wow what a difference in life when I actively seek out positivery thinking

I'm feeling a bit better today.

I've been wondering this week whether chronic negativity is my personality trait or my mental illness. One thing I forgot to mention is my parents visited for Thanksgiving, and I have a complicated relationship with them. I notice when I'm around them I am a totally different person, like mental illness symptoms increase. Its probably stress from dealing with them. And its probably why all my life I've been in this negative, irritable state.

But now that they are leaving today, I am feeling better, more optimistic and more lighter. I am still upset about my finances, which are like a noose around my neck. But like I said, I'm figuring ways to improve them.

But yeah, I do have a problem with constantly being negative. It could be my personality or I'm letting little things get to me so much. There are times where I wonder if being Bipolar II plays a role because I read and hear about people being agitated. But maybe I'm wrong.

[Confusedinomicon]

You can learn about thinking patterns which contribute to negative thinking.

I complain a lot and can be pessimistic but it's not nearly as bad. I trained myself over 3-4 years to drop some words from my vocabulary and identify "global thinking styles". Basically helps me evaluate situations and Identify I'm experiencing negative thoughts. It doesn't help anxiety loops though.

[Amy Today]

I don't so much think it's that our state is naturally negative, but that those prone to Bipolar Disorder (and depression and anxiety based disorders) are very sensitive to the energy around them. I think our natural state is that we are empathic, and because of that, we pick up on so much around us that others don't.

Let's face it, the world is not a very positive place, in general. Americans are consumed with materialism and are extremely overstimulated and for the most part, lacking in spiritual depth. It doesn't exactly provide someone who is quite sensitive with the healthiest environment to thrive.

My theory (which is just my own nonsense really...lol) is that if we were surrounded by a more loving and spiritual culture that moved at a slower pace, we would be much less prone to the symptoms of mental illness.

[Unrigged64072835]

I tend to be negative because it's what's most comfortable for me and I'm used to it. I'm working on being more positive, though.

[Pearl9327]

Originally Posted by Amy Today

I don't so much think it's that our state is naturally negative, but that those prone to Bipolar Disorder (and depression and anxiety based disorders) are very sensitive to the energy around them. I think our natural state is that we are empathic, and because of that, we pick up on so much around us that others don't.

Let's face it, the world is not a very positive place, in general. Americans are consumed with materialism and are extremely overstimulated and for the most part, lacking in spiritual depth. It doesn't exactly provide someone who is quite sensitive with the healthiest environment to thrive.

My theory (which is just my own nonsense really...lol) is that if we were surrounded by a more loving and spiritual culture that moved at a slower pace, we would be much less prone to the symptoms of mental illness.

I actually believe the same thing. I feel as though the energy around me has a profound effect on me. Negative energy can do a number on me!

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by Pearl9327

I actually believe the same thing. I feel as though the energy around me has a profound effect on me. Negative energy can do a number on me!

[violet66]

Originally Posted by Amy Today

I don't so much think it's that our state is naturally negative, but that those prone to Bipolar Disorder (and depression and anxiety based disorders) are very sensitive to the energy around them. I think our natural state is that we are empathic, and because of that, we pick up on so much around us that others don't.

Let's face it, the world is not a very positive place, in general. Americans are consumed with materialism and are extremely overstimulated and for the most part, lacking in spiritual depth. It doesn't exactly provide someone who is quite sensitive with the healthiest environment to thrive.

My theory (which is just my own nonsense really...lol) is that if we were surrounded by a more loving and spiritual culture that moved at a slower pace, we would be much less prone to the symptoms of mental illness.

I agree with everything in this post, 100%.