Do we attribute too much to BP?

Do you think that we (meaning people with bipolar disorder in general, if you know others) attribute too much to the disorder? I mean aren't there aspects of our lives that really have nothing to do with it, or at least at times, depending on how chronically you're ill?

What negatives do you see in doing this?

I think it can detract from other issues we have (including non-diagnosable ones) and our ability to work on them. Also, I think it can separate us, at times, too much from other people without BP who might experience exactly what we do and then we miss out on that solidarity with others and maybe helping them and them helping us. What do you think?

I keep Bipolar as small a part of my life as possible.

I can have a shyt day and it have nothing to do with my Bipolar. I can be angry at someone and it have nothing to do with my Bipolar.

I have Severe Fibro .. I deal with chronic pain from it ... But I know there is a difference between Fibro pain and old age pain * sigh*

Yes Bipolar is awful at times.. But its just part of my life and I have learned to have a good life despite it.

Bipolar is only has big as people let it be in general outside of episodes.. jmho

I've asked friends about certain issues, and they deal with very similar problems. It's not always bp. It's not a crutch to blame all life problems on.

Being only diagnosed officially a week ago it's hard for me to really say, but I totally understand what you're getting at.

This is exactly why I am so grateful for my sister, who has no MI and is so supportive and will talk to me about anything. She tells me what is normal and what is not. Turns out a lot of the things I think are MI, are actually somewhat normal. She told me that most people have moods that shift, albeit not as dramatic as bipolar mood shifts. I am hyperaware of my moods and symptoms and I need to learn to let go and know what is normal and what is really something that is urgent that I need to talk to the pdoc about.

I have a hard time with this, separating my MI from my actual personality. My old T tried working on this with me but sadly we didn't have enough time together to really get through it. Things like "am I procrastinating because I'm in a depressive episode or am I just being lazy?" or "am I angry because my MI makes me overreact or am I justified in feeling angry?" things like that

I had to continually remind my ex about the fact that I'm still human even with the diagnosis and go through regular ups and downs ... as anyone would in certain situations, which at times, have nothing to do with my BP diagnosis.

I use the official MH bible to help guide me in separating myself from my symptoms.


If it's not causing impairment or not lasting x amount of time, not affecting my functionality, then its just me and nothing to pathologize or worry about.


The less things I attribute to my MI, the more things I have control over, and me likey control panels.

My pdoc has said that if the symptom lasts for 4 days it is likely a bipolar thing and not a reactive mood state. I like his perspective.

So when I have a bad day and it bleeds into another bad day and I can't trace it to a specific event I start to think that it may be related to my bipolar. I try to "sleep on it" to give me some distance from the problem. If I can't sleep for more than 1 night, I also suspect a more permanent mood state may be coming upon me. In the end, I try the 4 day rule.

I know that some people have more volatile moods than I do. I consider myself stable. So what I said above relates to me and is not a prescription for all. I try to see myself as having a normal range of emotion while knowing that the shadow of bipolar is always on my shoulder.

I think bipolar is the same as "normal" emotions, it's just exaggerated. But I know what you mean about attributing too much to illness. If you're taking care of the bipolar, I think you tend to be hypervigilant and can therefore sometimes think something is the illness when it's something that is usual or common for "normal" people. At least that's what some medical people told me about my own treatment of bipolar. After more than 21 years diagnosed, I've relaxed considerably about it!

Nah. I don't. Half the time I'm oblivious when things are a situation. An indication for me though is when I lose a rapid amount of weight in a short period of time. But by the time I notice that I'm way far gone.

So, way no.

Oh, and no, I never lose rapid amounts of weight in short periods of time, though it would be nice. lol

What about parsing out BP from other diagnosed MI? I know that it took me some time to distinguish between the agitation that is caused at times by my anxiety and that of hypomania, but I believe I have that worked out now; it's so very different in how I experience them and how they manifest themselves. How about you guys? Whether you suffer from anxiety or other MI's?

I keep a journal which has helped me to discern what is normal emotionally, and what is manic behavior, or what is sadness compared to real depression. Now that stable it's easier to tell.

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Yes. I used to blame many things on the BP....then I wised up and realized much of problems were caused by my bad coping skills.

There is bipolar and then there is BIPOLAR!!!.
If you can function in society without sticking out too much, please, teach me how.
I put up a show for my own show. And I luv it!.

That's a great question. Like Christina said, I try to keep mine as small of a part of my life as possible and not dwell on it too much. The more we think about it, the worse it can get......sort of like an airplane death spiral. I simply remain aware and try to catch myself if I get froggy.

So it affects every part of my life I recognize that I have the ability to control my actions. So it doesn't have to affect every aspect of your life