[Wadijs]

Feeling positive or feeling negative - I believe that also for most bipolar sufferers you are able to choose - where you want to live. Choosing positive - is a state of being - However, no one can or will or is able to tell you how - it may be extremely difficult - but the wisdom for positive being and positive life choices - is essentiëly known by every human being - However, you have to realize that. The benefits are being less bipolar - and when negative comes on your path - which especially for bipolar sufferers is inevitable - you will be able to deal with it better and easier over time...Professional guidance and truly listening - to what your surroundings are saying - can be first steps. However, you know yourself best...I chose positive, I stopped caring about social stigma, I quit dope, I try now to make my life better a little bit everyday. I still suffer - because of bipolar, medicine, trauma from hospitalization and past choices. However, I am happy, because I made that choice.

[pirilin]

Welcome to the forum.
I beg to differ. Not everybody can control hapiness. Or sadness for that matter. Nobody is more footloose than I am.And, and, and, let's say I spent more than a year very not me. I couldn't control that sadness and, I tried, believe I did all I could to no avail. Glad to hear you're doing fine and have regained your happiness.

[Ocean Swimmer]

If it were as easy as choosing,I would never have had to go into the hospital.
I wouldn't need therapy. No need to take medicine.
But some people's symptoms aren't very dibilatating.
I listen to positive thinking audiobooks.

[Ocean Swimmer]

If it were as easy as choosing,I would never have had to go into the hospital.
I wouldn't need therapy. No need to take medicine.
But some people's symptoms aren't very dibilatating.
I listen to positive thinking audiobooks.

[Turtlesoup]

For myself definitely not a choice thing-it's a brain chemistry thing. When my bipolar depression hits it either creeps up on me slowly so sometimes I don't notice at first or I wake up & wham I can't even get out of bed. I've had times when my T has pointed out my depression & I'm like no really I'm ok but then I realize I haven't taken a bath, washed my hair for 2 weeks am laying on the couch pretty much 24/7 etc. There are lots of things I do to cope & counter act it like exercise, getting outside, journal, artwork and the like which can help but many times it just has to run it's course. I think we are all unique & even when we share the same illnesses they can manifest very differently.

[Moose72]

There are coping techniques and then there is brain chemistry. We have to balance the two. DBT, therapy, psych meds- all these things have to work together. Its not one over the other.

I agree with Turtlesoup, too: Sometimes, its just chemistry and you can't think yourself out of it. I know that certainly was the case during my manic episode last Fall.

By the way, this is my 8,000th post! (I just thought I'd point that out. lol)

[JustJace2u]

Those of us with BP don't really have a 'choice'. The chemistry in our brain isn't like other people and therefore we need a little extra help in getting our emotions under control. For me that means seeing a psychologist on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to work on coping techniques using CBT and DBT therapy, and then there's the psychiatrist who helps me with my meds.

Originally Posted by wadijs

Feeling positive or feeling negative - I believe that also for most bipolar sufferers you are able to choose - where you want to live.

Most? I doubt that very much. Most of us need to employ a range of techniques to try to manage our BP. If all it took was choice, we'd choose not to have it at all. I'm not saying positive thinking has no place, just saying that in an episode when BP is owning our azz, it just plain doesn't work. We can't simply "happy think" our way out of it. Doesn't work that way. (If that does work for someone, they probably ought to be re-assessed, because it's doubtful it's actually BP they're dealing with.)

Originally Posted by Wadijs

The benefits are being less bipolar - and ...

Like being less pregnant?

While I concede there is a degree of spectrum within BP, there is a point where it isn't. Symptoms have to cause impairment -- have a negative impact on one's functioning in order to be properly dx'd. No such thing as "a little bipolar". (Disclaimer-- I realize you did not use that particular little gem, but it's hand in hand with it.)

Sorry to kind of jump on your case, but most of us have been told "just choose happy" a zillion times from well-meaning, but ill-informed people. So it hits a nerve. I beat myself up for DECADES attempting to reason my way out of it. It was my FERVENT wish to be able to do this. And it very much did.not.work.

[MissCathryn]

You clearly do not have bipolar.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by NeatFreakmom

You clearly do not have bipolar.

Touche!

Originally Posted by NeatFreakmom

You clearly do not have bipolar.

This was my initial response when reading the post as well. But I feel we should be very careful in making such statements. I was first diagnosed with mental illness at age 15. Having periods of suicidal ideation and depression. They wanted to medicate me and my mother refused which I agreed or at least conceded that my mom knew what was best for me. I'd start to feel better, think very positive and tell myself "I pulled myself up from my bootstraps and that is what others need to do too". I would get sick again....consider is a personality flaw and that would feed the depression further. I'd begin to feel better and once again would feel I was in control of my moods and just needed to think positive. I'd always think I cured myself. It took decades to accept that I had zero control and it was an obvious chemical issue occurring. I fight my bipolar DX often but it's been confirmed by several doctors over the years. Yet I believed just as the OP believes, that I just had to get off my butt and pull myself up from my bootstraps. So saying "you obviously don't have BP" is not only inaccurate, it's dangerous. Like I said, initially when reading the post I felt the same as you but looking back using deep introspection I can unequivocally say this is not an accurate or safe assumption.

To the OP, I hope in your case you are right. I hope your new found positive thinking keeps you from ever experiencing an episode again. This would indicate you don't have BP and would be a blessing. But please take this opportunity to grow and learn and understand that people with real BP can't use positive thinking to resolve the issue. It can help....just as it can help everyone who employs it......but in the pits of despair of real depression it will do nothing more than taking a baby aspirin would.

I wish you well and continued success in life.