[MusicLover82]

Bipolar Disorder: 6 Ways To Distinguish Between Yourself & Your Illness

Do you guys have trouble separating yourself from the illness? When I’m depressed, for example, my self-esteem is just terrible! It’s hard for me not to say, “man, I should work on my self-esteem!” What do you think about the article?

I am terrible at numbers 2 and 3, especially 3

thanks for the artickle

[Movingon69]

Thank you for this. As someone newly dx I have real trouble with distinguishing the two. I've always thought hypomania was my personality and that depression was just exhaustion. I've felt lost not knowing you I really am.

[Blueberrybook]

For me, I don't even know what my baseline is anymore. I've been in the mental health system since I was 19, and I'm 40 now. I have been on meds most of that time except before trying to conceive & pregnancy (which happened very fast once we started trying to conceive).

I don't know what I'm supposed to be like? The same as I was in high school? Maybe, but I never have been in my adult life; no writing short stories or drawing portraits for me, the creativity zapped. But I do still enjoy reading.

[MusicLover82]

I think who I REALLY am is my best self, when I’m confident (but not unrealistically so, not delusions of grandeur or anything), mostly happy except when things go wrong, and feeling peaceful. Unfortunately, this state happens rarely, but I am striving to find my balance to stay there more often!

[Wild Coyote]

Thanks for sharing this article.


WC

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by MusicLover82

Bipolar Disorder: 6 Ways To Distinguish Between Yourself & Your Illness

Do you guys have trouble separating yourself from the illness? When I’m depressed, for example, my self-esteem is just terrible! It’s hard for me not to say, “man, I should work on my self-esteem!” What do you think about the article?

Um, yes. I’m wary of being able to ‘take charge of’ or ‘control’ any of my mental disorders, bipolar in particular, maybe. No, I can’t separate myself from my illnesses — if I could I’d have no need for shrinks, therapists or meds. If I were to ‘separate’ myself from my meds for one-week? If I could pep-talk my way out of depression? No and no.

I’m delighted that others have positive experiences with mental disorders and self-control/self-management. And in the whole process of seeing oneself as a separate entity from ones’ disorders. I lack that kind of control.

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks for sharing this

[Moose72]

I suppose thats what they are referring to when they talk about remission: lack of abcxyz symptoms.