[happywoman]

Today I was talking to my pyschologist about destigmation of bipolar

We came up with these two statements:

“A dysfunction or disruption in my neuroanatomy and biochemical reactions that result in a dysregulation of mood.”

“Contentment not because I have bipolar, not in spite of the fact that I have bipolar but contentment and I have bipolar.”

Do people have examples or thoughts on the above statements and about how they are living a bipolar proud or bipolar content life?

The first just seems like an attempt at a definition of the causes. It states that bipolar disorder is an illness. We didn't cause it. It's not our faults.

The second seems like an ideal scenario I'd think we'd all like to have. "Bipolar content" to me seems like either a result of attaining the second situation or being OK living with bipolar symptoms, assuming most of one's bipolar illness brings advantages vs. pain/struggle/disadvantages.

Bipolar proud? What I think of is a situation where people with bipolar become proud of themselves for how they've coped with the illness, i.e. overcoming obstacles, being patient, determined, and vigilant about recovery or at least the best wellness possible.

Contentment and pride are deserved. Too often people with bipolar disorder think of themselves as weak or failures. I think that's just not true. It's an extremely tough job dealing with a major mental illness and taking steps to manage it. Remember, most heroic feats require challenges/struggles. An easy life with no challenges usually doesn't yield such a label as hero/heroine. We can be heros/heroines for ourselves and those we love. Fighting stigma increases such heroism even more. At least that's how I look at it.

I once read a blog post on bp Magazine's website discussing "lost years" during their illness. I understood why the author labeled them as such, but later realized that maybe what I used to call "lost years" wasn't so lost after all. I'm not minimizing my struggle at all, I just realized that these past 15 years have been among the greatest learning experiences of my life. It took a long while to realize that, though.

[Moose72]

Lost vs learning years. Interesting. Ive sure learned a lot about being bipolar. I still think ive lost many years. No career no job at all.

Originally Posted by Moose72

Lost vs learning years. Interesting. Ive sure learned a lot about being bipolar. I still think ive lost many years. No career no job at all.

It is rough having a career destroyed, I know. My husband and I went from being comfortable financially to really struggling. I've been on disability for years. I try to look on the bright side as much as I can, though.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

The first just seems like an attempt at a definition of the causes. It states that bipolar disorder is an illness. We didn't cause it. It's not our faults.


The second seems like an ideal scenario I'd think we'd all like to have. "Bipolar content" to me seems like either a result of attaining the second situation or being OK living with bipolar symptoms, assuming most of one's bipolar illness brings advantages vs. pain/struggle/disadvantages.


Bipolar proud? What I think of is a situation where people with bipolar become proud of themselves for how they've coped with the illness, i.e. overcoming obstacles, being patient, determined, and vigilant about recovery or at least the best wellness possible.


Contentment and pride are deserved. Too often people with bipolar disorder think of themselves as weak or failures. I think that's just not true. It's an extremely tough job dealing with a major mental illness and taking steps to manage it. Remember, most heroic feats require challenges/struggles. An easy life with no challenges usually doesn't yield such a label as hero/heroine. We can be heros/heroines for ourselves and those we love. Fighting stigma increases such heroism even more. At least that's how I look at it.


I once read a blog post on bp Magazine's website discussing "lost years" during their illness. I understood why the author labeled them as such, but later realized that maybe what I used to call "lost years" wasn't so lost after all. I'm not minimizing my struggle at all, I just realized that these past 15 years have been among the greatest learning experiences of my life. It took a long while to realize that, though.

[happywoman]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

The first just seems like an attempt at a definition of the causes. It states that bipolar disorder is an illness. We didn't cause it. It's not our faults.

Thank you Birddancer for your reply.

The first statement started from a conversation around thinking of bipolar with a more from a holistic view, not seperating the physical and the mental but integrating it into the human living condition/experience.

The second seems like an ideal scenario I'd think we'd all like to have. "Bipolar content" to me seems like either a result of attaining the second situation or being OK living with bipolar symptoms, assuming most of one's bipolar illness brings advantages vs. pain/struggle/disadvantages.



The idea of being bipolar content seems to me about being mindful of bipolar throughly the day and where you are in the here and now.
Being grateful and accepting of all the challenges and struggles that brought us to today.
Looking for beauty and making a life that you are content with living with bipolar
It would include lots of self care and self compassion

Bipolar proud? What I think of is a situation where people with bipolar become proud of themselves for how they've coped with the illness, i.e. overcoming obstacles, being patient, determined, and vigilant about recovery or at least the best wellness possible.

To me I had reservations about being bipolar proud or bipolar pride as I consider I have to be more socially active and try to be outspoken socially and politically.
I would say I am bipolar with my family.
I am proud of myself for my coping skills and self management over the last 30 years.

Contentment and pride are deserved. Too often people with bipolar disorder think of themselves as weak or failures. I think that's just not true. It's an extremely tough job dealing with a major mental illness and taking steps to manage it. Remember, most heroic feats require challenges/struggles. An easy life with no challenges usually doesn't yield such a label as hero/heroine. We can be heros/heroines for ourselves and those we love. Fighting stigma increases such heroism even more. At least that's how I look at it.

Thank you for this paragraph. It is inspirational.

I once read a blog post on bp Magazine's website discussing "lost years" during their illness. I understood why the author labeled them as such, but later realized that maybe what I used to call "lost years" wasn't so lost after all. I'm not minimizing my struggle at all, I just realized that these past 15 years have been among the greatest learning experiences of my life. It took a long while to realize that, though.

I feel that bipolar has shown me that everything changes/ dies and is regenerated. Life and living is full of losses.


Does anyone have more thoughts and ideas about becoming more bipolar content or bipolar proud on a personal or social level?