Newsletter: Bipolar Disorder Management Secret….. an answer (not THE answer, but an answer!)

It’s often hard for people with bipolar disorder to know what is reasonable and what is unacceptable. If you’re born with a certain kind of brain- it makes you say and do things that are normal to you. For example, people with bipolar disorder get stressed a lot more easily than the general population. They get more angry- cry more- try to kill themselves more- and definitely get higher than anyone without the illness when it comes to mania.

But even though it is natural for us, it’s not ok and it’s certainly not a very productive way to live- but it’s what our brains do. So it makes sense that we will all have to learn what is reasonable and acceptable so that we can survive in the average world.

How can you stop behavior that is unacceptable and non productive?  I have found an answer that took me a long time to master, but I’ve kept at it for 10 years and it’s working.

Here are some tips:

1. I regularly examine how my behavior is affecting all of the people in my life. Do they want to be around me?

2. Do I have friends who actually think I’m a cool person?

3. Do people avoid me?

4. Am I able to listen to someone without talking about my troubles all of the time?

5. Do people feel comfortable enough to tell me they think I am in a moodswing?

Bipolar disorder is sneaky- you would think that the above would be rather easy- you simply have to look and listen to the people in your life and change your behavior, right?  Wrong- our brains are fighting reasonable self reflection.  Bipolar depression and bipolar mania lie to us and make it difficult to answer the above questions.  But it can be done! How would you answer the questions today? And if you love someone with bipolar disorder, how would they answer the questions?

Julie

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