Don't Compare Yourself to Others

I had someone tell me that she was jealous of me because I am so much further along in the management of my bipolar disorder than she is. I tried to comfort her by sharing that everyone moves at their own pace with this disorder. You have to remember that it's been many years since my diagnosis, with working hard every day to learn how to control my bipolar disorder instead of the other way around.

I wasn't always stable. I'm still not always stable - I still struggle with depression here and there. But it isn't fair to look at my life now and compare it to yours if you are still struggling, thinking that you will never reach stability. I would encourage you that if you do the things I did (medication, therapy, self-help, support system, etc.) and do them consistently, then you will eventually become stable too.

We can't compare ourselves to each other. Everyone has their own way of doing things, and everything happens in its own timing. Consistency is the keyword. If you keep doing what you need to do to maintain stability you will, in fact, maintain that stability.

That is still not to ensure that you will never go into another bipolar episode or experience bouts of non-episodic depression here and there. Nobody's perfect, especially not me. So I would say to this woman, please do not compare yourself to me. I am just further along in my journey than you are, but you'll get there.

We may have the same disorder, but there are different types of bipolar disorder. And the symptoms may manifest themselves differently between different people. We each have to develop an individual treatment plan and follow it for ourselves, not expecting that someone else's plan will work for us, or vice versa.

The main thing is to never give up hope. If you do compare yourself to me at all, let it be with the hope that someday you will achieve stability like I have. I'm nobody special. I haven't done anything that you can't do. I just "walk the bipolar walk," one day at a time.

So be encouraged. Stability IS attainable! Just don't compare yourself to others. You will go through your own journey as you need to go through it. And remember, everyone is different.

Even the Bible says that "God's timing is not our timing." Be patient. And be consistent, doing what is right.

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele

Willingness and Bipolar Disorder

I am so excited! I have written several Christian books that are going to be published soon and will be available to you. They are inspirational and encouraging and will give you hope as you try to manage your bipolar disorder. It's amazing what God can do with us if we're just willing.

Willingness. Sometimes we just don't want to do the things we need to do to manage our bipolar disorder (or our lives), but we still need to do them. The difference between willingness and unwillingness will make the difference in how easy or hard it is to get them done.

We may not like what we have to do, but we should be willing to do it. Like take our medications every day, see the psychiatrist and therapist, eat and sleep right, and exercise. If we have a willingness, we will have a much better attitude about it.

Like, look what God is doing in my life right now. I have wanted to be a published author since I was in 6th grade. It is so very exciting to think that that dream is finally going to come true! Do I believe that willingness has something to do with it? Yes, I do. Because as long as I am willing to take care of my bipolar disorder and do the things I need to do, I will stay stable. Then there's no telling how many books I can write, how many people I can inspire, how much I can accomplish! I believe that God honors that willingness.

Today I am willing to do whatever it takes to manage my bipolar disorder. I never want to go back to having those mood swings, or pay the consequences of bipolar episodes.

But because I am willing today, I have a positive attitude. I am able to love myself and others, to be productive and healthy. My life is a very good one now.

Willingness takes humility, however. You can't have a willing attitude and yet still want things your own way all the time. It means compromise. Like "agreeing to disagree" rather than fight over something, even if you are right.

When other people see your willingness, they are more supportive of you as well. I know my husband is of me. When he sees me trying, taking care of myself and doing what I have to do (even though he knows that sometimes I don't feel like it), he's behind me 100 percent. I mean, he's behind me anyway, he is my primary supporter, but it takes some of the burden off him when I take care of myself, make sure my own needs are met. He's the same way (he has bipolar disorder as well), and it makes it easier on me when he is willing.

Willingness gets you much further than unwillingness does. When I was unwilling, I had a bad attitude, and everything suffered. I suffered. Today I am willing. And today I no longer suffer. I have a very good life now.

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele

Bipolar Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia

I've been stable for quite awhile now, but those ole racing thoughts still give me trouble sometimes. Just can't seem to shut my brain off! At those times it's very hard for me to get to sleep. Once I'm asleep, I stay asleep, but it's the getting there that's the hard part.

I found a solution, though, and wanted to share it with you, because I know alot of people with bipolar disorder struggle with the same thing.

I don't mean for this to come out like a commercial, but it probably will, so I'll apologize for that right off. But there's a website where I got some relaxation CDs that are working for me really great. I even wrote a couple articles on the homepage of this website on hypnosis and meditation that you can read if you scroll down it. It's at: www.goodtapes.com, and the man's name is Louis P. Bauer, Ph.D.

He's even got one on losing weight that I'm listening to at night now, because the last medication I was changed to put 35 pounds on me! NOT a good thing. But to have both my weight problem and racing thoughts problem addressed at the same time? Good thing! :)

He also has one on stress and anxiety reduction that I've gotten but haven't had a chance to listen to yet. But I'm sure I'm going to like it. I'm telling you, I have no idea what the end of the CD says, because I'm asleep before the end! I'm so excited about that, as you can tell.

I normally don't endorse other people's products, but in this case, I'm using it myself with success, so maybe you can, too.

I'm waking up better in the morning, too, without that groggy "med hangover" feeling! My writing is better, and so is my attitude.

Well, that's all I had for today. Just a quick commercial, then off to work! Hope you're having a good day.

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele