Bipolar: When Things Aren't The Way You Want Them

Sometimes, whether you have bipolar disorder or not, things aren't exactly the way you want them. However, if you have bipolar disorder, you need to be wary of how you react when things aren't the way you want them to be, because if you do the wrong thing, you can end up in a bipolar episode.

For example, if you are in a situation where things aren't going your way and you want to change them, you can choose to try and try all kinds of things, spinning your wheels, and expending all kinds of energy, and then the next thing you know, you're in a manic episode because of it.

It's dangerous to react that way to negative circumstances. Because of our bipolar disorder, we have to approach our circumstances differently if we're going to avoid episodes.

In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy terms, it would be called, "living in the moment," or "mindfulness." This means dealing with things the way they are and not how you want them to be. It's what you have to do when facing negative circumstances that you cannot change.

You may not have control over your circumstances, but you do have control over your reaction to them. Someone once said that life is 1% what happens to you and 99% your reaction to it. I like that saying, because I believe it is true, especially when it comes to bipolar disorder.

We may not be able to control everything, but we can have control over some things - our reactions, for example. Because our reactions are choices that we make, and we can make good choices if we want to.

For example, when faced with a negative situation, you can choose to rant and rave all you want, but you will accomplish nothing. Bad choice. Or you can choose to face the situation with a positive attitude, believing for a better outcome, even though you can't see it at the moment. Better choice. You can't control your situation, but you can control your attitude toward it.

If you don't do this, it can lead to frustration, anger, and a whole host of negative emotions that, if they get out of control, can lead to a bipolar episode, and you don't want that. So you need to maintain control of your emotions. Practicing mindfulness, or staying in the moment, can help you to do that.

Remember that you may not have control over the circumstances that surround you, but you do have control over your reaction to them. You have control over the choices you make.

Even when things are not the way you want them, you can still make good choices, like choosing to have a good attitude in spite of them. Your main goal is to stay stable, and in this manner, you have a better shot at it than if you go off getting angry and frustrated over something you can't control anyway.

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele