Bipolar and the Golden Rule

We've all heard of the Golden Rule, right? Treat others as you would want them to treat you. Well, try it this way: Treat yourself as you would want others to treat you. A little harder, huh? Especially when you throw bipolar disorder into the mix.

Bipolar tends to make us think less of ourselves, and that's part of the battle. We have to fight those awful mood swings, and especially the depression. When we're down, it certainly colors the way we see everything, even ourselves.

During a depression, we can look down on ourselves, even to feeling helpless and hopeless. Our self-esteem suffers, and we struggle with our identity in light of our disorder. That's what bipolar can do to us if we don't fight it.

But we do need to fight it, every day. We need to remember that we are NOT our disorder! Bipolar disorder is something we HAVE, not something we ARE! If we had a heart condition or diabetes, we wouldn't identify ourselves with our condition, would we? Then we shouldn't do it with our bipolar, either.

It is something outside of our identity, outside of who we really are, deep inside, our core personality - it's just an illness that we have, it's not who we are.

Sorry, I know I can get to preaching about that sometimes, as I feel so strongly about it. I have seen too many people with bipolar really struggle with that concept, and their self-esteem shattered by the disorder.

If you can just take the Golden Rule and adapt it to yourself, like I said in the beginning of this post, it might help you. Just learn to treat yourself a you would want others to treat you. In other words, treat yourself as you would treat anyone else.

You do treat others with kindness, don't you? Then treat yourself with kindness, too. You are good to others, aren't you? Then be good to yourself. You treat others with respect, don't you? Then treat yourself with the same respect that you show others. I'm sure you get the idea.

Don't let your bipolar disorder rob you of the dignity that is inherently yours. Treat yourself the same way you would treat anyone else, and the same way you would want someone else to treat you. Do this long enough, and you will find that your self-respect and self-esteem will rise in spite of your bipolar disorder.

BTW, don't forget to check out my bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele