Bipolar is a State of Mind

I recently read that happiness is a state of mind, and I definitely agree with that. However, I guarantee you that person never went through a bipolar depressive episode. I also guarantee you that someone didn't say to them, "Aww...c'mon, happiness is just a state of mine. You could be happy if you really wanted to."

Uh-uh. Wrong thing to say to someone who is struggling through the depths of depression. Have you ever been there? Then you know what I'm talking about. As much as you would love to be happy at that moment, your brain chemicals are just not cooperating. Not your fault!

Although, on the other hand, there are things you can do to improve your state of mind when you are depressed. I mean, staying in bed with the covers over your head trying to pretend that your problems will just magically go away and you will wake up and not be depressed just isn't going to make it. That's not the way to go about it.

You may not be able to jump up and down and do the Snoopy happy dance yet, but you can at least not drown out your sorrows by sleeping all day. You can at least get out of bed and try to do something productive. Then you can at least take some pride in yourself for accomplishing something that day. That's at least something!

Again, the things you do to fight depression may not make you want to dance, but they can help keep the depression from deepening. Producivity is really good for that.

So is doing something that makes you feel good about yourself. Doing something nice for someone else is good for that. You always feel good when you help someone else. Taking care of yourself makes you feel better too - do something that makes you feel good, whatever that is.

Take a bubble bath! Watch a funny video. Be with some good friends (or even just one good friend, a long as they make you feel better) or family members. Read a good book (as long as it makes you feel better). Go outside (especially if you've been inside for awhile) and do something fun.

Just doing something, anything, to make yourself feel better is a good step to fighting the depression that threatens to overwhelm you.

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