Confront Your Problems with Bipolar Disorder

No one ever told me that living with bipolar disorder would be easy. In fact, they told me the opposite. They said that living with bipolar would be very difficult. I have to tell you, they were right.

Even though I've been stable for a long time, I still have my up and down days. It's still difficult sometimes for me. I wish it were easier. But bipolar disorder is still my enemy, and threatens to steal my joy at every turn.

I still have to take my medications, see my doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist, and do all the things that keep me stable, or I might go into a bipolar episode. Still, after all this time. I'll have to do all these things for the rest of my life if I want to stay stable.

My life isn't perfect just because I'm stable. I sitll have problems. Just living this life you're going to have problems - it's the nature of the beast.

But my parents told me early in life that you have to face up to your problems - you can't hide from them. That was the source of many of my depressions - I would pull the covers over my head and try to pretend that my problems didn't exist (I was trying to hide from them). Didn't do any good, of course - they were still there when I finally removed the covers. And I was that much worse for the wear. With no solutions.

You have to confront your problems with bipolar. Face them head-on. The solution may not be right there in front of you right now, but it is there somewhere. You just might have to look for it. The point is that you do look for it - don't just pretend that the problem doesn't exist. That won't help you at all, because problems don't go away by themselves.

If you have a problem, look at it realistically. If you don't see an immediate solution, don't worry, one will come eventually. Make a list of possible solutions, even if they don't seem feasible at the time.

Then look at your list. Cross off those things that are obviously not solutions. Then look at what's left. You might have a solution right there. If not, start over again. Or try again the next day. Something will eventually pop up.

There is an expression that says, "The impossible just takes a little longer." I like that. It gives me hope that even the worst problem can be solved.

Try to be optimistic. Believe that you can solve your problem, and you will. Ask for help if you need it. Don't be too proud to ask for help. Sometimes we all need a little bit of help. And sometimes someone else can see the answer where you can't.

The worst thing you can do is to ignore the problem. Like I said, problems don't just go away because we wish them to. You have to confront your problems head-on.

Remember to check out my new bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com

Wishing you peace and stability,
Michele