Believe it and it shall happen. I'm talking about bipolar disorder stability here. I got the phrase from an old movie called Field of Dreams where he said the line, "Build it and they will come."
When I was young, my mom told me that if I believed in something hard enough, I could make it happen. Well, bipolar stability doesn't come that easily, but I am proof that it can happen if you try hard enough.
Of course, there are things that you can do to heelp it along, like taking your medication, seeing your doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist, sticking to a good sleep schedule, eating a healthy diet, exercising, being productive, staying balanced, keeping your stress levels down, etc.
The important thing to keep in mind, though, is that stability IS possible! It can really get you down if you don't believe that - if you get too many bad bipolar days and you start thinking, "Is it always going to be like this?"
You've got to stay positive, even in the face of adversity. Yes, some days are harder than other days. But you can't give up! Stability is still out there, and if you don't have it now, that doesn't mean that you won't have it in the future.
Some things just take time. And some things take longer than other things to make it a reality. But if you keep plugging away at it, it can be a reality for you - just look at me! There was a time when I was considered a lost cause! They were going to lock me up and throw away the key!
Many people had given up on me, but there was a small spark of hope left inside me that made me not give up. Stability was still out there for me. It's a good thing I didn't give up, or I wouldn't be here writing to you today, a good example of what hard work and great hope can do for you.
Even when I didn't believe in myself, people like my mom and my sister never stopped believing in me. It gave me the strength I needed to keep going when I wanted to give up. And it paid off in the long run. Don't give up! Even on those dark days, keep holding onto the hope that someday things will get better, and they will!
I know some days can be hard, believe me, I went through enough dark days of my own. But something inside me wouldn't let go of hope. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Don't let go of your hope. Just don't let go. Stability is out there, believe me. If it could happen for me, the ultimate in lost causes, it can happen for you, too.
Believe it and it shall happen!
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
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Bipolar and the Pursuit of Dreams
I recently read an interview iwth Henry Winkler (for my generation, from the series Happy Days), and it was really interesting. Not that he has bipolar disorder, but much of what he said can apply to us with the disorder as well.
It said that tenacity and gratitude are both qualities that he possesses. Now, gratitude I understand, but tenacity I wasn't so sure of, so I looked it up in the dictionary.
Webster's says that tenacity is: "the quality or state of being strong; holding fast; not easily pulled apart."
That sounds like a quality we should have as well. We should definitely be strong, but "not easily pulled apart" is much more descriptive of how we should be. We need to "hold fast," not letting our bipolar disorder get the better of us.
The interview gave the following quote by Winkler: "The big lesson I've learned is that if you have a dream, if you can visualize what it is you want to do, and really hold onto that, you can pretty much live it... Will, personal will and the strength of will determine the outcome of your life."
Wow. I thought that was really profound. Sometimes it takes a lot to be able to hold onto (hold fast to) our dreams and not let them go in light of our bipolar disorder, but according to Henry Winkler, that's what we should do in order to attain them.
"Will, personal will and the strength of will determine the outcome of your life..." is a pretty strong line to say, much less to live out.
Of course, it will only work if you're also doing all the other things you need to do to manage your bipolar, but will does have a lot to do with how far you get in the direction you want to go in life.
With your bipolar toolbox at your feet, and your self-management of your disorder in place, along with tenacity, gratitude and strength of will, you should be able to go far in attaining stability with your bipolar disorder and your dreams themselves.
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
It said that tenacity and gratitude are both qualities that he possesses. Now, gratitude I understand, but tenacity I wasn't so sure of, so I looked it up in the dictionary.
Webster's says that tenacity is: "the quality or state of being strong; holding fast; not easily pulled apart."
That sounds like a quality we should have as well. We should definitely be strong, but "not easily pulled apart" is much more descriptive of how we should be. We need to "hold fast," not letting our bipolar disorder get the better of us.
The interview gave the following quote by Winkler: "The big lesson I've learned is that if you have a dream, if you can visualize what it is you want to do, and really hold onto that, you can pretty much live it... Will, personal will and the strength of will determine the outcome of your life."
Wow. I thought that was really profound. Sometimes it takes a lot to be able to hold onto (hold fast to) our dreams and not let them go in light of our bipolar disorder, but according to Henry Winkler, that's what we should do in order to attain them.
"Will, personal will and the strength of will determine the outcome of your life..." is a pretty strong line to say, much less to live out.
Of course, it will only work if you're also doing all the other things you need to do to manage your bipolar, but will does have a lot to do with how far you get in the direction you want to go in life.
With your bipolar toolbox at your feet, and your self-management of your disorder in place, along with tenacity, gratitude and strength of will, you should be able to go far in attaining stability with your bipolar disorder and your dreams themselves.
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
Friday, October 22, 2010
Bipolar? Treat Yourself Well
If you have bipolar disorder, you need to treat yourself well. It's hard enough coping and dealing with the disorder and trying to manage its symptoms on a daily basis - you need to give yourself a break and do good things for yourself - things that make you feel good.
There are things you need to do for yourself as part of your treatment plan - things you should already be doing: like getting the right amount of sleep (8-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep every night), eating a healthy diet, and exercising at leat 3 times a week (even if it's only walking).
You should have also already made lifestyle changes to make your life as stress-free as possible, even including stress reduction exercises if necessary. The lower the stress in your life, the less chance of a trigger to a bipolar episode by that means.
But part of good management of bipolar disorder is daily maintenance of coping skills, and that includes taking care of yourself and your needs.
One of those crucial needs is the need for emotional well-being. You need to have pleasure in your life to be happy. And you can't let your bipolar rob you of the happiness you deserve. So you have to compensate for that.
You can do this by having a hobby you enjoy, or doing things that bring you pleasure. These could be things like reading, watching TV or videos, going to the movies, out to lunch with a friend, dinner with your supporter, shopping (just not excessive manic shopping!), listening to music, volunteering, working, pursuing a hobby or other outside intrest, taking a college course or two, visiting family or an older child, visiting with a friend, going to church or synagogue, or anything else that makes you feel good.
The important thing is that you treat yourself well. You should at least treat yourself as good as you would expect or want someone else to treat you. You deserve at least that much.
Treating yourself well is essential to your emotional health, which is good for your mental health as well. It will make a great deal of difference n your stability, and you will be happier for it.
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
There are things you need to do for yourself as part of your treatment plan - things you should already be doing: like getting the right amount of sleep (8-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep every night), eating a healthy diet, and exercising at leat 3 times a week (even if it's only walking).
You should have also already made lifestyle changes to make your life as stress-free as possible, even including stress reduction exercises if necessary. The lower the stress in your life, the less chance of a trigger to a bipolar episode by that means.
But part of good management of bipolar disorder is daily maintenance of coping skills, and that includes taking care of yourself and your needs.
One of those crucial needs is the need for emotional well-being. You need to have pleasure in your life to be happy. And you can't let your bipolar rob you of the happiness you deserve. So you have to compensate for that.
You can do this by having a hobby you enjoy, or doing things that bring you pleasure. These could be things like reading, watching TV or videos, going to the movies, out to lunch with a friend, dinner with your supporter, shopping (just not excessive manic shopping!), listening to music, volunteering, working, pursuing a hobby or other outside intrest, taking a college course or two, visiting family or an older child, visiting with a friend, going to church or synagogue, or anything else that makes you feel good.
The important thing is that you treat yourself well. You should at least treat yourself as good as you would expect or want someone else to treat you. You deserve at least that much.
Treating yourself well is essential to your emotional health, which is good for your mental health as well. It will make a great deal of difference n your stability, and you will be happier for it.
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
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sometimes You Just Get Through It With Bipolar
I'd like to be able to tell you that it's a great ride with bipolar, but I've never lied to you before, and I'm not going to start now. Oh, it's a ride all right, a rollercoaster ride. All those ups and downs.
Sometimes it doesn't feel like you'll ever get a break from those ups and downs, but you do. Did you know that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) says that you should only have about 4 episodes your whole life? Now, they're talking about full-blown episodes, not mini-episodes, which do occur more frequently.
So, according to them, you should get more of a break than I bet you think you do. So what can you do about it? Well, you do the best you can. Sometimes, that's all you can do. Someone once said, "You tie a knot in your rope and hang on for all you're worth!" I agree with that.
The truth is, sometimes you just get through it with bipolar disorder. Sometimes that's the best you can do. You're going to have bad days sometimes. But the good days always outweigh the bad days, when it comes down to it.
So all I can tell you to do is to enjoy the good days when you have them, and put up with the bad days when you have to.
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
Sometimes it doesn't feel like you'll ever get a break from those ups and downs, but you do. Did you know that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) says that you should only have about 4 episodes your whole life? Now, they're talking about full-blown episodes, not mini-episodes, which do occur more frequently.
So, according to them, you should get more of a break than I bet you think you do. So what can you do about it? Well, you do the best you can. Sometimes, that's all you can do. Someone once said, "You tie a knot in your rope and hang on for all you're worth!" I agree with that.
The truth is, sometimes you just get through it with bipolar disorder. Sometimes that's the best you can do. You're going to have bad days sometimes. But the good days always outweigh the bad days, when it comes down to it.
So all I can tell you to do is to enjoy the good days when you have them, and put up with the bad days when you have to.
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
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Taking Bad Bipolar Days With Good Days
When you have bipolar disorder, you have to take the bad days with the good ones. That's true for life in general, but especially true when it comes to bipolar.
But you can't take it to the extreme. What am I talking about? First of all, you can't assume that every time you feel bad or are in a bad mood that it means you are in a bipolar depressive episode. Bad days are going to happen, no matter what. They happen to people who don't have the disorder, too.
You still have to be vigilant and watch for triggers, and signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode, but you don't need to assume that every time you feel bad that it's an episode in the making, either. Remember, bad days are going to happen.
You just have to take the bad days with the good when you have bipolar disorder. You can get through them. When they come, just tell yourself that this is NOT a bipolar episode, but only a bad day. Then try to be positive, and do something to take your mind off it (doing positive things will usually accomplish this).
When you set your mind onto positive thinking, positive actions usually follow. First, accept that it's only a bad feeling, or a bad mood, or a bad (bipolar) day, and not an episode.
Then turn your mind to the positive, like thinking you can get through this, as you have before. Try thinking positive things, like being grateful that you are not, in fact, in an episode.
Some people even make a gratitude list and find that this helps them to turn their mind toward the positive. To do this, you take a pen and paper and list 10 things you are grateful for. If you can list more than 10, all the better. This will help to put you into a more positive frame of mind.
Other people use positive affirmations. These are sayings that you can write down and put in prominant places (like mirrors or the refrigerator) and look at to remind you to be positive, such as: "I can do this," or "I can handle anything," or "I have been here before and made it through, and I will make it through again." You get the idea.
Positive affirmations can be anything you want them to be. Even "You are loved" is a positive affirmation that many people use.
Then turn your positive attitude into positive action. Got to your volunteer work and help someone else. Work on your hobby. Do something creative and/or constructive. Try reading something uplifting. Listen to some quiet or inspirational music, or any type of music that will keep you positive. Talk to a friend or family member.
The main thing is to remember that you don't have to let the bad days get you down. They are only temporary. The bad feelings will always pass, as will the bad bipolar days. Good days will always return.
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
But you can't take it to the extreme. What am I talking about? First of all, you can't assume that every time you feel bad or are in a bad mood that it means you are in a bipolar depressive episode. Bad days are going to happen, no matter what. They happen to people who don't have the disorder, too.
You still have to be vigilant and watch for triggers, and signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode, but you don't need to assume that every time you feel bad that it's an episode in the making, either. Remember, bad days are going to happen.
You just have to take the bad days with the good when you have bipolar disorder. You can get through them. When they come, just tell yourself that this is NOT a bipolar episode, but only a bad day. Then try to be positive, and do something to take your mind off it (doing positive things will usually accomplish this).
When you set your mind onto positive thinking, positive actions usually follow. First, accept that it's only a bad feeling, or a bad mood, or a bad (bipolar) day, and not an episode.
Then turn your mind to the positive, like thinking you can get through this, as you have before. Try thinking positive things, like being grateful that you are not, in fact, in an episode.
Some people even make a gratitude list and find that this helps them to turn their mind toward the positive. To do this, you take a pen and paper and list 10 things you are grateful for. If you can list more than 10, all the better. This will help to put you into a more positive frame of mind.
Other people use positive affirmations. These are sayings that you can write down and put in prominant places (like mirrors or the refrigerator) and look at to remind you to be positive, such as: "I can do this," or "I can handle anything," or "I have been here before and made it through, and I will make it through again." You get the idea.
Positive affirmations can be anything you want them to be. Even "You are loved" is a positive affirmation that many people use.
Then turn your positive attitude into positive action. Got to your volunteer work and help someone else. Work on your hobby. Do something creative and/or constructive. Try reading something uplifting. Listen to some quiet or inspirational music, or any type of music that will keep you positive. Talk to a friend or family member.
The main thing is to remember that you don't have to let the bad days get you down. They are only temporary. The bad feelings will always pass, as will the bad bipolar days. Good days will always return.
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
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Don't Give Up Hope with Bipolar
I had trouble coming up with a topic to write about bipolar disorder today, until I just thought about the basics of what I really wanted to say: Never give up despite the fact that you have bipolar disorder.
We can get so discouraged sometimes because of our disorder - sometimes the little things can get to us, or situations can pile up onus and even get us so down that it leads to a bipolar depressive episode.
That's almost normal for some of us with bipolar. But I wanted to encourage you today that it doesn't have to be! No matter what is happening in your life right now, don't give up - things WILL get better! They always do.
I know, because I used to be very suicidal. That was during my darkest days with my bipolar disorder. I used to get so overwhelmed by the least little thing. And big things used to put me into a panic attack - I just couldn't handle anything, it seemed sometimes.
Stability seemed liek such a far-off goal, one that I thought I could never attain. But then I took something from the 12-step programs. I realized I could only fight this thing one day at a time. I had no more energy than that at one point, so that's how I started.
Then one day led to two, and two to three, then I was able to put a whole week together, then a month, etc., etc. Then it turned into years, and I've been stable now for several years. But I still only do it one day at a time - I still can't handle more than that, or I get too overwhelmed.
But I had to start believing again. I had been to the bottom, even to the point of suicide, and I had to start looking up again, to believing that things could get better. They had to, I thought, they couldn't get worse. I had just been hospitalized for the 5th time.
How could they get worse? I was ready to believe that bipolar disorder had gotten the best of me. But there was just a tiny bit of fight left in me, and I couldn't give up. I just couldn't let the disorder beat me. So I fought back. One day at a time.
I had one good day. One day without the mood swings. One day where my medications stopped me from going crazy. One day when I felt almost normal. One day when I actually had hope for the future.
I built on that hope. And I had more good days. And more. Then good months. Then more. And I never gave up hope. Hope that I could get better, and that things would get better for me. All because I had that little bit of fight left in me. I just couldn't let that bipolar disorder defeat me.
And neither can you. Don't let bipolar get the best of you. You don't have to let it get you down. You CAN have a better life despite the fact that you have bipolar disorder. You CAN reach stability, and you CAN have it for lengths of time. If I can do it, so can you.
So today I offer you HOPE. Hope that, one day at a time, stability can be a reality for you. You don't have to suffer from bipolar forever. Things CAN get better for you. Just don't give up hope.
Don't forget to check out my bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com
Wishing you peace and stability,
Michele
We can get so discouraged sometimes because of our disorder - sometimes the little things can get to us, or situations can pile up onus and even get us so down that it leads to a bipolar depressive episode.
That's almost normal for some of us with bipolar. But I wanted to encourage you today that it doesn't have to be! No matter what is happening in your life right now, don't give up - things WILL get better! They always do.
I know, because I used to be very suicidal. That was during my darkest days with my bipolar disorder. I used to get so overwhelmed by the least little thing. And big things used to put me into a panic attack - I just couldn't handle anything, it seemed sometimes.
Stability seemed liek such a far-off goal, one that I thought I could never attain. But then I took something from the 12-step programs. I realized I could only fight this thing one day at a time. I had no more energy than that at one point, so that's how I started.
Then one day led to two, and two to three, then I was able to put a whole week together, then a month, etc., etc. Then it turned into years, and I've been stable now for several years. But I still only do it one day at a time - I still can't handle more than that, or I get too overwhelmed.
But I had to start believing again. I had been to the bottom, even to the point of suicide, and I had to start looking up again, to believing that things could get better. They had to, I thought, they couldn't get worse. I had just been hospitalized for the 5th time.
How could they get worse? I was ready to believe that bipolar disorder had gotten the best of me. But there was just a tiny bit of fight left in me, and I couldn't give up. I just couldn't let the disorder beat me. So I fought back. One day at a time.
I had one good day. One day without the mood swings. One day where my medications stopped me from going crazy. One day when I felt almost normal. One day when I actually had hope for the future.
I built on that hope. And I had more good days. And more. Then good months. Then more. And I never gave up hope. Hope that I could get better, and that things would get better for me. All because I had that little bit of fight left in me. I just couldn't let that bipolar disorder defeat me.
And neither can you. Don't let bipolar get the best of you. You don't have to let it get you down. You CAN have a better life despite the fact that you have bipolar disorder. You CAN reach stability, and you CAN have it for lengths of time. If I can do it, so can you.
So today I offer you HOPE. Hope that, one day at a time, stability can be a reality for you. You don't have to suffer from bipolar forever. Things CAN get better for you. Just don't give up hope.
Don't forget to check out my bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com
Wishing you peace and stability,
Michele
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Watch Out For Quick Fix With Bipolar Disorder
Not everything has an immediate fix to it, especially when it comes to bipolar disorder. Watch out if someone gives you advice that does - it probably won't turn out so well for you.
You've heard the expression, "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is," haven't you?
Well, the same can be said when you're trying to work out a problem associated with your bipolar disorder.
More likely, you will have to approach it more carefully, looking at all the angles, trying to find out all the options, before settling on the right solution for the situation confronting you.
Not too many things come that easy in life - usually you have to fight for what you want, and bipolar is no different. If you want stability, you have to fight for it. There is no immediate fix for bipolar stability.
If someone tells you that their loved one (or they) took a certain medication and it worked like magic for them and it will do the same for you, be wary. Everybody is different.
And this is especially true when it comes to bipolar medication. What works for one person may not work as well for another person, and vice versa.
You need to stick to what works well for you. Stick to your own treatment plan and, over time, you will reach bipolar stability. Good things come to those who wait, remember? This is no different.
And it will be worth the wait when you find those episodes more spaced apart or gradually diminishing, those mood swings stabilizing, and your life becoming more balanced.
Just remember that it won't happen overnight. It will take time.
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
You've heard the expression, "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is," haven't you?
Well, the same can be said when you're trying to work out a problem associated with your bipolar disorder.
More likely, you will have to approach it more carefully, looking at all the angles, trying to find out all the options, before settling on the right solution for the situation confronting you.
Not too many things come that easy in life - usually you have to fight for what you want, and bipolar is no different. If you want stability, you have to fight for it. There is no immediate fix for bipolar stability.
If someone tells you that their loved one (or they) took a certain medication and it worked like magic for them and it will do the same for you, be wary. Everybody is different.
And this is especially true when it comes to bipolar medication. What works for one person may not work as well for another person, and vice versa.
You need to stick to what works well for you. Stick to your own treatment plan and, over time, you will reach bipolar stability. Good things come to those who wait, remember? This is no different.
And it will be worth the wait when you find those episodes more spaced apart or gradually diminishing, those mood swings stabilizing, and your life becoming more balanced.
Just remember that it won't happen overnight. It will take time.
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
Monday, October 4, 2010
Bipolar Disorder: Trusting Others
It's not so easy to trust others when you have bipolar disorder, but sometimes you just have to do it - like, say, your supporter. This is the person closest to you, so if you don't trust them, who are you going to trust?
I would say that trust was one of the hardest issues I had to learn to face when I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It was one of those "emotional side effects" of bipolar that I had to deal with in therapy, because I really didn't trust people very much.
The first area where this issue raised its ugly head was whether I should tell people I had bipolar or not - who did I trust enough to tell? Who did I not trust, so that I wouldn't tell them I had the disorder?
I found that I really didn't trust that many people at all at first. But graudally, I grew to trust more people, and brought them into my support system.
The more people I brought into my support system, or the more I began to trust people, the more I knew I was beginning to grow, or to heal, from my bipolar disorder - the more stable I was becoming, in other words. The more you can trust, the better you are getting.
It starts with your supporter. First, you learn to trust them. As tehy are closest to you, you start first with small things, and then begin to trust them with bigger issues, like how you are feeling, and with your thoughts, especially when they are not the best of thoughts, and you need someone to talk to about them.
After some time goes by and they show you their support and understanding, you learn to trust them more.
Then you begin to expand this trust to other people, first with the people in your support system, then to other people. This is how you learn to trust others, a necessary part of management of your bipolar disorder.
Learning to trust others shows that you are getting better. As you get more stable, it will be easier to trust other people.
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
I would say that trust was one of the hardest issues I had to learn to face when I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It was one of those "emotional side effects" of bipolar that I had to deal with in therapy, because I really didn't trust people very much.
The first area where this issue raised its ugly head was whether I should tell people I had bipolar or not - who did I trust enough to tell? Who did I not trust, so that I wouldn't tell them I had the disorder?
I found that I really didn't trust that many people at all at first. But graudally, I grew to trust more people, and brought them into my support system.
The more people I brought into my support system, or the more I began to trust people, the more I knew I was beginning to grow, or to heal, from my bipolar disorder - the more stable I was becoming, in other words. The more you can trust, the better you are getting.
It starts with your supporter. First, you learn to trust them. As tehy are closest to you, you start first with small things, and then begin to trust them with bigger issues, like how you are feeling, and with your thoughts, especially when they are not the best of thoughts, and you need someone to talk to about them.
After some time goes by and they show you their support and understanding, you learn to trust them more.
Then you begin to expand this trust to other people, first with the people in your support system, then to other people. This is how you learn to trust others, a necessary part of management of your bipolar disorder.
Learning to trust others shows that you are getting better. As you get more stable, it will be easier to trust other people.
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
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