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