Finding Contentment with Bipolar Disorder

How can you find contentment with bipolar disorder? It has to come from within you. The disorder itself will not change - the same diagnosis you had in the beginning is the same diagnosis you have today. The only thing that can change is YOU.

If you have found any contentment at all with having a diagnosis of bipolar, it's because you have found that contentment DESPITE having bipolar disorder. It's because you have found a way to FEEL contented in the midst of the disorder.

That's how I've been able to do it, at least. I know I still have bipolar disorder, but today I am content. Yes, I take a bunch of medication I would rather not take, but if I didn't take it, I wouldn't feel as good as I do today, so I take it. I wish I didn't have to see a therapist twice a month and spill my guts, but I do it because it, too, adds to my general sense of contentment.

These things, as well as all the other things I do to maintain my bipolar stability, add up to my sense of contentment. I do them because I have to in order to maintain stability, but because I do them, I feel content. Does that make sense? In other words, if I didn't do them, I would have no contentment. I wouldn't be happy.

I wouldn't be happy, because I wouldn't be stable, and bipolar stability is of prime importance to me. Without it, my life wouldn't have the quality that it has today. So I do whatever I have to do to have that.

Don't underestimate contentment. It's a great feeling! I remember when it was all I could do just to get through a day. Just to get out of bed, at times, was a major accomplishment for me. Today my life is so much better! So, like I said, I do whatever I have to do to have that, and no longer resent it.

I love that feeling of contentment. The simplicity of my life today is so much more preferable to all that chaos and drama that once ruled my world. I went from manic episode to manic episode, believing that I was so much better off without my medication, because I could be ME! WRONG! I am more ME on my medication than I ever was off it, because on my medication I am in control. And being in control is important to me.

Contentment is serenity. Peace. And those I have in my life today, when there was a point at which I never thought I would have them. So today I am grateful for all the little things that make up that contentment, peace, serenity, and stability.

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