Comments on: Back to Bipolar Normal http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/back-to-bipolar-normal/186/ Get an inside look at what its like to have bipolar disorder with Michele Soloway Sexton. Michele, a survivor herself, shares regularly on the ups and downs of dealing with the disorder, along with personal insights, lessons learned, and encouragement for others who also have bipolar disorder. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:09:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Michele http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/back-to-bipolar-normal/186/comment-page-1/#comment-409 Michele Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=186#comment-409 Deborah --<br/>I don't think it was me that you are referring to about giving 87 people the chance, etc. But as far as being low-functioning just because you are on SSI, I don't agree with that. I myself am on SSDI (used to be on SSI), and I am high-functioning. <br/><br/>To me (and this is only my opinion, since I am not a mental health professional), a low- functioning person is someone who isn't able to manage their bipolar disorder and has a lot of episodes. I don't think it has anything to do with creativity, since I believe that many, if not most people with bipolar disorder are creative people to begin with.<br/><br/>As far as being high-functioning, I believe that's someone who has learned to manage their disorder very well, takes their medication faithfully, follows a good treatment plan (including seeing a doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist regularly), takes good care of themselves, maintains good relationships with friends, family, and other people, has few bipolar episodes (maybe one per year), maybe works a part-time job or has a home business, and lives a normal (for us), successful, productive, and happy life.<br/><br/>Does that describe you?<br/>Michele Deborah –
I don’t think it was me that you are referring to about giving 87 people the chance, etc. But as far as being low-functioning just because you are on SSI, I don’t agree with that. I myself am on SSDI (used to be on SSI), and I am high-functioning.

To me (and this is only my opinion, since I am not a mental health professional), a low- functioning person is someone who isn’t able to manage their bipolar disorder and has a lot of episodes. I don’t think it has anything to do with creativity, since I believe that many, if not most people with bipolar disorder are creative people to begin with.

As far as being high-functioning, I believe that’s someone who has learned to manage their disorder very well, takes their medication faithfully, follows a good treatment plan (including seeing a doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist regularly), takes good care of themselves, maintains good relationships with friends, family, and other people, has few bipolar episodes (maybe one per year), maybe works a part-time job or has a home business, and lives a normal (for us), successful, productive, and happy life.

Does that describe you?
Michele

]]> By: Deborah http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/back-to-bipolar-normal/186/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Deborah Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:33:00 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=186#comment-408 I read your latest email where you are giving 87 people the chance, if by chance they are "high-functioning". Could you please let me know what your definition of high or low-functioning is? Some people might say I'm a low-functioning person because I'm on SSI. On the other hand, some might see me a high-functioning creative person on SSI. See what I mean? I read your latest email where you are giving 87 people the chance, if by chance they are “high-functioning”. Could you please let me know what your definition of high or low-functioning is? Some people might say I’m a low-functioning person because I’m on SSI. On the other hand, some might see me a high-functioning creative person on SSI. See what I mean?

]]>