Bipolar Survivor

Yes, I have bipolar disorder, and yes, I feel great!  Of course, I don’t feel great about actually having the disorder, but that’s another thing entirely.  What I’m saying is that I don’t have to let the fact that I have bipolar disorder steal my joy – that is up to me!

Now, that’s not to say that every day is going to be perfect – it isn’t.  Or that things around you will happen just the way you want them to happen – they won’t.  Or people will be the way you want them to be – they can’t.  But, in general, you are in charge of how you feel.

So today, I choose to feel great!  It doesn’t mean I don’t have problems, because I do, but they are working themselves out.  I have some responsibility in the working out, of course, but a lot of times I can, “Let Go and Let God,” and not worry about things, which only adds to my general sense of well-being and happiness.

It also leaves me more energy to deal with the things I do need to deal with.  You know, those “extras” that always seem to come up and need attention.  Like when I forget something, and am scrambling at the last minute to find something I need.  That still happens.  But it happens to people who don’t have bipolar disorder, too.  We’re not different from others in that regard.

In fact, in my opinion, we pay more attention to detail than others do, and try even harder to do a good job in spite of our disorder.  We don’t want to be viewed as different.  In general, we are also more creative, and tend to look for answers “outside the box,” which makes us an asset to work, church, home, friends, and family.

So we should feel good about ourselves.  You should especially feel good about yourself if you are not in an episode today – that means you’re working a good program and taking care of yourself and controlling your disorder!  So, kudos to you, my friends!

If you are struggling, though, try to remember that “This too shall pass.”  You have been here before and survived it, and you will survive this as well.  Try to grow through whatever is happening to you, and remember that “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord…” 

That means ALL things – even the difficult ones.  You may not see a way out of things right now, but you never know when the answer will reveal itself.  You just need to be open to it.  Stay calm, and don’t let yourself get distressed or depressed.  Keep telling yourself that you’ve been here before and came out on the other side.  I know that one thought really helps me.

It’s hard to see the good when the bipolar shadow seems so gloomy over your head (and your life), but try to be optimistic anyway.  Don’t let bipolar disorder steal your joy – there is much in your life to be happy about.

Think about the good things in your life.  Are you relatively healthy?  Be glad!  Are your close friends, spouse, children and other family in good health?  Be glad for that as well.  Are you working, or do you have an income?  And are you living within that income?  Be very glad, as many people are not, and are struggling financially because of the economy right now.

Are you living in a warm apartment or house?  Be glad.  Many people with mental illness are still living on the streets because they haven’t gotten help.

Do you have a car that is drivable and not giving you any problems at the moment?  Be glad!  Many people are driving cars that are giving them problems, or affecting whether they have transportation or not.

Are you being productive?  Working a job or home business, or working around the house or volunteering your time to help others?  Be glad!  Many people can benefit from the good job that you do. 

Are you happy with yourself?  You should be.  You are a unique individual with God-given gifts that you can use to help others.  Think about how you do that.  You may not see the results of things like “random acts of kindness,” but someone will benefit from your help in the long run, whether you see the results or not.

Are you living “in the moment, one day at a time?”  If you are, you should be happy about that, as many people have not learned how to do that.  And it makes for so much more of a stress-free life when you’re not carrying all that baggage from the past or worry about the future.

Are you stable?  Be very, very glad for that!  And remember the times when you weren’t as stable.

Be glad for who you are!  Be glad for where you’re at!  Be glad that you are productive!  Be glad for being a help to others!  And be glad that you are a good example of a person with bipolar disorder.  You are an encouragement to more people than you know.

Be glad!!!

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,

Michele

Related posts:

1. Feeling Blessed These Days
2. Feeling Spiritual
3. Forgiveness is not a Feeling
4. Feeling Sad
5. Feeling fat and ugly

This entry was posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 3:35 pm and is filed under Opening Post. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.