I’m usually the first person to say to leave the past in the past, that the present is all that matters – but I would amend that today to say that visiting the past can sometimes be of help when you’re dealing with present bipolar issues.
For example, if you’re trying to figure out how you ended up in a bipolar episode, it can help if you examine past bipolar episodes as well, as what triggered them may be the same thing that triggered this episode.
In that case, you may be able to determine a pattern, and it can help you with future episodes (avoiding them).
Sometimes, by examining your past emotional issues that you have not dealt with completely, you can see where some of your current emotional bipolar issues may be emanating from. You may be able to gain some insight from this.
These, of course, are things that should be worked out in therapy, as they can become quite emotional, and you don’t want them to tip the scales toward a bipolar episode if you try to deal with them by yourself.
On the other hand, a quick peek into the past innocently may not hurt at all, if you think you can handle it, and if you think it might help you with what you’re dealing with today.
Your supporter may even be able to help you with this, or at least be able to be a good sounding board, if it helps.
It’s ok to visit the past as long as you don’t dwell on it, as dwelling on the past can be dangerous for someone with bipolar disorder – if you spend too much time thinking about the past, it can possibly lead to a depression, and depression to a bipolar depressive episode.
You may need to go back into your past from time to time to gather informtion that assists you in making decisions in your present, and that’s ok. Just don’t stay too long.
I still say that the important thing is to live one day at a time; however, your past is still what has helped to shape your present and, if you can use it to help you, use it.
Wishing you peace and stability,
Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele
I’ve had to do some back reading, I’ve been out of the loop for a while now. But I’m glad I came over to catch up, because this was just the article I needed in a roundabout way. We are facing a huge career change. Not just a change, but my husband going back to school at age 31 with 4 young children and a wife to support. And we won’t be able to afford my meds, and even more scary, my son’s. (crossing my fingers this whole thing doesn’t happen – mostly for my child’s sake.)
From previous experiences I know that stress is a huge trigger for me. Especially when I can’t control what is happening. But from being med-free while pregnant, I also know that if I take good care of myself, eat healthy, get good sleep when possible, pick my battles, and have a good routine – I am much less stressed and far better able to handle life. I know how to prevent episodes as much as I can, and more importantly I am learning to recognize when I’m having one.
So while I don’t have a lot of bad things in my past that would affect me now, like this is mainly talking about, the title is really what has gotten me thinking that I can make this go better for myself. I have the skills. And because we strongly suspect that my oldest has pediactric bipolar as well as his ADHD, I know better how to help him too. We may even try homeschooling, so the routine will help both of us… Everything I do is a learning experience that I can draw on.
Thank you for being here and writing so candidly about surviving with bipolar. I may not comment often and may slow down visits when life gets busy, but I always appreciate the advice and insights.