Take Bad Days with Good
When you have bipolar disorder, you have to take the bad days with the good (which is true for life in general, but especially true when it comes to bipolar).
You can’t take it to the extreme, however. What am I talking about? Well, first of all, you can’t assume that every time you feel bad or are in a bad mood that it means you are in a bipolar depressive episode. Bad days are going to happen, no matter what. They even happen to people who don’t have bipolar disorder.
What I’m saying is that although you still have to be vigilant and watch for triggers, and signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode, you don’t need to assume that every time you feel bad that it’s an episode in the making, either. Remember, bad days are going to happen – it’s just part of the disorder.
You just have to take the bad days with the good when you have bipolar disorder, but just remember that you can get through them. When they come, just tell yourself that this is NOT a bipolar episode, but only a bad day. Then try to be positive, and do something to take your mind off it (which you can usually accomplish by doing positive things).
When you set your mind toward positive thinking, positive actions usually follow. First, accept that this is only a bad feeling, or a bad mood, or a bad (bipolar) day, and not an episode. Then turn your mind to the positive, like thinking you can get through this, as you have before. Try thinking positive things (like being grateful that you are not, in fact, in a bipolar episode).
Some people even make a Gratitude List, finding that it helps them to turn their mind toward the positive. To do this, take a pen and paper and list ten things for which you are grateful (if you can list more than ten things, all the better). This will help to put you into a more positive frame of mind.
Other people use positive affirmations. These are sayings that you can write down and put in prominent places (like mirrors or the refrigerator) and look at to remind you to be positive, such as: “I can do this,” or “I can handle anything,” or “I have been here before and made it through, and I will make it through again.” You get the idea.
Positive affirmations can be anything you want them to be. Even “You are loved” is a positive affirmation, and many people use this one effectively.
Then turn your positive attitude into positive action. Go to your volunteer work and help someone else. Work on your hobby. Do something creative and/or constructive. Try reading something uplifting. Listen to some quiet or inspirational music. Talk to a friend, family member, counselor, or clergy person.
The main thing is to remember that you don’t have to let the bad days get you down. They are only temporary. Remember that the bad feelings will always pass, as will the bad bipolar days. Good days will always return.
Wishing you joy and stability,
Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele
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When you have bipolar disorder, you have to take the bad days with the good (which is true for life in general, but especially true when it comes to bipolar).
You can’t take it to the extreme, however. What am I talking about? Well, first of all, you can’t assume that every time you feel bad or are in a bad mood that it means you are in a bipolar depressive episode. Bad days are going to happen, no matter what. They even happen to people who don’t have bipolar disorder.
What I’m saying is that although you still have to be vigilant and watch for triggers, and signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode, you don’t need to assume that every time you feel bad that it’s an episode in the making, either. Remember, bad days are going to happen – it’s just part of the disorder.
You just have to take the bad days with the good when you have bipolar disorder, but just remember that you can get through them. When they come, just tell yourself that this is NOT a bipolar episode, but only a bad day. Then try to be positive, and do something to take your mind off it (which you can usually accomplish by doing positive things).
When you set your mind toward positive thinking, positive actions usually follow. First, accept that this is only a bad feeling, or a bad mood, or a bad (bipolar) day, and not an episode. Then turn your mind to the positive, like thinking you can get through this, as you have before. Try thinking positive things (like being grateful that you are not, in fact, in a bipolar episode).
Some people even make a Gratitude List, finding that it helps them to turn their mind toward the positive. To do this, take a pen and paper and list ten things for which you are grateful (if you can list more than ten things, all the better). This will help to put you into a more positive frame of mind.
Other people use positive affirmations. These are sayings that you can write down and put in prominent places (like mirrors or the refrigerator) and look at to remind you to be positive, such as: “I can do this,” or “I can handle anything,” or “I have been here before and made it through, and I will make it through again.” You get the idea.
Positive affirmations can be anything you want them to be. Even “You are loved” is a positive affirmation, and many people use this one effectively.
Then turn your positive attitude into positive action. Go to your volunteer work and help someone else. Work on your hobby. Do something creative and/or constructive. Try reading something uplifting. Listen to some quiet or inspirational music. Talk to a friend, family member, counselor, or clergy person.
The main thing is to remember that you don’t have to let the bad days get you down. They are only temporary. Remember that the bad feelings will always pass, as will the bad bipolar days. Good days will always return.
Wishing you joy and stability,
Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele
About Author
MICHELE SOLOWAY
Michele Soloway shares regularly on the ups and downs of dealing with bipolar disorder, along with personal insights, lessons learned, and encouragement for others who also have bipolar disorder.