Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Hmm that's different

I welcome a little skepticism at this point ie/ down with blanket Pollyanna Hallmark-isms ;)

I always thought that affirmations were a lot of New Age huey. It doesn't surprise me at all. You can't force yourself into a different state of consciousness just by repeating a sentence over and over again. That expectation is silly. Changes in self awareness are gradual and take time. If prosperity, wealth and self esteem was as simple as a repetition of a phrase we'd all be fabulously wealthy, happy beyond words and without a care. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

I wish they would have tested a third group that used something like "I can be loveable" or "I'm not a *complete* piece of crap". Something in the mid-range and more believable when super-down.

Yea - what Gemi said!

Or they could go really really big... I want to write some when I am really manic... We could collect them from others as well..

1. I am fabulous because I am the mother of humanity.

2. I am super because I know the secret to world peace.

3. I am special because I know the secret to unlocking the world.

4. I am wonderful because I can release love beams to others & help them.

5. I am great because I am a mermaid.

Yea that would be an interesting book.... I can just imagine people now saying them, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... ok, I have a strange sense of humor.

& So on

Not a bad article. While trying to be positive has some merits, I've always been a little suspicious of the people who want us chanting "I am a lovable person."

It's true! I just learned about this in my psych class. Blanket affirmations can come off canned or generic and the intelligence of the "chanter" doesn't believe it especially if they have low self esteem.

Also, affirmations are usually written as closed statement with no wiggle room so to speak. This can cause the person to become frustrated when they don't receive the results they are seeking quickly or never.

I am not stating I believe this as fact. I'm not sure how scientific their data can be... Just expressing what I was told.

I completely agree with this article Lou.....I have been in therapy off and on most of my life and have found that "canned" statements are just that, statements!!! They are not truly affirmations of who we are as a person.

I am not feeling very loved when I am depressed. I am not feeling very intelligent when I have lost my job or failed a test, blah blah.

Even before EFT came around, I found a different approach to my way of affirming myself and getting through the bad times. It had more to do with what I would choose to do with my feelings and emotions. I think it is important to recognize and validate my feelings and emotions first by stating them.....I feel like shit, I feel like a failure, I cant do this job, I hate my life, I hate my diisorder, blah blah.........they are real so to say I feel great, I feel like a success, I can do this job blah blah, just dismisses how I truly feel and I dont believe the statements anyway.........so what good are they?

If we first recognize the emotion and then make a choice in what direction we are going to take it, it validates and then affirms I can choose differently.

Like: "I feel like I am at fault for my sons struggling" but "I choose to recognize that he has to develope his own coping skills" or "I will support him as much as I can".....what happens then is we create a positive solution for a negative thought. More conviceable and manageable then.....I am not at fault for his struggling.

I think it is important that we make positive affirmation lists when we are stable or feel good about ourselves. When we dont feel good our whole focus is on the negative and we forget the good things. Things like...my best physical feature is my eyes, I have a loving husband, I am a compassionate writer, I am a good artist, I love to hear the birds sing, anything like this that applies to me personally and my feelings about my life that are positive.

Sorry so long..........thanks for the thread and article link. Hugs

I've always believed that positive affirmations,when the brain is in a downer state ,are a total waste....especially in the BP brain,where our moods are dictated by biochemical reactions in the brain.

No amount of positive thinking ,can cross the chemical barrior ,when we are in a depressed episode.very refreshing article