acceptance is cool bananas, yes x

I would say "change" The willingness to do something different, maybe even completely foreign to me has been the key to my stability. Things like taking my meds religiously everday, getting daily exercise, eating well and limiting alcohol consumption.

Those are a Definite, Tim. Good reminders! I have found that humor helps, too. (It fits before and between each step, for me) (lol)

not being passive..to be very proactive about helping oneself is v. important for me.

I love that concept GTM humor is something I forget when I'm down sometimes a nice reminder. =)

Don't give up. I"ve given up hundreds of times, but I still keep getting back on the damn horse.

This applies to everything in my life; my diet, especially right now. Even though I never seem to get completely in control, I am still doing much better than if I wasn't working at it.

that when life becomes too overwhelming to stop right where you are and use all 5 of your senses, like: from my perspective i can see this and i can smell that and i can hear the cars and the fan, i feel the roughness of the walls...etc. you get the picture, right? its helping me when my mind races.

Are you asleep dreaming you are awake

pinch me and we'll find out..

pinch =)

repinch and winky winky

Some one asked me what I felt the bargaining process ment / included in my 5 steps as this is often where people get stuck the most I thought I would try to explain my view....

In standard grieving process it is the point where you make deals with your higher power. Such as If you bring them back I will be a better person, go to church more, feed the homeless, love them more. In my context the methods are as varied as the situations.

When I've done something to harm someone else it could be as simple as I wont talk about them behind their back anymore if they will be my friend to I will take my meds daily again if I can have my children back or even I will take a plea for manslaughter if I can only be sentenced to time in a mental ward. I will do anything to make it better.

When someone else does the same they go through the same process. i.e. They wont bring up the topic anymore If you will just forget, to they wont fire you if you don't tell on them or they will offer time served if you go to rehab.

Some times it is the hardest part to get through because you feel inadequate or unable to sacrifice enough or that someone else is insincere or unable to change. Inevitably getting stuck back at the top of the cycle in denial that anything was / is wrong. This can make moving on to acceptance the hardest part of the process. Just accepting what happened trying to make changes and moving on with life.

This happens a lot with "Do - Gooders" they feel their actions can / will justify what they have done, but never accept the fact that something is wrong; and it can go on for years. Thus never accepting the ultimate understanding of what Bipolar is and what it does. (certain people come to mind)

I hope this sheds some light on my understanding of the whole process of bargaining in the 5 steps. Until this is under stood and seen in ones actions acceptance has not occurred.

In love and light :P tim

I've found that people around me are, for the most part, hesitant to talk on a deeper level.it's more of a precipice for them.Once you've been in the depths and heights you can't help to either want to laugh or be serious.
It's a smooth transition and eventually it's about co-existence and connection to many levels with a price... a detachment from everything else.
Coaxing others, that's what it feels like..then they talk about the real shit in life....but then...back to the vapid and guarded once more.It feels like a dimension has been shaved off the surroundings.
But it's a winnable thing.It's just about money and fucking.

It is almost sad how right you are plukk, money and sex can solve most anything

Yes. I've often paid a lot of my hard earned sex for a night of good money.