Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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A Bipolar shell

Chuggernaught
Chuggernaught
Just theory based on real life experience, but it seems that when Bipolar individuals like us find other bipolar individuals, the immediate effects are quite pleasant. Having people to relate to and unload on with understanding ears is always helpful. Then things seem to take a turn.

We become addicted to the feeling of having the support and our mood seems to change more dramatically and more often, especially when away from the shell, in this case DS.

If you happen to think this may be happening to you, my suggestion is to go out and experience more things in the real world. force yourself to feel the extremes of nature for as long as possible, then enjoy some hot Cocoa. Go out and observe something magnificent about the a rather mundane seeming tree. Just something.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Ha ha

"feel the extreme" doesn't seem good advice for a BP.

But I agree with contemplation of nature, including human nature helps a lot.
mslaurie
mslaurie
I like your thoughts!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Something to think about anyway.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
Internet communities tend to amplify dramas, it's not just BPers. There are less consequences you can see immediately online.

I was in a community where a well known member died..was resurrected about 6 months later..and so on.

Sometimes you need to just step away from the computer.
deleted_user
deleted_user
When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.
Georgia O'Keeffe
deleted_user
deleted_user
i hear u chugg....it's just it's so hard being out in the real world, feeling so alone, i often feel like i'm a freak...you know? it's so much easier to be here...but yes, nature does help me and sooth me so much....anyway, hugs for you chugs and everyone....xoxo, maggie
deleted_user
deleted_user
great advice. balance in everything. everything in moderation. so true on the nature. sometimes i wonder if DS is a crutch for me. a way around RL
abielle
abielle
It seems like DS is where I do most of my "socializing" lately. I know it would be a good idea for me to get out of the house, and be around real people, but that is so hard for me to do. It feels so much safer online.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've been lining up things to do with my time. Volunteering opportunities, maybe a part time job. Some stuff like that. I agree with what you've said here. I find that I allow myself to be brought down when my friends or others around me are down. I'm working on that. However, I do that in real life as well as DS, but with DS, I do think it's a little more amplified.

Good post.
deleted_user
deleted_user
actually, it's just a human thing about community, don'tcha think..irrespective of the mental illness angle? (& there are pretty divergent personalities, worldviews here, besides

personally, my mood 'away from here' doesn't seem at all impacted by time on DS?

I guess you mean if people are really over invested emotionally in DS, hmmm.

anyway...hot cocoa, you say? :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good advice, Chuggs.
penny59
penny59
theres a real world outside of ds. hot cocoa....
deleted_user
deleted_user
I feel like I am very much immersed in the (for want of a better word) real world. I have a career that is considered tough and within that I work 2 jobs. I am the full time care taker of my disabled ex-husband. On top of that I take classes for my personal and profesional development. I come to DS for the support and a few laughs, I think you guys are awesome. I give advise when I can, if I feel I can add positive support but I don't feel like I live here. I do know people who are very involved in the cyber world, my ex-girl friend being one. She litteraly couldn't go without it and sometimes to the detriment of her family.

Hot chocolate you say......
ZanyBeeper
ZanyBeeper
I like hot chocolate............alone or with my coffee...........chocolate deserves good company, so I come to DS. But, I also live in the Real World.
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