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.
Wiccanwolf1,
I, by no means, am a bible thumper or religious zealot, how ever after a conversation with someone very dear to me last night, I have been reminded of how We, as both a society and the human race have forgotten about what is truly important.
How we judge ourselves and others based on " What We've accomplished", "What our social status is", and "What wealth or material possessions we have accumulated". It just seems to me, that we no longer put value on or subscribe " Wealth to", things like "What a person's character is" or "What a person brings to other and their community".
At this point you're probably asking yourself, what does this have to do with Bipolar? I think quite a bit.
As people with the bipolar illness, your thoughts and emotions run at a higher level and as such the pressures to succeed, to accomplish become intensified.
I am aware and except that bipolar is based in biochemical imbalances in the brain, however I believe that it is the pressure to "succeed", to "accomplish" that are what trigger and intensify episodes of both depression and mania.
How often do we hear a depression person say " What have I done with my life", "I can't do anything", "I'm a failure or worthless" and how often have we seen someone's mania set off by their attempt to "achieve" something or to reach for some kind of social status.
I often wonder if we were to focus more on "who we are as people, how we treat people (personal growth) and "what we can bring to others and our communities" ( the spiritual ) and less on "what do I have" and "what can I get" and "I want" if it would lessen the stress that we are under and lessen the emotional and mental effects of our imbalances and make them more manageable.
WW
I, by no means, am a bible thumper or religious zealot, how ever after a conversation with someone very dear to me last night, I have been reminded of how We, as both a society and the human race have forgotten about what is truly important.
How we judge ourselves and others based on " What We've accomplished", "What our social status is", and "What wealth or material possessions we have accumulated". It just seems to me, that we no longer put value on or subscribe " Wealth to", things like "What a person's character is" or "What a person brings to other and their community".
At this point you're probably asking yourself, what does this have to do with Bipolar? I think quite a bit.
As people with the bipolar illness, your thoughts and emotions run at a higher level and as such the pressures to succeed, to accomplish become intensified.
I am aware and except that bipolar is based in biochemical imbalances in the brain, however I believe that it is the pressure to "succeed", to "accomplish" that are what trigger and intensify episodes of both depression and mania.
How often do we hear a depression person say " What have I done with my life", "I can't do anything", "I'm a failure or worthless" and how often have we seen someone's mania set off by their attempt to "achieve" something or to reach for some kind of social status.
I often wonder if we were to focus more on "who we are as people, how we treat people (personal growth) and "what we can bring to others and our communities" ( the spiritual ) and less on "what do I have" and "what can I get" and "I want" if it would lessen the stress that we are under and lessen the emotional and mental effects of our imbalances and make them more manageable.
WW
And yes, you are very right Cammie, hugs and love and compassion do make a difference for all of us. But being over medicated means you may not even feel it. I was very over medicated for quite a few years, to say nothing of side effects forever.
But a tricky balancing act to stay sane, and to try and live in this society, with mental illness being so stigmatized. My pdoc has a lot to say about this, he agrees that it is biochemical, but PTSD has a lot to do with bipolar II. But he still hands out the meds like candy. Esp. the free ones the pharmaceuticals give him!
But again it is "stuff". Yes I like it, but I love helping others. One thing I do, because we don't have a lot of money or anything, but when I find sales on groceries, I do try and keep stocked, so that if I know someone that is choosing to put groceries on the table instead of paying all their elec. bill or something important like that, I can provide groceries for them and their family.
Now last month, and people know they can come to us and we will help with what we can, but anyhow, only 4 people knew we left our back door unlocked, well someone decided to come grocery shopping while we were gone. We figured about $300 or more worth of groceries were gone. Our smaller freezer that had our pork in it and I keep frozen veggies and stuff in, well it was only left a 1/4 of the way full. I just hope that who ever did it, really needed to feed their family.
I love everyone, no matter what they choose in life as far as beliefs or anything. I feel there is a path and everyone chooses the one they walk, at the end of each of our walk is when we come to "terms" with it or what have you. I am a Lutheran, and I am proud to say that, but I don't shove and I don't bad mouth anyone that says what they are.
Love everyone isn't that what it is about? Smile, because maybe it will make someone's day. Right?
Hugs everyone. And again Wiccan great post.
that argument only really holds up in certain regions though.
here in the UK we get the same medications, but because of the way our health care is funded, there isn`t a huge profit in it for pharmaceutical companies.
by that logic, internal combustion is a theory invented by oil companies to sell gas.... try not putting fuel in your car and see how that works ;D
for real.
but he sold it to the oil companies because they were poor.
so we have better technologies, but it would have put the main players in world wide economy out of business.
.... does it show that my background isn`t in engineering? ;)
and i for one do not have a capacity for very much math or science, let alone engineering. . geometry.. mah okay. started getting interesting in the unreal numbers but that's where my last math class ended
unless it's like the c.e.o of the company but i'm sure he would have no use for it anyway, since he is probably controlled by aliens who make themselves out to be gods to be worshipped so they can take over the living library that is Earth and destroy it because we all know who their head honcho is. and their head honcho being who he is doesn't want them ruling things either. so it's just a messy thing that needs a whole heap of salt and something much bigger now.
( now maybe Mojo won't be so scared to say what his explanation is. )
no but i'm sure they are all pissed as hell, the unseens, at me for writing this, i can even feel it. so no need to risk a reputation or your very life and now get involved in this stupid discussion.
and now the men in white coats shall come and shoot me up with a vile of sedatives and up my lithium dosage right about . . . 3. . 2. .
and even more will think i'm insane.
i guess it's good that i feel the way :
Its better to be hated for what you are, than to be loved for what youre not. kurt cobain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2k-G_kIkDw
and if you do hate me then up yours.
it's funny when someone adds me and i think ' why the hell are THEY adding me ? ' and then they're the ones who drop me.
know thyself.
and to wiccan, at least you're not a wolf in sheep's clothing, that i do have to say.
dna- the double helix ( yin and yang, masculine and feminine, mother and father ) that make up our cells and therefore our composition.
deoxyribonucleic acid = chemicals
cells are affected by chemical transmitters -->chemicals are affected by other chemicals which are produced by our reactions to outside stimulae including other chemicals found in other living organisms ( food, substances like medicine etc. ) extrasensory experience such as touch, and UNSEEN emotions produced by UNSEEN forces such as Love and hate.
why does someone feel like they are missing something when they earn 90,000 a year and have everything they need and are healthy otherwise ? even if they had sex, drugs, could travel the world...drive a fast car.....whatever......still empty.
cause they are missing one key ingredient that atheists don't often give too much credit or thought, or maybe some atheists do and they consider the evolutionary implications of human touch and comfort, or even animal.....
but what then when you are aging and death approaches, and your significant other must eventually pass ,the parrot dies, the car rusts and you get a new car, find a new wife and buy a fish......
now that's really getting deeper into samsara,
cause now you see, the same thing's gonna happen again.
everything dies and fades away. and you most likely get this by now.
S and M won't save you, you can buy 1000 video games, and movies, and dates.....
what then?
die.come back. die come back. die come back.
you've had your fill of knowledge and learning and school and society and what it takes to protect and create society,
it's starting to become boring and pointless..
the military and nationalism just aren't cutting it as much anymore.
celebrities are now wearing the flag...
you look elsewhere,
religion fails too.
there is more, you just know it
now what is yoga about, what is meditation reaalllly about . . .
well i'm not going to answer it for you nor can i. all i know is if i were to try to crudely explain, it has something to do with ( if i'm using something as awkward and limiting as language ) you, your Creator, Love and spirit..
and it's not a religion
and words can't go there
and i'm not suggesting you don't know all i've written,
all i'm saying, is... it ain't just chemicals babe,
and it sure as hell isn't just the physical........
so i agree with the statement: it is chemicals and it is also beyond chemicals
and anyone which is everyone, even if they do or don't know it, in just their very being-ness, their being eludes to this...
so yeah i'll use the meds while society is as fucked up as it is, 'cause i am not that close. all i know is the journey has begun boys and girls, and it's well on it's way....
and this isn't my first time around this dog and pony show,
but i sure as hell hope it's my last.
and that's why i'm here saying all of this.
not to make myself sound cool.
it's so we can relate, and evolve.
I totally agree with what you've stated!
What really matter's in life is who we are on the inside.
The outside is just a vessel for this life.
Material shit is just that!
It didn't come with you when you were born and it's certainly not coming with you when you pass.
We're all here for lessons in life and to learn and evolve.
I don't worry about what was and what it is.
I'm just happy to wake up each morning with a fresh breath of LIFE!
Accomplishments? Ha! who cares as long as your happy!
Comparing your self with others? " Consider the source " ... Right?
Again , great post!
Just my 2 cents ... lol :]
Always Silky ~