Good question. You just imagine your self letting go of what ever ails you. Imagine that crappy thing drifting away from you down a river.

OK I don't really know but it's worth a try.

I was just thinking about this very thing actually.

accept-accept-accept!-keep moving and learning and most important of all keep making good decisions for yourself!

I think self acceptance is a key to being at peace. Accept you have a disorder, accept that you may have episodes, but don't let that disorder BE your life. Have a life all your own full of things you like and care about, when you can.I'm not saying it's easy and it took me a long time to get there, and I still have episodes that throw me off, but over all, I know that whatever episodes I go through or stresses, they will eventually get better if I just don't give up on me. Hang in there!!

I respond well to mantras. My self esteem issues are such that my Self-loathing keeps coming back on me through the course of a day, no matter what I try. At my best, I will find my mantras in the course of the day. At my worst I copy a ditty from my morning meditation readers and carry it in my pocket for reminders through the day.

Hope ya find what works for you. It is pretty critical in my own recovery.

being well takes HARD work, stumbles, setbacks, blood, sweat, and tears

being ill takes no work at all

i hope you find the will to fight and begin the work to peace.

Its Work - making and keeping appts, finding and taking meds..but that is just to get stable! It has nothing to do with acceptance or change...

For me, I started my road to acceptance at a Alanon meeting many, many years ago - I love the slogans and 12 steps for learning how to act and think.... Now I'm more focused on NAMI and mental illness meetings - people in the same shoes, just like here on DS...

I need people to accept me at these meetings, and then I noticed the peace and joy coming from them - and most had it worse than me... I wanted what they had....

I worked and did baby steps, one meeting, one phone call, one book, one step at a time........ it work, but you have to do something different!!!! Your best thinking got you HERE ((((BIG HUG)))))

I agree with the others - the big key to peace is acceptance.

I remember when I first starting having symptoms of bipolar. I could not accept that I had a life long disorder or that I would have to take meds for the rest of my life. Heck, I didn't even accept that meds could help me. I didn't accept that there were new limitations to what I could achieve. I wanted to achieve the same things as before, in the same manner as before.

I fought accepting my new reality. I did not understand how to find the balance between living with the limitations imposed by bipolar and accomplishing my goals. I did not want to accept that I had to modify my dreams for my life. Some may say it's not necessary to change my dreams, but for me it has helped me find peace to give myself permission to be realistic about my capabilities. In short - for me, bipolar has presented me with challenges and benefits. As time passes and I learn more and more about what they are, the more peace I get.

For me, self acceptance reduces stress. Less stress means more peace.

As others have said acceptance of one's self is essential, the best way I've found to achieve that is through centering, balance and meditation.

I find meditation the key that opens the door to the others.

The Wolf

I feel overwhelmed!! lack of stability in my symptoms. i have way to much on my plte. i have tried to lessen the load by removing ppl or things that cause me ill feelings. i was in hosp for bp for 18 days n have only been home 9 days n feel the need to go back. will this ever get better. Help thiz hurts so bad i want to give up. i only was able to sleep 1 1/2 hrs last night. I am just tired of feeling like a failure

I'm always depressed. No matter how many pills that you shove down my throat I am angry and depressed. My therapist is horrid.

I'm always angry, for reasons that are personal, but always always angry and disgusted.