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.
"There is a theory that the brains of our northern ancestors devised a way to oscillate their moods between manic and depressive to align the former with light, warm seasons and the latter with the cold darkness of winter. This would be for the exact same reasons lots of animals do it: The manic episodes turned them into superhunters and uber-gatherers who happily slaughtered and stockpiled while the sun was shining, right up until it was time to sink into wintery depression.
According to this theory, people with bipolar disorder were also masters of reproduction. Since bipolar disorder is most prevalent in women of reproductive age, some researchers think part of the reason the brains of prehistoric ladies dug bipolarity was sheer procreation: They turned on the manic phase during the summer, when it was most convenient to get pregnant. The subsequent winter down period would have ensured that the lady is less active and free to concentrate on the coming child, which in turn would have led to healthier offspring." [will link in the comments, the article can be found under "5 Brain Disorders That Started as Evolutionary Advantages".
I don't know about you but I mean holy shit this sort of is a perspective game-changer for me. And this whole time I've been fighting the good fight and bucking a system that [if/when controlled and accepted] might've actually been designed to aid in my survival skills. Like some sort of psychosomatic mind warrior.
According to this theory, people with bipolar disorder were also masters of reproduction. Since bipolar disorder is most prevalent in women of reproductive age, some researchers think part of the reason the brains of prehistoric ladies dug bipolarity was sheer procreation: They turned on the manic phase during the summer, when it was most convenient to get pregnant. The subsequent winter down period would have ensured that the lady is less active and free to concentrate on the coming child, which in turn would have led to healthier offspring." [will link in the comments, the article can be found under "5 Brain Disorders That Started as Evolutionary Advantages".
I don't know about you but I mean holy shit this sort of is a perspective game-changer for me. And this whole time I've been fighting the good fight and bucking a system that [if/when controlled and accepted] might've actually been designed to aid in my survival skills. Like some sort of psychosomatic mind warrior.
Please accept that some of us here are just bantering and not attacking you
For me ...I'm a Creationist.
That throws a "monkey" wrench into all theories of evolution
Hugs
dd
Thank you all for the responses, I'll explain a bit why I got offended. The wording of a few of the things kind of reminded me of horrible religious debates I've been in willingly [stupidly] and unwittingly. So I have a real problem with being told what to believe and what not to.
I get that it was well-intended, but please be careful with wording.
Just for future reference, by the way, initiating a religious debate with me is overstepping my bounds. I won't do them 9 times out of 10. Sorry. I'm turned off from them entirely.
Dancingd- This isn't in reference to you though! Just a little tidbit about me. I'm very interested in hearing other peoples' beliefs but I'd rather not discuss them in depth beyond being a listening ear if somebody wants to tell their beliefs to me.
All is well. Just wanted to clear the air, so to speak.
If I am able to keep out of the extremes, I find that periods of high productivity followed by periods of recharge *are* an advantage for me and the way I've built (read: completely rearranged) my life as I'm living it now.
But. The extremes and their dangers will always be there, and I try to stay vigilant without being hyper-vigilant.
To say we always seem to be walking a tightrope would be an insulting understatement. IMHO.
Fun post.
Xx,
beep.
Beep- I've been told by many that if I can regulate my highs and keep from going into hyperdrive and basically speeding on my own natural brain chemicals, I can control and moderate my lows. But being an adrenaline junkie I find this advice hard to put to use, lol. You have to learn to take advantage of your abnormalities yourself. You've gotta know yourself and prepare and do things in the interest of long-term goals.
One of my theories on why bipolar doesn't die out is the manic crazy sex theory!
Looking at the boards plenty of us have reproduced and regularly people are announcing they are pregnant or wanting to get pregnant so we aren't being totally avoided for reproduction... even though there is a strong possibility of passing this onto our children.
I am a winter hibernator and feel its kinda natural to slow down when the weather is bad.
Maybe us bipolars are just extremes of summer frenzy/winter hibernation?
Would be interested to study rates of bipolar in different population groups from different latitudes.
"I've been told by many that if I can regulate my highs and keep from going into hyperdrive and basically speeding on my own natural brain chemicals, I can control and moderate my lows".
That is the million dollar question we all want answered, now to regulate our highs to stop them going too extreme....
Well just vaguely [My ex who I was with for a couple years on and off, we'll call him V, he's very bipolar, the most extreme person I've met hands-down] described it as not getting yourself terribly wound up, or exhausting all of your energy. To which I was like "But but. :c" I didn't want to accept it, but it... Kind of makes sense.
But when you're coming up the energy surge seems unstoppable.