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.
Top Ten Terrific Things About Bipolar Disorder
1.Creativity. Visual arts, performance, writing, music; in all the arts bipolar talent is common and sometimes exceptional. Patty Duke, Ernest Hemingway, Trent Reznor, Sylvia Plath, many more. The link between bipolar disorder and creativity is well-established, though further study is needed. One research finding: as many as 60% of people with bipolar disorders are writers.
2.Energy. Not sleeping for two or three days without feeling effects is even better than modafanil (Provigil). People take all sorts of stimulants attempting to experience similar energy; if you could bottle this symptom of mania and hypomania, youd make a mint.
3.Exuberance. Kay Redfield Jamison, prominent psychiatrist who studies and has bipolar, wrote the book Exuberance: The Passion For Life in celebration of the passion and joy in mania and hypomania. Exuberance, Jamison says, is an abounding, ebullient, effervescent emotion. And its contagious. Bipolar disorder spreads happiness; think Mary Poppins.
4.Unlike Mary (well, we dont know for sure), lust a.k.a. hypersexuality is also a prominent feature of hypomania. People with bipolar disorders tend to be dazzling, passionate and adventurous lovers.
5.Perspective on emotions. What goes up, must come down, and back up again. Viewing life and issues from both ends makes you more philosophical about the meaning of things. Would this matter when not depressed? Would that seem a good idea when stable? Emotions become illusory flavourings.
6.Proof of the biological basis of mental illness, especially this one but it disproves dualism in general. More scientific evidence and ongoing research plus personal anecdotes asserting internal causes and correlates of depression and hypo/mania (as well as some environmental interactions, its not totally reductionist) than you could ever hope to read. Hands down, no debate here, its physical.
7.Lots of bipolar celebrities. Did you know so-and-so had bipolar disorder? is an easy conversation starter, raising an eyebrow, implicitly comparing yourself to Marilyn Monroe, Florence Nightingale or Winston Churchill.
8.Depth of experience. Youll not meet more experienced, well-travelled, multi-dimensional people. Exceptional and often unusual stories to share. Could be because people with bipolar disorders, so often adventurous, tend to be high-achievers and leaders with above average intelligence.
9.Courage. Tied in with bravado and gradiosity, at its most severe it can be dangerous risk-taking, but at its best its inspiring and heroic.
10.Depression. Whats good about depression, you ask? Light needs shadow, and the most profound understanding includes both. It illuminates the whole human experience.
1.Creativity. Visual arts, performance, writing, music; in all the arts bipolar talent is common and sometimes exceptional. Patty Duke, Ernest Hemingway, Trent Reznor, Sylvia Plath, many more. The link between bipolar disorder and creativity is well-established, though further study is needed. One research finding: as many as 60% of people with bipolar disorders are writers.
2.Energy. Not sleeping for two or three days without feeling effects is even better than modafanil (Provigil). People take all sorts of stimulants attempting to experience similar energy; if you could bottle this symptom of mania and hypomania, youd make a mint.
3.Exuberance. Kay Redfield Jamison, prominent psychiatrist who studies and has bipolar, wrote the book Exuberance: The Passion For Life in celebration of the passion and joy in mania and hypomania. Exuberance, Jamison says, is an abounding, ebullient, effervescent emotion. And its contagious. Bipolar disorder spreads happiness; think Mary Poppins.
4.Unlike Mary (well, we dont know for sure), lust a.k.a. hypersexuality is also a prominent feature of hypomania. People with bipolar disorders tend to be dazzling, passionate and adventurous lovers.
5.Perspective on emotions. What goes up, must come down, and back up again. Viewing life and issues from both ends makes you more philosophical about the meaning of things. Would this matter when not depressed? Would that seem a good idea when stable? Emotions become illusory flavourings.
6.Proof of the biological basis of mental illness, especially this one but it disproves dualism in general. More scientific evidence and ongoing research plus personal anecdotes asserting internal causes and correlates of depression and hypo/mania (as well as some environmental interactions, its not totally reductionist) than you could ever hope to read. Hands down, no debate here, its physical.
7.Lots of bipolar celebrities. Did you know so-and-so had bipolar disorder? is an easy conversation starter, raising an eyebrow, implicitly comparing yourself to Marilyn Monroe, Florence Nightingale or Winston Churchill.
8.Depth of experience. Youll not meet more experienced, well-travelled, multi-dimensional people. Exceptional and often unusual stories to share. Could be because people with bipolar disorders, so often adventurous, tend to be high-achievers and leaders with above average intelligence.
9.Courage. Tied in with bravado and gradiosity, at its most severe it can be dangerous risk-taking, but at its best its inspiring and heroic.
10.Depression. Whats good about depression, you ask? Light needs shadow, and the most profound understanding includes both. It illuminates the whole human experience.
-
Mom and I have errands to run this morning. She said we can get sushi for lunch though. I go back to work today. What are you looking forward to this weekend?
-
Lets make ot a good beginning to the weekHow can we start the day off on a positive note!I have several chores planned that I have been putting off but I'm determined to accomplish todaySo I'm feel grateful for accomplishmentsI hope that you all have a fabulous week!!Sending hugs...xo
I love this post it really is confidence building!
I'm a creative doodler. I doodle everywhere.
Great post to remind us there are some good things too....
A different way of counting out blessings!
Let's face it it is a get out of jail free card for almost everything but it does come at a high price!
One more thing is I've realized how absurd I can be and learn to laugh at myself and life even when things are going to hell in a handbasket.
Don't forget Katherine Zeta Jones. She seems to be doing okay.
Thanks for the reminder that despite all the ups and downs and all arounds we're still awesome people. Yaay us!
And I can only knit a scarf too! Nothing wrong with that!
Creativity? Non beepers are creative, too. My most creative times are when euthymic. My hypomania is a fair weather friend.
Energy...I like sleeping..I don't like my pressured speech, magical thinking and my increasingly odd behaviour that follows such thinking.
Hypersexuality landed me with some folks I ended up not liking :/ I prefer euthymic relations....
As for proof, I have an acknowledged chronic illness. Great.
Charlie Sheen.
I'd prefer the experience/knowledge of a normie, and be spared knowledge of the freaky, despairing, and frightening, the absence which wouldn't make me normal...I'd still be eccentric.
Courage? Damn straight.
As for depression, keep it. Seeing shadow doesn't necessate suicidal ideation. I wish I didn't deeply understand suicidal impulses.
These are my personal thoughts and opinions and are not directed at anyone. DS is supportive, I appreciate and deeply respect lively diversity and richness of experience here. Idk. If there was a cure, would you take it?