Comments on: The Best Things in my Life from Having Bipolar

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:08:36 +0000

Great to see it from that angle. My husband was diagnosed a little over a year ago and he looks at it as something to be ashamed of as if he has some control over it, as if it is a choice to be bi-polar, I credit part of his feelings to his ex-wife who claimed his illness, he also has ADD, was an excuse and who treated him as if he were less of a man because of it. It bothers me to see this wonderful man suffer anxiety over having to take medications. It is hard for some who suffer such illnesses to not see it as something to be ashamed of yet they do not look down on those that suffer illnesses such as diabetes or cancer. People with mental illnesses have no more control than those with physical illnesses. I am just so proud of my husband for seeking professional help. It is really a relief to know he has a disorder and that he isn’t just a hateful and selfish person.
On a personal note.. I find the Bible’s teaching to be a guide for the fight against depression and the Christian community as a great support system as well…

By: james

james — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 07:13:03 +0000

Thank you Hanna. You’re points are very good ones that I didn’t consider when I wrote the post. It’s prompted me to rewrite quite a lot of it – hopefully in a way that is more sensitive to people with other illnesses or with less to sing about in their current circumstances.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:02:08 +0000

I understand what you’re trying to say but maybe you should have said “my 12 best things about being bipolar” because everyone’s experiences are wildly different and some of your points don’t apply to some illnesses (e.g. someone with social anxiety disorder would have more difficulty than you with the socialising points you mentioned, where you said “I don’t care what I’m going to eat for dinner”, some people with bulimia or anorexia or even things like OCD might have a completely different view of this point and where you said “the best thing about having any illness must be the ability to empathize and help others”, some people with narcissistic personality disorder and definitely people with antisocial personality disorder cannot (or are severely impaired with it) feel empathy. Just some points sorry to be picky :P By the way, good for you that you’re coping so well! I doubt I would with something as serious as bipolar :)

By: Mahmud

Mahmud — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:41:31 +0000

Honestly, brother, you’re much more mentally fit than many of those who pretend to be okay when they are not. Wish you a wonderful life.

By: Alli

Alli — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:32:24 +0000

Annette! I understand you! That read as if I’d written it : ) I wonder if the experiences we have with the ‘condition’ is more down to our nature types though. I’m a slim energetic woman full of nervy energy, super bright , productive and competant when all is well. Sociable too. A terrible mess on the slumps and then have days where I’m in a trance, unable to work anything out, find the easiest task painfully slow or impossible to undetake. I can’t bearto visit or speak to people but have learnt from holding down full on jobs how to fake it and just about get by on a bad day so hopefully you go under the radar . I have a different ‘head’ on everyday.. I never know how I’ll feel from one day to the next

By: Annette

Annette — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:02:55 +0000

I too know the benefits of having bipolar. Being a Christian and reading the Bible at times I smile when reading about King David he must have been our leader of the Bipolar’s he was so brilliant and inspiration to us all.
My top 12 list of good things about being Bipolar 1. I can multi-task beyond anyone I worked with. 2. I have compassion for others being what I’ve been through. 3. I can turn emotions off and not let people affect me. 4. I pretty much on manic side and accomplish a lot every day. 5. People love my energy I’ve learned to manage it. 6. The ideas that pass through my mind I have learned to hold on to and siege and have promoted programs to help others. 7. Have become a public speaker because of my experiences with bipolar. 8 According to my adult children’s friends I’m the greatest mom ever they love to hang out with me and come to me for advice because I’m an open book even though I’m 55. 9. The grandkids love the crazy concotions I come up with for them, baking together, science projects, you know you can put a hersey’s kiss inside a cupcake and it will keep it’s form. LOL 10. Optimistic, I am uplifting to others they say I’m such an inspiration to them they feel safe in my home, when they’re with me, they say I just give the feeling of nuturing safety that when they’re around me they can do anything. Because I pull out their strengths to be stronger and make their weaknesses strong. 11. I see Bipolar as a gift from God, 12. I can do anything I put my mind to do when raising my kids if something broke down in the home I’d study it, draw a picture of it and stare at it to figure out its being. Then close my eyes sleep on it. And somehow figure out how to repair it on my own. A gift from God Magical problem solving abilities.
Thank You for putting this site together it’s wonderful.
Annette

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:47:51 +0000

I’ve got to say, I hadn’t given much thought to the positives associated with mental illness till I read this post.

But thinking about it, one of the positives I can take out of suffering from depression is that it has made me really try to study the way that the mind works. The more I learn, the more I realise that science itself still has a lot to learn. I think that helps me maintain a healthy scepticism about certain treatments.

To Todd Smith (the previous poster): May be you should try sending your friend some links to some good websites that deal with depression. She may say she doesn’t need the info, but she may still check out the sites even if she doesn’t tell you about it it.

I think the toughest steps to take when you have depression is that first one when you seek help. It was certainly a big barrier for me.

By: Todd Smith

Todd Smith — Sun, 29 May 2011 18:49:50 +0000

How do you help someone with depression seek help? I have a friend who goes through depressed moods every six months or so with a serious depressed state about every 2 years.

I recognize the symptoms as they are similar to my mom’s symptoms when she was depressed. My mom committed suicide about 20 years ago. When she goes through deep depressed states my friend pulls herself into herself to protect herself and others around her. She sometimes won’t communicate with me for weeks, then comes out and things are normal again. She loses many friends at these times.

She has told me many times when she is not in a depressed state that she knows something is wrong, but doesn’t know what. I can’t mention the word depression without her getting upset though.

How can I help her when she won’t communicate with me when she’s depressed and and won’t entertain the thought of seeking help when she’s OK?

By: Jinny

Jinny — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:49:36 +0000

i was just skimming through your text… and it just made me laugh straight away!!! hahahaha. but now i’m gonna go back up and read it again – I’m still having depression. so sick of it ! very boring..can’t even control ourselves.
anyways! love ur text :)

By: Jackie Hagan

Jackie Hagan — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:07:33 +0000

Fantastic! loved reading this.

I have bipolar and used to abhor myself and my life but over time have come to appreciate (and sometimes adore) the journey of being mad.

I haven’t travelled much but i feel like i’ve been to the moon and back.

I love people who have gone through things that have turned their life upside down, there is a richness and sincerity and humour.

I run creativity workshops for people with mental health needs and am currently helping a group of folk make a book about their stories, I’m running a workshop tomoro about the positives of mental illness and found this website through google. I’ve written a lot about my own journey and mental illness in general, i thought i’d put a link to a poem about ‘us lot’ :)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/note.php?note_id=32347067403