Strength Through Self Discipline

Tabby,

I thank you for your response, and do agree that "recovered from" could be a misleading statement, but by that I mean that depression is no longer the dominiant emotion in my life. I further don't believe that having a life without depressed/sad feeling would be idealic or realisitic, and I do believe there is legitimate reasons for having a spectrum of emotions.

In regards to manic periods. Well, honesty I have always been a bit of an energizer bunny, and I am primarily manic with sometimes prolonged and deep depressive phases. (Though through the methods I explained previous these phases of depression have become fewer and further in between, and more situationally motivated, that is more "reasonable" emotional responses to external stimuli) I, personally enjoy my manic moods, I just channel them into actions that benefit myself, trying to keep them constructive. For example, my job is dispatching vehicles for Paratransit, so I use my vast energy reserves to keep track of vehicular resources, answer phones, communicate with our drivers via radio. I'm lucky that I have a fast paced job that allows me to keep both a big picture in my head while using my energy in being scatter-brained keeping track of individual variables. And when not at work, I try to do things at home that keep me happy/content, like cleaning my living space, gardening, and hanging out with my cat.(whom I probably talk to more than is healthy, haha)

I was always told by my parents growing up to set goals and work toward them. I unfortunately never did and was often crushed with feelings of purposelessness, and a sense of not having direction. As I got older these feelings lent themselves to severe depression, especially when alone. But I have made the effort to actively work toward having goals and meeting them. I've have found that goals help me dispel depression by being able to affirm to myself that I am "doing things" and gives me a place to channel my manic energy into.

Now to risk myself becoming one of those "preachy" people you spoke of, I have also found philosophy to be a deeply satisfying persuit, especially when I'm feeling less than with it. A lot of people debunk it, but I have found objectivist philosophy to be the most congruent with my beliefs and lends personal responsibililty to my emotional state, which lets me keep perspective that it's not hopeless if I don't let it be.

I hope you were able to get something out of that!

Most Sincerely, 22 male in California

I wasn't necessarily infering that you were being "preachy" but quite a few folks do come here with cures, conversions, alternate therapy sales, etc... and all focus solely on the depressive side.  They all label themselves as "recovered from" and well... in that the illness has 2 sides, no one really focuses on how they manage their "upper" side of the illness.

From your description of your illness, because Bipolar is different to each individual, it seems yours is more depressive than manic whereas others are more manic than depressive.

My take on all this is and I'm 42.5 years:

Bipolar is not something you truly "recover from".  You can have long periods of stability depending on several factors, one being the type of Bipolar you struggle with and another is how you look at the disorder. 

If you see it as disabling, then likely you will be disabled by it.  If you look at it as a part of life that is included but not have your life consumed by it, then you will more likely develop positive means to manage your respective symptoms and episodic flares. 

In either regard, you must accept it as being truth - seek help when need arises - accept help that is offered - and learn learn learn while practicing practicing practicing what you've learned.