I like what you doc said to you about the fact that it is an illness that you have to manage.
When I was first diagnosed, I heard and read so many discouraging stories about folks with Bipolar. The prognosis of a future with it seemed so daunting and well.. miserable. Yet, I chose to look at it as just what it is - a illness to be managed.
Cause sug, if you don't... it will manage you and you probably have experienced some of it's management techniques. Not enjoyable, I gather.
The illness affects and effects each one individually. It's custom designed for the one it affects. Your symptoms, reactions, and responses will be different than someone sitting next to you. So, yeah... you may think another nuts while they may think you are completely "out of touch" and vice a versa.
I didn't like what you posted before of how your therapist had you repeat "I'm Bipolar". I was going to reply to that but chose not to. I will note it here though.
It is paramount that you accept what you have is what you have, for you to look it in the eye and know it for what it is, and yet... you are not it. You are a person who has a illness and it's name is Bipolar. You are not Bipolar.
Bipolar has this conatation (?sp) and a image that most have in their minds. As such, when someone hears that someone has Bipolar they generally picture that image. While some with the illness do mimic that image, most if not the majority of do not.
Sadly, even a good majority of mental health providers have this issue of putting someone into a "mental image" of a textbook description.
To me anyway
- It is limitating and restricting and if one gives into that mentality that "I'm Bipolar" with all it's sterotypical junk associated with it... one will be only what the box describes one as and not ever who one truly is or can be. Goals may have to be modified and adjusted to compensate for the illness but shouldn't be just scratched because of the illness.
So, learning how to live your life in full with Bipolar running along in it and managing it so that it doesn't overtake your life.. is the key. Same as with Diabetes or any other illness and/or disorder. It can be done with diligence, effort, tenacity, and working with a good doc AND a therapist.
There is no promise that you'll never slip up or de-rail cause you will. I assure you that you will and perhaps over and over throughout your life - it's the illness. Yet, the ability to have longer periods of stability in betwixt and between is there.. you just got to keep managing it and working on it.
good luck
and keep letting us know how you are getting along
I like what you doc said to you about the fact that it is an illness that you have to manage.
When I was first diagnosed, I heard and read so many discouraging stories about folks with Bipolar. The prognosis of a future with it seemed so daunting and well.. miserable. Yet, I chose to look at it as just what it is - a illness to be managed.
Cause sug, if you don't... it will manage you and you probably have experienced some of it's management techniques. Not enjoyable, I gather.
The illness affects and effects each one individually. It's custom designed for the one it affects. Your symptoms, reactions, and responses will be different than someone sitting next to you. So, yeah... you may think another nuts while they may think you are completely "out of touch" and vice a versa.
I didn't like what you posted before of how your therapist had you repeat "I'm Bipolar". I was going to reply to that but chose not to. I will note it here though.
It is paramount that you accept what you have is what you have, for you to look it in the eye and know it for what it is, and yet... you are not it. You are a person who has a illness and it's name is Bipolar. You are not Bipolar.
Bipolar has this conatation (?sp) and a image that most have in their minds. As such, when someone hears that someone has Bipolar they generally picture that image. While some with the illness do mimic that image, most if not the majority of do not.
Sadly, even a good majority of mental health providers have this issue of putting someone into a "mental image" of a textbook description.
To me anyway
- It is limitating and restricting and if one gives into that mentality that "I'm Bipolar" with all it's sterotypical junk associated with it... one will be only what the box describes one as and not ever who one truly is or can be. Goals may have to be modified and adjusted to compensate for the illness but shouldn't be just scratched because of the illness.
So, learning how to live your life in full with Bipolar running along in it and managing it so that it doesn't overtake your life.. is the key. Same as with Diabetes or any other illness and/or disorder. It can be done with diligence, effort, tenacity, and working with a good doc AND a therapist.
There is no promise that you'll never slip up or de-rail cause you will. I assure you that you will and perhaps over and over throughout your life - it's the illness. Yet, the ability to have longer periods of stability in betwixt and between is there.. you just got to keep managing it and working on it.
good luck
and keep letting us know how you are getting along