The "inner" bipolar world.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the Living in a Bipolar World blog!

All of us at one point or another have felt "bipolar". You are up, then you are down. You are in a great mood one day, and the next day you don't want to see or talk to anyone. Are we all bipolar? The answer is no. Changes in mood are a normal part of life. Our mood can change in reaction to work, family life, diet, weather, and so on. However, when these mood changes become debilitating and destructive, causing turmoil both in your personal and professional life, it's time to consider that perhaps you are not just "being moody". Perhaps you may be experiencing life in a bipolar world. 

First we'd like to take a moment to clarify just what we mean by "bipolar world". The phrase can be interpreted in two ways. The first interpretation is that of the "outer" bipolar world. By outer bipolar world we are referring to the world at large, the one we all live in. What makes our world bipolar? The list is quite long and will be covered in depth in a later entry. Suffice to say for now that the fast paced/sleep deprived/high stress life style many of us have come to accept as normal is far from the kind of routine that nurtures healthy mental functioning. We will return to this subject at a later time. Right now, we would like to focus on the "inner" bipolar world. By inner bipolar world  we are referring to the world as it is experienced by an individual living with a bipolar spectrum disorder.

Life in the inner bipolar world is characterized by alternating episodes of Mania and Depression.

Some common signs of Depressive episodes are:
-Sleeping much more than usual
-Being tired all the time, but unable to sleep.
-Having bouts of uncontrollable crying.
-Becoming entirely uninterested in things you once really enjoyed.
-Paying no attention to daily responsibilities.
-Feeling hopeless or worthless for a sustained period of time.

And for Mania, the signs may include:
-Feeling like you can do anything, even if it is unsafe or illegal.
-Needing very little sleep, yet never feeling down.
-Living Recklessly - this can include frivolous spending, sexual promiscuity, etc.
-Experiencing hallucinations and delusions.

You can also experience something called a Mixed State which can include aspects of both Depression and Mania in a single episode.

As you can see, mood changes in the inner bipolar world are not the same as your average "mood swings". Mood changes from high to low and back again can be dramatic and rapid. Symptoms of both depressive and manic episodes may be severe and often lead to impaired functioning. If left untreated, these symptoms will continue to worsen over time. For this reason, life in the inner bipolar world can often feel lonely and stigmatizing. It is important to remember, however, that though it may feel lonely you are not actually alone. There is help, support, and a future for anyone living with bipolar disorder.

Don't believe us? Just look at this list!
-Charles Dickens
-Abrahan Lincoln
-Ludwig van Beethoven
-Vincent van Gogh
-Winston Churchull

These are just a few of the distinguished authors, artists, and politicians that are known to have lived with a bipolar spectrum disorder. What these names signify is that if you are living with a bipolar illness, you can still achieve your goals, be a well-respected member of society, and live a happy and productive life. Through determination, self-confidence, and proper treatment bipolar disorder can be very manageable.

Of course we recognize that living and thriving in the inner bipolar world is no small feat. The road to success is wrought with obstacles.

For this reason, we believe very strongly in utilizing family support as part of treatment for Bipolar spectrum disorders. Whether it be parents, siblings, partners, or good friends, having a social network of support can help you take leaps and bounds on the road to better mental health. Having the support of people who are closest to you helps to reduce the stigma that you may feel, and alleviate the loneliness that may accompany your diagnosis. This is of course not the only factor that contributes to successful treatment, but it is a very important one.

And so, as we wrap up this first blog entry of Living in a Bipolar World, we would like to leave you with:

Survival Tip #1: Utilize the support of your family, friends, and loved ones. They can make a big difference in the improvement of your symptoms and success of your treatment.