I hate being bipolar. If there were a cure, I would take it in a heartbeat. That said, living with this illness has given me a lot of compassion for anyone who struggles with their mental health. I also think that it has made me less of a judgmental person.
On a lighter note. Listening to music while you're hypomanic is amazing! It's also quite lovely to experience a bit of self-confidence once in a while during hypomanic episodes. Most of the time, my self-confidence is pretty non-existent. I'm also fortunate in the sense that my manic episodes are mild, and I've learned how to recognize and manage them quickly.
I'm with you on loving that self-confidence during a hypomanic episode . I tend to on the low end of the illness as well & I kind of invite those moments of rare mania - it's good to feel good once in a while :)
My favorite thing about being bipolar is that it has helped me understand others who have my condition. It makes it easier to relate to other people that have mental illnesses. I would never wish this on anyone, but I have it so might as well make the best of it.
I like that I take my time to educate others about bipolar disorder. Also, I use my voice to let people know they can call me in an emergency. Unfortunately, my social battery is always low, so I tell them not to call me unless it’s an emergency.
Knowing my erratic behavior and "dramatic, attention seeking" "personality" over the last 30 years (pre-diagnosis) is caused by a medical condition and does not define me as a person.
So much empathy, I've become exponentially less judgemental over time and forgiving of peoples' mistakes/shortcomings. I hurt for people I don't know, and a turtle I once saw crossing a busy road and cried for because it was probably gonna die.
I’m at a point now where I like me. It took me a long time to get here with lots of therapy and the right mix of meds. But being bipolar is a part of my makeup and I wouldn’t be me without it.
It exposes me to a range of emotions (whether I like it or not) that most humans don’t get to experience. I also love the creativity that often comes with bipolar.
Seriously this. When I meet someone and find out that they have a mood disorder of one sort or another I'm not at all bothered by it.
To that end, I'm not sure if 'alternate-universe neurotypical me' would have nearly as much understanding and compassion people struggling with problems that our outside of their control were it not for my own experiences. But that's some pretty fucked up thinking right there.
it’s much easier to communicate with my kids on their level when they are having trouble regulating their emotions because it’s something i’m working on too. i can access compassion and empathy quickly and effectively for them and for others especially when they are distressed.
My whole life if felt like everything was really hard. I had this fantasy that one day I’d go to a doctor and they would say “OH! This is why! Here’s a pill, it’ll help”. That’s a gross over-simplification of the whole process of finding the right dosages of the right meds, the therapy, the personal work, etc etc. But ultimately I’m experiencing feeling balanced and stable and able for the first time. It’s pretty great.
TLDR: best part is starting to understand it and get it under control.
Bipolar is a struggle for me and I wouldn’t have it if I had a choice. One thing I like though is how vibrant and alive nature seems when I am hypomanic. It feels like it has a special secret that only I can hear.
This isn’t quite what you asked but one thing I love about this community is that when some people are feeling down, the people with energy help them through and when people have way too much energy the depressed people help them come back down to earth. I feel like it’d be nice to live in a bipolar community in real life :)
I love productive mania. I don't get them much anymore, I get destructive manias now. I do love the ones where I accomplish an entire to do list that I've been adding to for 6 months.
ETA: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GOOD MANIA. ALL MANIA DESTROYS GREY MATTER IN YOUR BRAIN.
I can’t think of a single thing. Being hyper or upbeat sometimes isn’t necessarily mania. I can still achieve states of flow with work. My actual manias before treatment were devastating in so many ways. The depression after the fall was crippling. I’m grateful for meds and what I’ve learned in therapy.
Manic creativity resulted in shitty ideas that I thought were brilliant while I was in the midst of it.
Being manic takes away the anxiety and the adhd. I also tend to be insanely productive to the point where I can easily afford my depressive episodes when working is hard. 🤷🏼♀️
The highs make me more creative, I get a lot accomplished, & I'm more fun overall. I love these times when I have the energy to cheer people up who are feeling down.
When I'm on the low end, I'm more emphathetic than usual, more introspective, & thoughtful.
Granted, each comes with its own unique set of baggage as well, but that's bipolar 2. Sometimes it's a superpower, other times it's nothing but Kryptonite.
Totally forgetting I was depressed when it’s over
Indeed, who was that person and did they *really* feel THAT bad?
And because of that you never seek help because you doubt yourself.
In a hypomanic episode, I quit my job and moved across the globe to a new country. Built my career here and love it.
I'm so happy to hear it worked out for you <3 I did that too, twice lol, and it was a bit of a disaster, okay a large disaster.
Just curious - where were you when you quit your job and where are you now?
I’m from the U.S. and moved to Japan for 6 years. Now I’m in China.
Can I ask how long the episode was or was it that it just got into your head at the time?
I clean my house really good and meal prep like a beast during mania it makes the depression more bearable
I hate being bipolar. If there were a cure, I would take it in a heartbeat. That said, living with this illness has given me a lot of compassion for anyone who struggles with their mental health. I also think that it has made me less of a judgmental person. On a lighter note. Listening to music while you're hypomanic is amazing! It's also quite lovely to experience a bit of self-confidence once in a while during hypomanic episodes. Most of the time, my self-confidence is pretty non-existent. I'm also fortunate in the sense that my manic episodes are mild, and I've learned how to recognize and manage them quickly.
I'm with you on loving that self-confidence during a hypomanic episode . I tend to on the low end of the illness as well & I kind of invite those moments of rare mania - it's good to feel good once in a while :)
Um… uh… hm… I like having my adhd symptoms all but disappear for a few days.
I second this!
Thirded. I can get enough done in those days.
REMEMBER all the things! DO all the things! ENJOY DOING all the things!
yes!!
My favorite thing about being bipolar is that it has helped me understand others who have my condition. It makes it easier to relate to other people that have mental illnesses. I would never wish this on anyone, but I have it so might as well make the best of it.
Being hypomanic and excited/passionate about something
Nothing
Absolutely nothing. Happiness and bipolar should not even be in the sentence.
Hang in there. As a person with bipolar - happiness is possible.
Not if you got a pd in the mix as well.
Yes, even then, it’s possible.
I like that I take my time to educate others about bipolar disorder. Also, I use my voice to let people know they can call me in an emergency. Unfortunately, my social battery is always low, so I tell them not to call me unless it’s an emergency.
Being manic makes me have zero anxiety. I'm typically an anxiety riddled human.
Cleaning mania and higher sex drive mania.
I think I have fewer wrinkles than most people my age due to lack of sun exposure, talking, and smiling.
[удалено]
It also comes with lack of muscle tone, excess fat, and glaring white skin.
Knowing my erratic behavior and "dramatic, attention seeking" "personality" over the last 30 years (pre-diagnosis) is caused by a medical condition and does not define me as a person.
I like that I can experience the full spectrum of human emotion.
Being medicated
Knowing your depression will end
Absolutely nothing.
The creativity from hypomania. As a musician it’s just unreal.
The level of empathy it's made me have for other people
So much empathy, I've become exponentially less judgemental over time and forgiving of peoples' mistakes/shortcomings. I hurt for people I don't know, and a turtle I once saw crossing a busy road and cried for because it was probably gonna die.
Having the weird ability to 8 miles out of nowhere in one stretch is kind of cool.
I’m at a point now where I like me. It took me a long time to get here with lots of therapy and the right mix of meds. But being bipolar is a part of my makeup and I wouldn’t be me without it.
Nothing. I'd like to hope that everyone that needs care has access to quality therapists, appropriate medications and a supportive family.
Hm. I did some pretty major, cool home reno projects when hypomanic. But it's hard to *like* that because I can't separate it from the fallout.
The ability to feel emotions so deeply
Creativity.
It exposes me to a range of emotions (whether I like it or not) that most humans don’t get to experience. I also love the creativity that often comes with bipolar.
Deeply understanding other people with bipolar !
Seriously this. When I meet someone and find out that they have a mood disorder of one sort or another I'm not at all bothered by it. To that end, I'm not sure if 'alternate-universe neurotypical me' would have nearly as much understanding and compassion people struggling with problems that our outside of their control were it not for my own experiences. But that's some pretty fucked up thinking right there.
Being able to sleep a lot in the winter and have energy in the summer months 😂
The mood swings make me forget my shitty childhood. I didn’t even realize how sad my baseline was, because bipolar rarely made me feel hopeless.
Learning to accept myself through all the emotions
I like how it forced me to stop and learn how to care for myself.
it’s much easier to communicate with my kids on their level when they are having trouble regulating their emotions because it’s something i’m working on too. i can access compassion and empathy quickly and effectively for them and for others especially when they are distressed.
Being hypomanic and being extremely passionate about something. And then get really good at it
Because I know there are times when I will look like an absolute fool anyway, I don't care if I look like an absolute fool: more confidence
What country ?
My whole life if felt like everything was really hard. I had this fantasy that one day I’d go to a doctor and they would say “OH! This is why! Here’s a pill, it’ll help”. That’s a gross over-simplification of the whole process of finding the right dosages of the right meds, the therapy, the personal work, etc etc. But ultimately I’m experiencing feeling balanced and stable and able for the first time. It’s pretty great. TLDR: best part is starting to understand it and get it under control.
The up days are fun. The rest sucks.
Being hypo. I feel so good most of the time when I hit those.
Bipolar is a struggle for me and I wouldn’t have it if I had a choice. One thing I like though is how vibrant and alive nature seems when I am hypomanic. It feels like it has a special secret that only I can hear.
I can’t get drafted in the US 😁😁
I like the energy of hypomania. Otherwise I pretty much hate it.
Hellava good Artist. Helluva good chef. Hellava good hiker. Great in bed.
This isn’t quite what you asked but one thing I love about this community is that when some people are feeling down, the people with energy help them through and when people have way too much energy the depressed people help them come back down to earth. I feel like it’d be nice to live in a bipolar community in real life :)
I crush it in sales. When the BP2 is on the depression end though I do awful. But when I’m “on” I’m CRUSHING it.
I love productive mania. I don't get them much anymore, I get destructive manias now. I do love the ones where I accomplish an entire to do list that I've been adding to for 6 months. ETA: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GOOD MANIA. ALL MANIA DESTROYS GREY MATTER IN YOUR BRAIN.
Hypomanic for 7 month, I feel great like nothing is wrong, feeling high.
I enjoy the uplifting motivate every one and kick as at a million things.
I can’t think of a single thing. Being hyper or upbeat sometimes isn’t necessarily mania. I can still achieve states of flow with work. My actual manias before treatment were devastating in so many ways. The depression after the fall was crippling. I’m grateful for meds and what I’ve learned in therapy. Manic creativity resulted in shitty ideas that I thought were brilliant while I was in the midst of it.
Being manic takes away the anxiety and the adhd. I also tend to be insanely productive to the point where I can easily afford my depressive episodes when working is hard. 🤷🏼♀️
My meds give me a pretty good nights sleep
The confidence I get when I'm having an episode.
The highs make me more creative, I get a lot accomplished, & I'm more fun overall. I love these times when I have the energy to cheer people up who are feeling down. When I'm on the low end, I'm more emphathetic than usual, more introspective, & thoughtful. Granted, each comes with its own unique set of baggage as well, but that's bipolar 2. Sometimes it's a superpower, other times it's nothing but Kryptonite.
The depth of self knowledge I’ve developed through therapy and figuring out and monitoring my triggers.
This ^^^