We, the mentally ill, have amazingly strong shock absorbers. An individual needs to be very resilient when dealing with bipolar disorder. Currently, I am experiencing a mixed episode which means I shift back and forth between mania and depression. This can be charted by hours or days. I stay connected to my psychiatrist and therapist more often when I am experiencing a mood episode. I know the only way out is through and this too shall pass.
I’m dealing with a family member who was just diagnosed with bipolar I and it pains me because I know, most likely, what they are facing. I suffer greatly from my mood disorder and I wouldn’t want to wish it upon my worst enemy.
There are many things I can do to increase my resiliency. Just knowing that I only have to concentrate one day at a time, really helps. I don’t want to get stuck in regrets of the past because the past is gone and I have no control over it. If I let myself think too much in the future, I can get paralyzed with fear.
Today, for one day, I can live with my bipolar disorder. I need to accept that I have a mental illness that requires a lot of attention. I make it a priority to take my medication regularly and at consistent times. I try to exercise, walks in nature really help my perspective. Sleep is important and I put a lot of emphasis on keeping a healthy sleep schedule.
My support system took a while to build up but now I have several family members and close friends that I can lean on. When I’m feeling low I make sure I put one foot in front of the other and keep my scheduled plans. This keeps me out of my bed where sometimes that’s all I want to do. Some days, the achievement of just taking a shower is huge. When I am feeling hypomanic or manic I try to physically slow myself down, walking and talking slower.
I am very resilient. I have been experiencing bipolar moods for thirty-four years, diagnosed for twenty. I have learned an awful lot about myself through this journey. You name it I’ve tried it; talk therapy, CBT, DBT, ECT, EMDR and medication management. It takes courage, patience, being teachable and perseverance to cope with bipolar disorder.
The author can be found at
Bipolar Bandit (Michelle Clark) 
Hi Michelle,
Living with Bipolar Disorder sounds so difficult and it’s inspiring how you’re able to share your experience with such courage and perseverance. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things to work with it. I’m building a mood tracking app that allows you to record your moods and see how they change over time. Finding patterns in your mood episodes like frequency and length might provide you insight. I would love for you to try it out and let me know what you think of it at http://mindsanctuary.net/