Tag: bipolar mental health

Belongingness

I sit on the board of directors of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (dbsalliance.org) an organization dedicated to helping those living with mood disorders.  At our quarterly meeting in December, I sat in a room with like minded people working hard to better the lives of others.  It’s an honor to belong to such a group of good souls whose hearts are in the right place.

Belonging and Attachments

We humans are wired to belong.  Belongingness (yes, it’s a word) is a state of being an essential or important part of something: our primary relationships, our families, our friend groups and our communities, amongst others. Those living with depression and bipolar belong to the mood club.  As members, it’s true that we’ve paid our entry fees with episodes of depression and mania but…we’re in.  Because of this, we find sanctuaries filled with shoulders to cry on, nourishment for our souls and kindred spirits with whom we share our hopes and dreams.  It is only through these connections that we can be the best of whom we are. I don’t believe it’s possible to travel this pathway toward our better selves on our own.  To do so, we must belong.  Through the attachments that come with belonging, we come to know others and allow others to know us in the most genuine of ways.  What more precious gift is there?

Belonging and the Big things

This state of belongingness has allowed me to navigate through adversity.  This, in turn, has compelled me to slow down and get lost in life’s sweet little moments and, at the same time, see the larger things that matter the most:  compassion, kindness, decency, authenticity and true connection to others.

Belonging and Sacred Gifts.

Belongingness has given me precious gifts:  being my better self, knowing others and allowing them to know me, seeing myself honestly as I navigate through adversity, claiming ownership of myself without secrecy, pausing more often to smell those proverbial roses and reaffirming the deeper and most important things in life.  Belongingness has made me richer in all the ways that matter the most to me.  Belongingness has allowed me to know the love of others in ways that I wouldn’t have otherwise.  Belongingness has given me these most sacred of gifts.  I’m very lucky to belong.

Faith: Touching Shadows

Last week, on a bright sunny day, I was sitting in the shade of a maple tree.  As the sun slowly arced across the sky, the shadows cast by the tree moved across the ground.  Were I to reach out and try to touch those darkened areas, all I would feel would be the earth beneath my finger tips.  Touching the shadows that lay in front of me would always be elusive, though they existed right before my eyes.  

Faith written on rural road

Questioning Faith

A week ago, a woman asked me for advice about her son who had bipolar disorder.  She explained that for the past ten years, he would be adherent to treatment for periods of time and then he’d refuse to take his medications, denying that he needed them.  She witnessed him cycle through periods of wellness and illness, impotent to do anything helpful at all, she felt.  She wanted to know what advice I had for her and my answer was two words: have faith.  How naive I must have sounded, suggesting something that could be construed as nothing more than a trite sound bite.  After all, having faith is easy to suggest, but seems near impossible to feel at times of great distress.

Having Faith

I explained to her that her faith would be well placed because of all those working every day to find cures for the many psychiatric disorders that continue to afflict too many of us.  Her faith would be well placed in the many treatments that already exist that can work wonders to stabilize moods for those with bipolar disorder.  Her faith would be well placed because so many people with mood disorders find their way toward mental health and lead wonderful, rich lives.  Her faith would be well placed because her son had periods of time when he was adherent to recommended care, an excellent prognostic sign.  Her faith would be well placed because her son knew that he had a mother who supported him fully in becoming and staying well.  Her faith would be well placed because she loved him.  Her faith would be well placed because she was part of a worldwide community of those whose hearts are in the right place, supporting their loved ones as they walk down the challenging road of life.  Her faith would be well placed because she was not alone.

Touching Shadows

It’s so hard to retain faith during the difficult times that we face in our lives.  But when we are caught in distress, somehow we journey on believing that tomorrow will be a better day.  Even though we can’t know what our future holds for us, we take a step forward during those dark times.  But darkness can be no more than a space on the ground that is cast by a tree on a sunny day.  It’s not something that we can physically touch but we see it right in front of us.  The shadow exists without any doubt.  And here’s the thing:  that shadow is there only because of the light cast down from sunshine on a bright day.

Bipolar Mania and Sexual Assault

Assault and psychiatric disorders.

Of all my blog posts, this is far and away the most difficult one I’ve ever written.  It is commonly believed that those with psychiatric disorders are frequent perpetrators of violence.  This is a myth.  Actually, the reverse is true.  The fact is that those with mental health conditions are much more likely to be on the receiving end of assault, not the other way around. Sexual violence against those with bipolar disorder is far too common.

Me Too

My Story

A frequent symptom of bipolar disorder is hypersexuality.  Those who are manic or hypomanic can be flirtatious, seductive, overly erotic and have increased libidos.  Given that these symptoms occur in the context of disinhibition and impaired judgement, it’s easy to see why those in elevated mood states can inadvertently place themselves in dangerous situations.  Sexual assault is something that I, unfortunately, understand.

Shame and guilt

The guilt and shame that too frequently follow assault can be crushing.  Self-blame erupts from within: a relentless, obsessive question circles though the mind.  “Did I do something to cause this?”  The answer, of course, is “no”, but it can be a tough hill to climb to convince oneself of this.  When we fall into this ruminative hole, we can remember that there’s no reason for self-condemnation just because another has perpetrated violence against us.  True, but as I said, a tough hill to climb.

Survival and a brighter day

I believe that shame only survives in the dark.  When we keep secrets, our self worth is eroded.  What is unspoken can, after some time, feel like it is unspeakable.  Sometimes, like right now as I write this, I have to take a deep breath and remind myself that there is nothing more powerful and freeing than honesty and authenticity.  Our truths matter.  There are those who have been on the receiving end of assault and remain caught in a voiceless silence.  I understand them.  Perhaps sharing my story will make it just a little bit easier for them to feel unburdened and escape from the weight that bears down upon them.  Perhaps they can begin to feel like survivors.  I do.  Somehow, I found a light to lead me on a pathway out of the shadows into a brighter and healthier day.

A YouTube Conversation

A Conversation about Bipolar Wellness

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the International Bipolar Foundation (ibpf.org). It was a wonderful conversation, with a listening audience, about living with Bipolar Disorder and how to best maintain wellness. It was broadcast live on You Tube, Facebook and their website.  

The listeners asked lots of great questions about their own journeys.  I shared my story of what it has been like to be a physician living with Bipolar Disorder, touching on issues of stigma in the clinician community, faith and treatment. We discussed how best to ensure emotional and mental health, the value of being authentic and faith.

What impressed me about the audience was their commitment to remaining well.  They struggle mightily against great odds, at times, and make impressive efforts to take care of themselves in impressive ways.  As I spoke, I realized once again that we are a community of kindred spirits traveling the pathway of a mood-challenged life together.  I received so much more from them than I gave. It once again confirmed to me that we are in this together.  None of us are alone.

Here’s the conversation:

Visit the International Bipolar Foundation (ibpf.org). Or visit their facebook page.