Bipolar Depression Encouragement for the Sufferer
Bipolar Depression Encouragement for the Sufferer Depression is a state of emotions which are deflating in nature characterized by lack of motivation and drive, boredom, and generally not feeling like doing anything. Anxiety states, if prolonged lead to emotional fatigue and will also bring on depression. For this reason, those who suffer from anxiety and stress to an unhealthy degree, often later develop depression, some permanently. What is Bipolar Depression? Some personalities experience depression in another form, just as debilitating, and that is bipolar depression. The characteristic unique to bipolar depression is the change in emotional posture from depression which is deflating, to anger which is inflating and energizing. With emotional abuse, depression is a result of our anger turned inward. Bipolar depression has the symptom of anger, but it is rarely brought on by abuse, and the anger is biologically caused, rather than abuse caused.
Bipolar Depression and The Mood Swings Deflating depression may quickly move to inflating anger if certain things happen to set us off. It is as if the sufferer cannot control the things which trigger an episode, and they are a slave to their own polarizing emotions. This is very frustrating as we go from one state to another without any way of stopping the mood swings. Some experiences are quite extreme and can be frightening. The Awareness of The Sufferer Contrary to popular concept, those who have this condition are rarely dysfunctional, and few have had lives as victims of abuse. They may have felt abuse in the form of lack of understanding of their emotional distress, but not from emotional or sexual abuse previously. Sufferers also may feel guilt at having to put those close to them through what they have to deal with, and not having a way to change themselves. Such complications can become quite an additional emotional burden on anyone with this condition. Bipolar Depression Sufferers and Who They Really Are Contrary to what most believe, those with this malady are aware of their over reactions to certain things, and know it is extreme. If we know someone with this condition, as they react when something triggers them, we will notice they try to explain their situation in some subtle way. That is their way of trying to reach out for support as they attempt to deal with, what is for them, a monumental stress. They are aware they are not 'normal,' and know others may not understand. That is a sure sign that they are not immature and probably not dysfunctional. The big difference is dysfunctional people believe they are right, reasonable, and that their reactions are the only appropriate reactions to have. Those who are bipolar are what we call 'self aware,' which is a definite sign of maturity. Dysfunctional people are definitely not ‘self aware.’ Bipolar Depression Sufferers and Their Strengths Most that have this form of depression are actually quite gifted in areas of leadership and in the arts, for some reason. But because of their emotional problems, they have more trouble finding their place in the sun than most. Strangely enough, most bipolar depression sufferers actually do quite well in high stress jobs such as truck dispatching and in fast paced work settings like kitchens and working with the public. This paradox seems to be that most with this condition have a lot of emotional energy and ambition, and when they do finally find their niche in life, actually handle stress quite well and excel. The secret is in their facing the stress in the form that they enjoy handling. Bipolar sufferers are not weak, and are great leaders, because they make what is called 'a soldier's general.' This is because they identify with the underdog. For this reason, they make excellent teachers if the settings are right. As a group, they generally possess a high sense of morality and boundaries, another indicator they are far from dysfunctional.
What We Can Do When a friend with this condition needs to speak, we can listen, and when they need to be left alone, leave them alone. Their difficulties are not of their own making, and rarely are there any underlying issues that are bothering them that need resolution. Do not ask them what is really bothering them, as that is not the problem. The keywords are patience, patience, and patience. Be available when they need to express themselves, as that is good for them, and praise them for proper responses of verbal expression and other appropriate means. Also praise them for their strengths, which are many. The more they focus on their strengths, the less they will focus on the triggering event, until it takes a more realistic scale. We must bring their focus less on the triggering event, and more on who they are and what their response is to it. That change in focus will take a little time and a lot of love, but their friendship is well worth the effort. Bipolar depression sufferers may not ever become the easiest going personality, but they can learn to have a manageable life with much rich experience for them, and bring it to those around them likewise. Moreover, they can be the most wonderful people in our lives to share it all with. If you know someone with this debilitating depression, go and tell that someone that they are special to you, and a most gifted and colorful person. If you suffer with this condition yourself, keep focusing on yourself, and your inner beauty which is much, and less on the happenings in the day that set you off. Those bad things that happen do not control you. Focus on you, not on the happening, and the overpowering responses will diminish. Remember, your life is to be about you, and not the triggering events that happen to you. God bless and may your day be like a sunny afternoon in the open countryside flying a yellow kite.
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