Questions to ask yourself when you’re not doing well…
How do I get past this?
How do I get through this?
How do I stop this mood swing?
How do I learn to live with this?
Who can help me with this?
How do I make my future different from this?
What can I do right this minute to feel better?
When you’re in the middle of being ill- i.e in a mood swing that is causing you pain- or causing pain to others! it’s always a good idea to methodically ask yourself questions in order to focus your brain. I ask myself the above questions when I’m depressed and I force myself to answer them positively. If I’ve had a relationship problem that is eating away at me and affecting my sleep, I can ask myself- OK Julie, how do you get past this? It’s three in the morning. What do you need to do right now to change your thoughts so that this is not controlling your life?” I often come up with realistic and helpful suggestions for myself when I ask the right questions.
Julie
I always new something was wrong with me…specifically in managing my life and some of the bad choices I’ve made, which of course have depressed me. But’ in reading these websites and finding all of this information on Bipolar disorder on these websites, it’s really opening my eyes and making me understand myself more. I was diagnosed around 10 years ago, I’m also epileptic which causes seizures and I am on depakote which my Dr. told me that was why he had me on the meds. I told him nothing about the Bipolar but in reading how depakote is used for Bipolar, I guess my Dr. knows me better then I know myself. Anyways, thank you for all of your info. because I never even knew what Bipolar was until I started reading your website and its opened my eyes tremendesly. Thank You again.
Hi Kelly,
That’s great! It is true- this is an illness which is why we all have the same symptoms! Julie