Living Better With Bipolar

Our brain and our mind are separate entities. Our brain is a physical structure found between our ears that integrates sensory information and directs motor responses. It acts as a control centre by receiving, interpreting and directing sensory information throughout the body. Our mind has no physical structure. It is a collection of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Although it feels like it exists in our heads, its exact location is unknown. Our mind is unique to us, formed through life experiences, circumstances and perhaps genetics too. Some people have positive minds and are therefore optimistic, accepting and happy. They are often lucky, well-liked and successful in their chosen areas of endeavour. They see the world as a friendly place and, although they may face significant challenges, they tend to cruise through life with little suffering. Others have minds that are dominated by negativity. Negative minds create pessimistic, judgmental, unhappy people. People who are more l...

          When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or manic depression as it was called back in 1993, I was told it was a chemical imbalance, and all the treatment I received was designed to address that. What I've discovered over the last 33 years is that there's a huge psychological component to the bipolar I experience, and I imagine a lot of people experience the same. In this video I'm going to talk about how I've addressed living with bipolar, and how I've managed to change my relationship with this mental illness by tackling those psychological aspects.           For me, there's a big difference between experiencing the bipolar symptoms of; depression, mania, psychosis, extreme anxiety, hypomania and dealing with the psychological side of having a mental illness. Let me give you an example. When I'm stable, I'm not suffering from the biological impact of bipolar. I'm not depressed, I'm not manic. But at various point...