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21 Mar 2019

Bipolar Disorder Affirmations To Ease The Pain By Dr. Kristina Hallett

Do you know what Mariah Carey, Carrie Fisher, Mel Gibson, Demi Lovato, Russell Brand,
Brian Wilson, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Ernest Hemingway, Ted Turner, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vivian Leigh, Frank Sinatra, Sinead O’Connor, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jane Pauley,Patty Duke, Winston Churchill, and about 1% of the world’s population have in common? They have Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar Disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness) is a brain disorder that is characterized by mood states that are unusually intense, accompanied by changes in sleep and activity levels, and often behaviors that are unusual or dramatically different from the individual’s typical moods and behaviors. These changes are significant enough that they interfere with the individual’s ability to manage their day-to-day life. This can be things such as a level of depression in which the person finds it hard to get out of bed and go to work, or a level of “mania” (a more highly energetic state) in which the person may have difficulty slowing down their thoughts and may be more likely to engage in risky behavior (including things such as excessive spending, substance use or highly sexualized behavior).

One of the challenges of Bipolar Disorder is that people have begun to use the term in casual conversation, describing someone with changing moods or opinions as “bipolar”. Not only is this inaccurate, but it promotes the stigmatization of a real disorder. Often individuals with bipolar disorder (or other mental health issues) are portrayed as dangerous, unstable, or unable to function in society. This is not the truth. Bipolar Disorder is found across all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, gender – and every other factor that describes human beings. There are people with Bipolar Disorder who are very successful and those who live ordinary lives, just as there are people with Bipolar Disorder who struggle significantly in day-to-day living. Recovery, or living a meaningful life, is absolutely possible for someone with Bipolar Disorder, just as it is for a person with other kinds of disorders. Having a strong support system (including relevant health and mental health professionals) is an important part of recovery and living with Bipolar Disorder. However, the basics of good nutrition, good sleep, and moving your body are just as important (and that’s true for all human beings). In addition, there are things we can all do that help us to feel better and live our best life, such as practicing breathing skills and using affirmations. Bipolar Disorder Affirmations can make a huge difference, helping you to regain balance, slowing down when your brain starts speeding up, and providing hope when depression or a lower mood is setting in.

Bipolar Disorder Affirmations work as a reminder of how you want to feel and live, something that can be hard to remember when life is challenging. They also serve as a beacon of light when circumstances feel overwhelming. The ThinkUp app is a wonderful tool for this, since you record and listen to Bipolar Disorder affirmations in your own voice. Your limbic system (where your emotional memories are stored) gets activated when hearing a sound which helps your brain to pay attention to what is being said, as well as helping to create the desired emotion.
That’s why it’s most helpful to record your affirmations at a time when you are feeling positive.
It’s literally a way to gift yourself with courage, calm, and a sense of hope when you are having a hard time – hearing a genuine reminder from the person that knows you best (YOU) that encourages you to remain compassionate, caring and supportive. And as a bonus, practicing bipolar disorder affirmations on a regular basis helps train your brain to create stronger pathways, so these can become your automatic way of thinking!

Bipolar Disorder can be a challenging disorder to manage, but ThinkUp has some specific features that can make a real difference. Bipolar Disorder Affirmations on ThinkUp allow you to stay focused on living in the present and paying attention to what is going on right now. Living right now is how you access the magic of change. For example, when you record an affirmation at a moment that you are feeling good, you are reinforcing a specific positive message to your brain. Then when there’s a time that you’re having more difficulties (such as struggling to get out of bed), you can access ThinkUp and the Bipolar Disorder affirmations to increase your motivation and to remind you of the
decisions you are committed to for your best functioning. Staying in the present moment and
focusing on the action you can take right now increases your sense of self-efficacy and also helps
to reduce feelings of stress or discomfort.

One important note about bipolar disorder affirmations – while the ones written below are geared toward the positive, you don’t have to start off with a super positive affirmation if that feels like “it’s just not true”. You can start with a more neutral version of an affirmation and slowly move towards a
more positive version as it feels more comfortable. Sometimes when a statement feels too
discrepant from our current experience, it’s a turn off rather than a help. So remember, feel free
to modify to best suit where you are now, as a support towards accepting and celebrating your
best self.

Here are some bipolar disorder affirmations that you can use  any time, any day:

1. I love myself for who I am.
2. I have Bipolar Disorder. I am not Bipolar Disorder.
3. I am worthy of respect and equality.
4. I am enough.
5. I am doing a good job.
6. I am worthy of love, care, and compassion.
7. It’s okay to not be okay.
8. I am strong, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
9. I will let go of old habits that do not serve me and practice new habits that move me forward
10. I am not damaged, I am a whole person.
11. I don’t have to pretend, even when I’m having a hard time.
12. I am doing the best I can, with what I have, at this moment.
13. I will never know my limits until I try.
14. I take care of myself, in my body, mind, and spirit.
15. How I feel matters.
16. I deserve happiness.

For more affirmations please go to the ThinkUp App and record your own affirmations in your own voice.

This article was written by Dr. Kristina Hallett. Dr. Hallett is a board-certified clinical
psychologist, University professor, author, international speaker, and inspirational speaker with
expertise in learning to live as your own best friend with self-compassion, freedom, and joy. She
shares ideas and conversation for living your best life on her podcast Be Awesome – Celebrating
Mental Health and Wellness. She is passionate about reducing stigma and changing the
conversation to allow for empowerment and wellness in all aspects of life. Dr. Hallett’s goal is to
support others in harnessing the positive power of stress, self-compassion, and radical self-care.
She helps driven professionals to banish burnout and develop skills to make stress work to their
advantage to increase focus, productivity, and well-being. She shares an approach to joyful living
through changes in mindset, perspective, core beliefs and everyday practices that enhance
resilience, leadership, communication, and performance.

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