Dear Daniel Craig,
When you have bipolar disorder there will be people who avoid you when your sick. Conversely you will have your caregivers who sometimes you will be hard on. You will be hard to like and to love. But that doesn’t you’re any less deserving of those things.
I am extremely blessed to have such a supportive group of caregivers and a richly supportive film family.
As someone with bipolar disorder you often don’t know what the next day will bring. When I am hurting or depressed and spiraling downward at the end of the day I often will go to sleep in hopes of feeling better in the morning.
Of course it doesn’t guarantee a better day. But if you go to bed it can alleviate the suffering long enough for you to fake out your brain. Or at least talk to a trusted friend about how you’re feeling.
Bipolar isn’t something that can be prayed away. It just doesn’t work like that. Prayer and meditation can be a part of the treatment but it’s not the only part. Meds, therapy and the support of loved are to anyone’s real sense of recovery.
God doesn’t zap you well. I don’t believe he wanted me to go through hell. Believe bipolar disorder for you and everyone around you. I do believe he gifted psychiatrists and therapist with healing hearts and they’re able to give you the tools to get better.
Your family and friends can crucial to your recovery. They might recognize signs of mania and depression before you do. The subtle signs that maybe you should call your therapist or employ some of those tools.
It’s important to remember recovery is not an endpoint. Recovery is a journey. Recovery isn’t a straight line. There are highs and lows as you master the extremes of bipolar disorder. The goal is to go from roller coaster to rolling hills.
And when you do master it the extremes you still have to be vigilant in your self-care. Because Bipolar Disorder unchecked will beat you into submission. But when you surrender to the process of recovery, you will find a beautiful life awaits you.
Sincerely,
Amy McCorkle
