Book
The Up and Down Life
Paul E. Jones and Andrea Thompson
- Through denial, confusion, or embarrassment, an individual who might be bipolar can spend unhappy, turbulent years avoiding taking the first step to finding the answers he needs. (Location 57)
- Many individuals come to define themselves as their illness. The better path—the mentally healthier path—is to view it as an aspect of the self and, when possible, even to find a bit of humor from time to time. (Location 73)
- Sometimes we need to lighten up and see the humor in our “crazy” lives. (Location 145)
- The drive, the courage, the intensity of feeling, all that is very common in people who have manic depression, and all that makes this not only a challenge but a gift that can produce a splendid outcome. (Location 171)
- They recognize that we bipolars often experience that sense of grandiosity and specialness, and what follows in the wake of that is loss of perspective and the ability to reflect sanely on any of our actions. (Location 406)
- “Buying stuff made me feel simultaneously elated, on a high, and sick to my stomach. (Location 425)
- Money cannot make bipolar disorder go away. But bipolar disorder sure can make your money go away. (Location 436)
- That’s what it’s like. You become lost, very lost, as life passes by and you cannot catch onto one single thing to hold you down. You cannot discern what is real and what is not. (Location 489)
- I’ve met individuals who say they are bipolar II, the not-so-bad version, who cannot seem to function at all. I’ve also met people who supposedly have the worst of the worst aspects, and they’re out there fighting every single day and living life successfully and fully. (Location 943)
- Doctors tell us that too little sleep is a major trigger for manic episodes and too much sleep is a trigger for depression. (Location 1766)
- We bipolars are always questioning whether we’re having a rotten day because we’re having a rotten day, or we’re having a rotten day because we’re sick. (Location 1892)
- Another thing: I know when I’m starting to feel as if I’m slipping into a funk, into a depression. If the feeling lasts a week or so, then it’s time to check in with my doctor. (Location 1915)
- If you feel you’re getting a little too depressed and for too long, remember what works for you to help get you out of that mood. (Location 2065)
- As much of a pain as you are, these people need you, they want you to be healthy again. They do not want you to leave, move away, push them away, or die. They want you to get better. They’re willing to help. Let them help. Say thanks once in a while. (Location 2517)