What is bipolar disorder? This was written the other day while thinking about what I’ve learned about some of the experiences that have the clinical terms of “grandiosity” and “mania.” The clinical terms obfuscate and, often, if clinicians affix the label to some behavior, they then think they understand what is going on. This is, of course generally not true.
In general, people have a difficult time healing if they remain in mainstream psychiatric treatment.
Below is a list of posts that allows one to reconsider the phenomena that which is often labeled bipolar disorder which will manifest uniquely in every different person and has different kaleidoscopic causes in each and every person, too. All mental health is this way which is one of the reasons why psychiatric diagnostic labels are at best grossly reductionistic.
“Grandiosity” is a state of reactivity brought about by having been rejected, abandoned and invalidated in childhood. In a similar vein “mania” is a dissociative state. This is something that is rarely understood.
In understanding mania as dissociative we see that it is a form of post traumatic stress. We are disconnected from the body when we experience mania. We are ungrounded. The sensitivities and access to the psyche is real however and much of what we bring back while healing allows us to understand nature as humans are meant to.
We heal by becoming aware on all fronts.
Body/mind/spirit. Healing is a journey that doesn’t end. We are always learning more about what it means to be this human body.
The experiences that are labeled mentally ill are generally misinterpreted and misunderstood. Clarity comes as we heal. The part that is labeled by professionals is difficult behavior that others don’t want to deal with. In clarity great insight and capacity is found.
For more related info see:
- Rethinking bipolar disorder (a collection)
- Psychiatry ignores trauma says Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
- Mental illness, addiction & most chronic illness is linked to childhood loss & trauma
- Psychosis healing: stories, information and resources
- Drug free healing from depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc…
The voices are real
Healing involves all aspects of body/mind/spirit:
- Nature vs nurture, biological vs. psychological: how about both/and rather than either/or
- Mental health and diet: nutrition and gut health – everything matters when it comes to our total well-being and that includes the foods we eat
- Meditation. This simple. This difficult. And more meditation posts here
- BODY and MOVEMENT is integral too. Ecstatic dance — Yoga the possibilities are endless. How do you like to move? Explore and find your own favorite ways to move your body.
*it is potentially dangerous to come off medications without careful planning. Learn how to be as safe as possible. See: Psychiatric drug withdrawal and protracted withdrawal syndrome round-up
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