STEPHEN FRY

Just saw Stephen Fry’s doco on Australian TV, it was compelling viewing to which I like to share my personal view in the hope it may help some people.
I have Bi Polar and also OCD, perhaps they are interrelated? Medication was not a choice for me as I preferred to understand the topic and work introspectively to harness the energy rather than simply coping.
First step is to accept one has it, and then acquaint with the roller coaster ride of ups and downs, finally use focusing on things that are precious to me. This helps me put perspective and reality to my state of mind. I learnt meditation as a technique to still the mind and focus on the happy elements in my life. One can feel depression or ultra highs knocking on the door, hence timing is important to meditate and dilute the effects of bi polarity. Visualizing the positives in our life is like an obstacle course for depression to navigate, by the time depression occurs I find it has lost significant steam and I feel invigorated by me power to control it.
It’s critical to separate the positive from negative parts in our life. If shopping therapy is perceived to make us feel better, can I afford that self prescribed medicine? Will diminished finance create a new problem and legitimize bi polarity? Communicating my intentions with the family helps me to check acquisition as impulse or necessary spending. I try to avoid accumulating emotional baggage which only fuels the depression, conquering temptations which maybe aligned as symptomatic to bi polar makes me the master and not the slave to this polar bear.
Like Stephen said, very few would press the magic button to eradicate their bi polar disorder. I fully agree as in my case it is a form of energy I harness to elevate my thinking and other talents to higher states. It has helped my career and successful in life. Bi polar has opportuned to me to be empathetic to others needs and understand their problems more clearly. I am also conscious of not putting others monkey on my back and set boundaries in terms of assistance I can render, this is for preserving my own sanity.
Bi polar is analogous to North and South poles where it’s icy cold and miserable. There is also East and West where the tropics are, this is where I prefer to set my compass.