People say your only as good as the company you keep, and I have found that to be true. At times, my bipolar symptoms have blinded my actions and behavior as far as relationships are concerned. Perhaps some were for the better but for the most part, they were for the worst. Loosing friends, not being able to keep or make them was something I struggled with for many years. Before recovery, I struggled with being assertive and saying no as well as not speaking up for myself and letting my "friends" cross boundaries that I never set for myself. My depression had me co-dependent at times and my mania sent my friends running for the hills at others. Although I didn't know why I couldn't force good people out of bad people, I didn't have the tools to change my thoughts and shed light on my symptomatic decisions. As a peer specialist, and a person living with SMI, I'd like to share some tools and experiences that really helped me get through a lot of hard life experiences with relationships.
After reading some of my journals and rap lyrics from the past, I recognized some specific symptoms I feel I had.
In the next following days I will start breaking down these symptoms and how they networked with each other to keep me trapped in a circle of negative relationships.
After reading some of my journals and rap lyrics from the past, I recognized some specific symptoms I feel I had.
In the next following days I will start breaking down these symptoms and how they networked with each other to keep me trapped in a circle of negative relationships.
- Delusions
- Co-dependency
- Depression
- Mania
- Anger
- Anxiety and Stress