Bipolar disorder is an integral part of the “social flow” and reflects some of the divisive categories of a fragmented society….but they offer us greater insight into the deeper problems we all experience and in their own way make a unique contribution to our understanding of society.
Early in life, children learn through social conditioning in a belief system which includes a separate personal self …this seems to occur in a similar way as the downloading a program in a computer… the human process is gradually imprinted deep within the subconscious mind… included in this belief is that we are responsible for our identity and behavior…it is similar to an assumption that a computer program can autonomously decide on how it will perform…the primary function of the personal self is learning to adapt to a social environment by accepting its rules and customs…humans can’t depend simply on natural instincts to adapt but instead need to fabricate social tools in order to survive…regrettably it includes the belief that everyone has an autonomous self with a responsible personal self.
The belief of a personal self is largely developed subconsciously however the nature of the downloaded program may turn out to result in unconventional behavior within a child…if included in this programming there is a demand to excel in their social identity and role playing, an extreme vulnerability has been added to the complications
The child may soon become aware they are different and usually has difficulty integrating into the social environment…they may be encouraged to try harder by behaving properly but this may only frustrate and make them more aware of their inability to conform to expected behavior…as they move into adolescence, peer pressures can add to their stress which may result in severe states of depression…it becomes clearer that their adjustment problems are not going to be outgrown and can be much more complicated than they first understood.
It is a common assumption that the bipolar personality is caused by a deficiency in brain chemistry which can be normalized by prescribed medication…however there is no conclusive evidence that the abnormal brain chemistry is not in fact a side effect rather than a cause…it is a convenient way to label the bipolar individual as a separate and unique problem from that of society without examining the social factors involved.
I would like to propose that the bipolar personality is a symptom of a social illusion…and that illusion is our common perception that we have a separate personal self functioning independently from everyone else in our society…it is a kind of social hallucination creating the perception of separateness and divisiveness.
It is further complicated by a feeling and assumption we are unrelated to our natural environment and as result we totally identify with a personal self as the center of meaning in life…this belief establishes that the goal of the personal self is to be successful consistent with the assumptions and beliefs of society…and the bipolar personality is often described as an inability to successfully integrate into the conventional social expectations…they are often locked in a depression caused by the condemnation of their personal self or when in a manic state the expansion or ballooning of the personal self waiting to burst…in both cases their personal self is at the center of the problem.
An important first step in healing is to question the assumptions that we are are a separate personal self who is responsible for our behavior…this requires serious consideration and effort to cleanse away long standing and deeply rooted social assumptions and expectations…specifically it is the realization that our thoughts and feelings do not occur from our conscious mind but instead “flow up” spontaneously from a subconscious source beyond our control…and also the realization also that there is no separate subconscious mind but instead we are part of a “collective subconscious” mind.
It can lead to the insight that a controlling and judgemental personal self is only an illusion and the major factor in causing stressful conditions…if bipolar feelings and thoughts are fully accepted and even “let be” it can end the battle to control the problem… resistance and control is at the core of our personal self and its end is an important step in being liberated from this painful assumption ….it can result in an experience of expanded awareness as the narrow focus on the problems of the personal self diminish….and there is a sense of “wholeness” instead of the split personalty tormenting their life….the long term “conflict” can come to end and lead to a greater comfort with life.
Hi Sid, I’ve liked to say that “bipolar” is a social dynamic between a highly intelligent/creative person (suffering from an incredibly low self image) and the mass of society that can’t recognize the true potential and labels what it sees as grossly unacceptable. But in a loving acceptable environment, “bipolar” people are exceptionally loving and authentic. Thanks for a wonderful perspective! Ron
Hi Sid, this is a very insightful piece. My opinion is that modern western treatment of “bipolar” is aimed at controlling people that are deviating from the norm. I have been medication free for 3 years now and have become a productive creative human being. I really resonated with what you said about the changed brain chemistry maybe not being a cause but an effect. The disorder definitely seems to run in families as about 70% of my family seems to be affected to some degree. The problem is coming up with strategies to stop suicidal behavior. It is a tragedy when so much human creative potential is lost. The larger and more complex, society becomes the more you are going to find people that dont fit the norm. I have learned to appreciate my differences and find my own path in life.
Hi Jonothan,
I did visit your website and was very impressed with your insights and story…I would also strongly recommend my readers to visit for personal sharing of the spiritual transformation of BPD…I added your website link to my blogroll.
Sid
I share you view point in regards to bi-polar. I have suffered from this ‘disorder’ for several years and have come to see it as a blessing rather than a curse.
http://soulteacher.co.uk/#/bi-polar-disorder/4541260771
i THINK THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. I am bipolar and have been investigating the connection between bipolarity and the left and right lobes of the brain since I noticed the trend that most medications prescribed for bipolarity are also used to treat epilepsy, which has been proved to be correlated to left/right brain communication issues.
Additionally, some of my own coping mechanisms seem to coincidentally be rooted in ambidexterity (such as playing the drums). I am not sure if this is a side effect from whatever contributes to causing my bipolarity or if it is actually a type of therapy to help offset the possible imbalance, but it is certainly interesting.
I think we are all on to something here and it makes me feel somewhat hopeful.
I found your site after viewing Jill Taylor’s video in preparation for a continuing ed class for massage therapy. After reading your blog on bi-polar, I am now convinced that western medicine doesn’t understand how pot smoking can affect our right brain in such a positive way. I have never had any episodes that are bi-polar except when perceived in ignorance. I am a grandmother living unattached for nine years, enjoying the Nirvana emanating from the right brain while smoking pot. Eight times, ONLY since being single, I have been illegally incarcerated, held for up to 91 days at a time, never charged for potsmoking, and released. The last time before getting a court order forcing me to take Abilify, they offered me pot pills which are supposed to be reserved for cancer patients. 40 years of smoking pot off and on and now bi-polar is the new buzz word. Ignorance isn’t always felt as bliss by those of us who understand. Thank you for your blog.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your insightful comment…the description of the metaphors and symbols were beautifully expressed and interpreted.
I was also appreciative of your description of the role the right brain played in the healing process…I agree most mental illness treatment tend to ignore the background issues and overemphasize the biological causes.
Best Wishes,
Sid
I found this site by searching for a link between symbolism and bipolar. Many of my thoughts about bipolar are affirmed by this article.
I have experienced two manic depressive episodes, and during each episode my thoughts were consumed with symbols and metaphors. I was continuously associating memories and life experiences with symbols — as an example the color green is a symbol for envy, which was associated with my feelings for my roommates and the memory of hanging green underwear on my bedroom doorknob. Or using a spicy red chili as a metaphor for my friend in describing how my husband might be overwhelmed by her at first, but would grow to like her, the way people grow to like spicy food. There were countless other metaphors and symbolic acts. I think these metaphors came from a creative right brain thought process. Interestingly, I was frantically, but unconsciously, clenching and releasing my left hand. The motor impulses to the left side of the body are controlled by the right side of the brain. I think that I was strengthening my left hand and my right brain.
I also think that my ego could no longer appease the superego, and was dwelling more in id — understanding my own underlying motivations and attempting to understand the motivations of those around me.
Overall, I think that my episodes have made me a more whole and cohesive person. I wonder if the majority of people who are not diagnosed as “mentally ill” are really just ignoring the background in their own minds, while I have faced it head on.
What an astounding article. I found this website from the Jill Taylor blog and I am eternally grateful for having had a chance to find it. I was diagnosed with bipolar and to me the hard part was learning to use both sides. I knew that essentially being bipolar was good but this was only my intuition that held me together while becoming whole and complete. This explanation goes a long way in simplyfing some of my thoughts…that I am a much more interesting person to myself and that I am not the same person I was before the diagnosis. Something extraordinary happened in 1998 and I have been on a journey since to find the me that I am intended to be. But most people will not understand for the simple fact that the left brained people rule the world and doing anything to shake their little world is reason to drug, imprison, label, destroy…whatever it is that is needed to keep one in their little place. Thanks again. I will come back to read more of your articles.
Bingo, I had this same theory based on life experience and knowledge of the right/left brain at an early age. My father taught me about the right/left brain and how understanding the way they work made me understand human nature. I think most people are bipolar, they just don’t understand how the brain works, and how much control we really have without medication causing other side effects etc.