Introduction To Bipolar Advantage

[trevorcarterva]

There are times when my mania helps me write music, but when you're on the other end of the spectrum (depressed) it's hell. Pure and simple. If you have the condition you might as well learn how to use it to your advantage. What alternative do you have?

[luvitloz]

Love this one! And the humor. Public speaking is a creative talent !

[Heartlights99]

Hi...LOVE your station..your enthusiasm and your heart! FYI... I have passed this on to many of my clients and friends who are integrating Bi-Polar experiences into their lives. Blessings to you and the wonderful work you are doing in our world as we move into unity and wholeness.

[Bonersoup183]

i see wat ur talking about but i still hate being bipolar

[overnitesinsay]

i dont know y this was sent to mee ut thank u i wiill listen and take what i need so far so good thanks

[MrSpieldose]

my manic episodes are fun 75% of the time, scary as fuck and I am a psychotic style myself and I look at most who whine about bipolar who most never even get close to manic. my delusions are embarrassing after the fact and it started at age 4 with me because the long summer days and it being hard to wind down and most people don't get it. Plus the industry loses money if they don't keep 'em coming. Mary Ellen Copeland is a severe bipolar sufferer who isn't on meds and does well.

[diamondsat50]

I have been looking 4 answers on this subject 4 many years to be able to share with others, I am TRUELY HOPING & PRAYING YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF TRUE VALUE 4 the PEOPLE who are searching for REAL HOPE in this world that struggle with this day in & day out!! We'll see won't we!! A child of God, Giving HIM ALL the Glory in ALL things! He has our every step ordered that belong to HIM. Saved by Grace YES with a label that carries a stigma "BIPOLAR" shining in the darkness another DIAMOND<LUV U ALL

[diamondsat50]

Hello all,I was diagnosed in 1977-78 at 17 yrs old w/bipolar, I got saved an filled w / the Holy Ghost right after I got out of hospital, I have been thru alot since those days and still a christian, I will listen to these video's not sure how or even WHY this was sent to my chan here at U-tube land, so let's see what this has, to bring to the table of life for those needing TRUE answers!!! I do know Jesus and in HIM only there is TRUTH, HE (JESUS) IS TRUTH and sets people free! LET"s C-wat-U-R!

[normalpsy]

Appreciate your work at lessening the stigma of bipolar disorder. But I think you have the wrong idea here. Bipolar disorder can become crippling and result in severe depression and suicide. It is a medical disorder that must be treated. Sadly, psychiatry is a largely unproven and untested scientific ground. We need more people that care about the mentally ill, and treat them as people.

[L0N6H0RN]

I hate being bipolar, it's fantastic!

[WILLTHEWGMAN]

@Famehater

Science itself is a man-made religion of faith in today's knowledge.

Reality is only a self-perception in which all live in our own. See my video and it's info in regard to this.

[cristobalm2010]

Look up Green Mental Health. If you have mood swings, you need to check yourself for a general medical condition (Thyroid problems cause depressions and other nasty things). Poisons in your environments, allergies and other toxins can cause other mental phenomena. If you haven't even checked for those, or advocated that people check for those first, then people can easily go down the wrong path for years and NEVER handle the real problem, which could be just be a thyroid issue.

[LiLMiSsBaByB]

how is being bipolar wonderful?

[BipolarAdvantage]

We teach how to turn bipolar into a wonderful thing in our workshops. These videos give a tiny taste of what is possible. Once you gain insight, freedom to choose how to react, real stability, and self-mastery, you begin to see a completely different perspective.

[f57mich]

howcome i dont see my comment?

[BipolarAdvantage]

I don't know. It is set to automatically show all comments.

[idrc80]

Thank you. Had 5 - 6 counseling sessions which benefited. You have helped me understand myself better and expressed points my counselor and psychiatrist did not. Look forward to gaining from each of your videos.

[I69yomom]

Im 13 and i might have bipolar said the doctor well she said Most likely..Im really scared on what i should do...I switch moods left foot to right foot i dont even know it i just turn into a mood help plz

[BipolarAdvantage]

In 13 more years, you might end up like the following three choices:

You could be dead;

end up like those who find bipolar a "disorder" that ruins your life;

or you can get Bipolar "In Order" and find that bipolar is the best thing in the world.

The difference is getting a thorough assessment to know what you really have, finding someone who is living a great life with it, and doing the hard work necessary to get there. It is so worth it to try for #3. The book "Bipolar In Order" will help.

[Famehater]

anyone with bipolar i need to say if you have any kind of religion or religious mindset its impossible to cure what doctors dont realise is that bipolar disorder is just something that people who are overly creative and curious get, and drugs are the last thing we need, we need to be encouraged to let our thoughts be, not to supress them down, it is only when we are allowed to be ourselves and find our way that we can be happy,in olden times wed be told were cursed or evil lol

just be : )

[hashiepashi]

Wow this absolutely sucked I hatno I LOVED THIS THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVhate this stupid thing, I hate this so much, I hate my life I caMY LIFE IS SO FULL OF LIGHT! I'M SO HAPPY! IOHMYGODLOOKAFUCKINGWALRUSJESU­SCHRIShutUP!STOP COMMENTING ON THIS VIDEO YOU ASSHAT NO I WILL COMMENT IF I LIKE AND I sdjkfhsduigj..................­..............................­FUCK! I felll awaaake agaaaaiin, I'm am he as you are he as you are me as I HATE THE BEATLES ARE AWESOME omfg

[I69yomom]

Not even funny your faking it its not like that

[77artpunk]

Ultimately, it is up to anyone who is bipolar to harness their own fire productively. Nobody else can do it for you. There is a fine line between destruction and production. I know because I have walked that line my whole life and have the scars to show for it. Been there, done it, got all the T-shirts.

[77artpunk]

Reason why I'm cynical is because this just seems like a bunch of re-packaged BS to sell things: videos, books, etc. People will sell anything to make a buck these days. Everyone that is bipolar already knows about neurotransmitter theory, CBT's, and all the rest of the Psychology 101 BS. Nothing wrong with "support groups", but don't need to be sold things we already know.

[triumphoverevil]

the man doing the talking on this video...is it Tom aged 53?

[BipolarAdvantage]

Yes, the man talking is Tom. He is 53 as of 2 days ago. We have new videos from a talk introducing the new book that should be going up in a few weeks. The book is called "Bipolar In Order: Looking At Depression, Mania, Hallucination, And Delusion From The Other Side"

[TheInsaneBastard]

A very interesting video, mate. 5 stars!

[Q9R42]

Ah yes.. Dream theater sang about this and more in six degrees of inner turbulence :]

[Famehater]

i also wrote a song about it called "blessed by a curse" you can fint it on my page , my band are named after Syd Barrett who also had bipolar, when he was taken to the doctor and they told him why he said"are you sure this is Syd`s problem?" its a way of evolving your mind,it makes you question evrything and as long as you dont have a religion or one track mindset the depression will go away and youll be left will totall inner peace and enlightenment : ).

[77artpunk]

When you are depressed, just remember that only stupid people are always happy. They are stuck in the permanent blissful ignorance of illusion and don't realize that modern society is prison.

[darkreign16]

There actually is evidence that bipolar persons tend to be highly creative. Much more so than the average joe.

[Famehater]

@darkreign16 yep i am ultra creative thats not the olny benifit tho, its a way of evolution of the mind, the doctors just dont see it

[malikali31]

awsome...

[socofan4ever]

I've had depression for like 4 years now and i'm only 16. Only recently, I have come to the conclusion that you shouldn't worry and dwell on things that you can't change(mistakes, how people view you, ect... )Ive wasted a lot of my life and i'm truing that around. If you can't change it, just forget about it. It's hard to live with Depression but it is even harder to get help for it. but life of hopelessness is just a waste of time. If you want achieve something than go out there and grab it!

[triumphoverevil]

dude I love you... you made me smile, now come back on here in another 30 years and let me know how your fight against depression is going then

[sourmanofcoal]

IS BIPOLAR SYNDROME EVEN REAL?

[BipolarAdvantage]

I don't think it matters if it is real or not. It is only a framework that helps us to see collections of thoughts and actions that need to be addressed. If the diagnosis of bipolar helps us to see things that need changing it is helpful. If it makes us believe we are permanently disabled it is a horrible thing.

[TheFireflystar303]

Do your research as doctors and psychiatrists have over years and years and you will see that it is indeed real, very real....

[JLizard]

If you are crazy you are one of the best actors I have ever seen. Or just a super compassionate human being in a close minded cruel world. Oh, and a good dresser too. Hugs.

[puffpuff3500]

My dad has bi polar disorder and if you dont tak your medicine you go off a really bad rampage....if you cant control it...but it happens alot

[emptybliss2]

Bipolar really interests me (yes im a 13 year old girl thats interested in medical conditions) but i dont know all that much about it, @ first i thought it was just manic highs and lows, and this is a serious question, my cousin said people with bipolar can have manic shopping sprees, i dont quite believe her, is that true?

[BipolarAdvantage]

Bipolar is much more complex than just highs and lows. Everyone with bipolar is different, but shopping sprees are very common for many of us. This doesn't mean that your cousin is the source for information, but at least got that one right. You are right to question everything you hear, even from me ;-)

[camzlikes2dance]

"that's WONDERFUL" :D

[BaileyLush]

How could you have a BP 1 and schizophrenia? I didn't know they could be comorbid. Either the hallucinations and delusions are caused by bi-polar, or not Correct me if im wrong

[BipolarAdvantage]

BP1 combined with schizophrenic symptoms is called schizoaffective. Without the mood element it is called schizophrenia. Bipolar 1 without hallucinations and delusions is still called Bipolar 1. One of the many confusing things about the definitions is that you can have symptoms of Bipolar 2, yet because you hallucinate you are automatically considered Bipolar 1. I am not sure what "causes" hallucinations or whether bipolar has an influence, but I sure do have them.

[BaileyLush]

Ah ha. Thanks Tom! Good video by the way. I was diagnosed with BP2 awhile back, but now my diagnosis changed to 'extreme anxiety'. All erroneous labels anyways, but I guess they are important for mental health proffesionals to categorize symptoms by. It's nice to hear someone else that thinks we are blessed with a gift, not a curse:) I know when i'm on a roll I think nothing is impossible- but then the low ensues. Ugh. Haha take care.

[BipolarAdvantage]

I agree with the erroneous labels. The only thing that matters to me is that we recognize there are behaviors that we have that could use some improvement and we make the effort to act better. If the label helps that is great. For some people the label just makes things worse because it destroys their hope for a better life.

[nameone100]

test

[GreenSociety42O]

also, never take LSD while on lithium, antipsychotics, or any other psych drugs

[GreenSociety42O]

LSD seems to aid the process, and, despite propaganda surrounding the subject, seems to prevent future manic episodes from reoccurring (though depression may still occur). the problem is, if everyone who had "bipolar disorder" took LSD correctly, they would be more or less permanently cured, which would disallow pharmaceutical companies to generate profits. (There's a reason Nixon destroyed all government documents pertaining to psychedelic research.) I realize my views aren't popular. haha.

[GreenSociety42O]

scholars of the Tibetan Book of the Dead suggest that when one is seeking enlightenment, experiencing what has been termed 'voidness' or awareness of the form of form can sometimes lead to psychosis, especially for Occidentals (aka westerners). perhaps those who experience mania are actually edging closer to this type of awareness, but are in fact losing their grip due to a lack of proper guidance. it's been my experience that mania is an outgrowth of Occidental lack of understanding.

[cardellacole2]

glad to accept your friend invite, will go over your previous videos in time, and are very interested in your aproach sounds like accepting the simple facts to me , we hide ourselves under the most complex of thought creations, we incorperate it into our dreams and then complain we cant comprehend our waking life, but its not bloody easy to see this FACT

[BRONXPEPE]

I have depression, ocd but i think i am bipolar cuz i flip out alot. but they didn't get that in my blood work doctors said idk what that is sappose to meanit hard to control my compulsiveness i guess u can say if i see myself ringing someone neck i have to walk away lol..

[Sojaofdapepo]

bipolar is fake and depression is a normal emotion

[TheFragile89]

Yeah, I guess all the people who commit suicide because of it, were fakes huh.

Sadness is a normal emotion. Constant sadness all the time isn't.

[Sojaofdapepo]

the people who commit suicide were idiots or on drugs people have been lead to belive that taking drugs(meds) will cure them of made up illnesses even though the commercials even say "may(will) cause suicidal thoughts", if your depressed its because something in your life sucks, change it, find somthing that makes you happy(QUIT UR SHIT JOB)

[Sojaofdapepo]

don't "ask your doctor" there is NO test to measure a "chemical imbalance". They get paid NOT to offer you natural solutions. Do some real research on it and many other made up diseases

[daniellexx5xx]

It's not always because of something in your life. It's a chemical imbalance in your head, and does not always have a cause behind it. For some people it's genetic.

[Sojaofdapepo]

ask your doctor for the test that shows you have a chemical imbalance... there is no such test

[daniellexx5xx]

There may be no test. And it may not be a chemical imbalance. That's just what I was taught. Maybe I was taught by idiots. Either way, not all people that commit suicide are idiots or people on drugs. Some people actually have problems in their lives that they can't handle.

[GreenSociety42O]

you're totally right on with this comment.

[hiorka]

Sojaof, you're an uncaring jackass with no understanding of what really goes through peoples' minds. Everyone is mentally ill, there are no exceptions to that, but the ones who avoid their own illness and look down on others for their awareness are the true idiots.

I don't know your story behind these comments, but don't take your anger out on others.

[daniellexx5xx]

You're a dumbass.

[wobblebrain]

I'd say my so called condition allows me to view the world in a different way. I guess I should accept the reality around me as perfect and if I don't accept it I should take a pill to make myself feel better about it. Yeah, perfect world to desire.. We are humans in a huge universe with an unknown reason for our existence.. But daily, we have to work like drones or commit ourselves to a routine that makes us fall asleep to questioning this reality around us. Yeah.. I guess I am nuts.

[source202]

I'm not bipolar, I'm not schizophrenic, but I'm human. we have that in common. pidgeon holes are useful if they help people, but if it only makes other people feel comfortable with their life-views, it's a load of bollocks. mental health "issues" affect everyone - some more immediately than others, but it shouldn't make anyone feel strange. enough of the stigma - let's embrace differentness and be there for those who can't cope. it might be us.

[djgbroughton07]

I wish more humans thought like you . nicely put

[sloopy312]

Thanks so much. Our daughter is bipolar and has these bad mood swings. She likes her meds and acts like she doesn't want to get better. She has so much potential. She used to paint beautifully but illicit drugs got in the way. She has now quit these but she 's not to willing to try to overcome her bipolar. She wasn't diagnoised with it until well into her 30's.

Not sure what to do. My wife enables her while I want to take a more tough love, stronger approach to help her realize her significance

[tomken8dy]

I can tell you right now that you may be bipolar but you are NOT schizophrenic.

A true schizophrenic cannot express himself so rationally, eloquently or with such humor.

[daleshankins]

I have personal experience that broken brains can be helped/healed just as broken ankles can be helped/healed. In both cases, talking therapy and self-image are helpful in both cases. In both cases, talk therapy and a positive attitude are necessary but not SUFFICIENT conditions for recovery. Brains are just as physical as ankles and ones like mine require physical solutions as well as a positive attitude. But I can only speak for myself.

[missdoobs]

interesting take on all this....i like it, but my depression gets in the way of seeing any positives. Sorry.

[joemoonblue]

good stuff thanks

[JustxAnotherxCut]

wow. greaat video

[Anyu7378]

It is so wonderful that you are able to help people struggling with the same "problems." You certainly did turn your own difficulties to your and everybody's advantage. Keep up the fantastic work!!! Most of these types of illnesses stem from anxiety. And lots of anxiety comes from fearing the unknown. And we all fear the unknown, whether or not any of us were diagnosed with similar problems as you were.

[bipolarkelli]

Awesome video,,thamx for sharing!

[PsychDoctorate]

Thank you so much! The fact of the mater is that anyone with any condition can live and achieve incredible things in their lives! Self Actualization and self mastery are not just for those of us who are healthy and so called "normal" it is for everyone and everyone can achieve these states. It is a bit more difficult for those of us who do have problems though and we do need differing skills. Dr Dean Adell is a good example of someone with a condition who has gone onto a full rich life!

[toriamosX]

Very interesting video.

[jaxkipi]

Awesome video!