A POSITIVITY CHEAT SHEET

Do I contradict myself?

Very well then I contradict myself,

(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

~ “Song of Myself” (1892), by Walt Whitman

I am 22 years old and I’ve been battling the dregs of bipolar depression since my teenage years. I’ve floated in and out of therapy since the age of 10. I’ve known, and parted with, many profoundly f*d people.

I’ve also learned that being different does not preclude you from living a good life. It simply means that you need to work harder for it. To that end, I’d like to offer advice that I’m not qualified to give, but I will give it anyway. In celebration of World Bipolar Day, 3/30/19, I’ve devised the ultimate “positivity cheat sheet”—something that I wish I had access to when my life was in the dumpster.

Sources:

MEDS: Goldberg, J. E. (2004). The changing landscape of psychopharmacology.

THERAPY: McMahon, K., et al. (2016). Psychotherapeutic treatment of bipolar depression.

ROUTINE: Frank, E., et al. (2006). The importance of routine for preventing recurrence in bipolar disorder.

SUPPORT: Boyers, G. B., & Simpson Rowe, L. (2018). Social support and relationship satisfaction in bipolar disorder.

SELF-EFFICACY: Xie, H. (2013). Personal strengths and recovery in adults with serious mental illnesses.

SLEEP: Bowen, R., et al. (2013). Maintaining sleep and physical activity alleviate mood instability.

FORGIVENESS: Enright, R. D., & Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2000). Forgiveness in bipolar and other mental disorders.

GRATITUDE: Lambert, N. M., & Veldorale-Brogan, A. (2013). Gratitude intervention in adolescence and young adulthood.

UR NOT BROKEN: Szasz, T. S. (1960). The myth of mental illness.