i hear ya on the "tomorrow" dealy. This would make sense, consistent with Darwin's evolutionary theory. I would hesitate to go with the word purpose... it is more survival.I don't know how to answer these right now. But I wonder what has brought these wonderings to mind.

Please be well. Hope your day went ok.

~ waves ~

Hi, Waves,
I pushed the words/ideas of "purpose" and "reason" together without thinking.

I guess I was wondering what purpose/reason it serves us as a species AND as indiviuals to have the bipolar genes report to duty.

I've been tired for a month or two and need a break. Also I see my hypnotherapist on Friday for the first time in a month. I am frustrated because I was sure that she could guide me with sleep and she seems partly off on a wrong track right now -- says I like the night and hate the day. When the truth is that I love AND hate the night. AND THIS is a big freaking difference if someone is treating me for sleep issues.

I can live in ambiguity. That is part of my sickness. I would love to live more clearly in the here or the there. ....Not in two or three places/ways at the same time.
I embrace ambiguity and make life more complicated.
I am comfortable with muted shades. Is this bipolar? Is this a gift? HA? Should I try to see it that way??????

But these muted shades make life harder. How does it work for the other folks who see things as one way or another and not .....well, NOT?

Also, last week, my accupuncturist told me how she handles the 3 or so "blue" days she gets each week. She literally snaps her fingers and tells herslef to snap out of it. She suggested I do the same.

...problems getting into see the dentist for routine visit. His office keeps canceling -- or worse, not showing up...seems he is having personal problems....but I don't wanna know about them.. I just want my teeth cleaned and I want the teeth grinding at night to stop.
Ok...waaaaaaaay more than you asked. I am going to go find something to do.

Mari

Hi Mari,

i saw this the other day but hoped to be able to respond better. Hopefully soon. I am a bit thought-dead right now...

btw, a lot more than i asked, naaah... it was an open question. and enjoyed reading response. hence want to address it properly.

i am concerned about that "snapping" hypnotherapist. yeah. is right.

take care of yourself.

~ waves ~

Hi,
I am sorry that I was confusing.
The hypnotherapist is very good.
The accupunturist suggested snapping because it works for her.

I don't mind that the accupunturist doesn't "get" depression. She can still be very helpful. I'm having a medical issue right now that I don't want to talk about here yet.


Mari

hello, all. i'm somewhat new to this, learning as i go, but the subjects raised here hold a fascination difficult to skip past. still unclear to me is the meaning of "bipolar," though it comes through in context to mean, i would guess, what the older term "schizophrenia" once did. a professor i knew believed this condition to spring from what he called "the double bind." that is, a child whose upbringing is rife with enforced ambiguities, split loyalties, divisiveness, hot/cold, guilt/grandeur, and the like, develops unweighted thought processes, and begins to mirror the self-absorption which lies at the heart of this. but understanding the gobbledegook doesn't make for a cure. depression is pretty good at trumping intellect. habits of mind are hard to break. but new habits of mind can be formed. Dr. Vaillant once said, "Don't think less of yourself, just think of yourself less." it's good advice. tv, movies,diversions help us do this, but so do other more productive activities: learning by rote, solving puzzles, assembling things, designing, creating, singing, the list is endless. the power of ambiguity should be at the end of this food chain, not the beginning. when our minds are sown with doubt, and fear, and shame before they're equipped to handle these bogeys, it's a tough trail ahead. i've been on it, i know. please help with comments if you wish. i'm delighted for this forum and to be part of it. thanks. robert.

WElcome Robert,
Glad that you found our happy home here in the cyber world.
Let us know how we can help you.
Sometimes it is quiet on the weekends here and then again there are some who are night owls....
There is a chat room area here at these boards the link is at the top of the bar on the right...my bar is blue yours may be tan or other color depending on what color scheme you have chosen.
Great that you joined us!
bizi

Dear Robert,

OK. I learned something tonight because I looked up Dr. Vaillant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eman_Vaillant
He publishes on adult development and the recovery process of schizophrenia, heroin addiction, alcoholism, personality disorder, and aging...

But the wikipedia site says that the article needs "clean up." Have you ever worked on a wikipedia article? I haven't. Too much brain fog.

mari

Dear Mair,
I guess I wanted to respond to this part.
There are alot people who live in the black and white world....it is easier!
However I do believe that the world is actually filled with gray!
Somewhere between black and white.
Living within the gray matter is much more difficult.
There can not be absolutes...sometimes yes sometimes no.....
I think living with shades is actually living more in reality than not...at a more evolved level....
does that make sense?
bizi

Dear Bizi,
You make a lot of sense. Sometimes I wish I could see the world in clear colors because then my life might be easier. I would get things done faster because I would put less thought into them, I'd make decisions more easily, and.....

But I end up embracing abiquity and even ambivalence because, well, that's how I see things. And it would be too hard to change a world view.

And if I need carity on an important issue, I can always ask one of those black and white thinking people for help!

Maybe we are both making sense?
Mari

yes we are making perfect sense this morning...which then makes it difficult to make decisions...this is where learning to answer the best way that we can based on the knowledge that we have at that moment...was the best decision...I may come upon other info later and change my mind which is totally acceptable...see the flux...
I think that the more flexible we are....the easier making decisions can be.