Bipolar Disorder Words: Are They Just Semantics? What Do Words Like Remission, Recovery, And Living Well, Really Mean

Words are important. They are used to express thoughts, ideas, concepts, facts and emotions. Therefore, accurate information and clarity of words, especially when discussing bipolar disorder, is absolutely essential.

Put another way, inaccurate or false information leads to misconceptions, erroneous perceptions, confusing points of view and discouragement which ultimately leads to negative behavior.

Thus, words have consequences, not only for the individual suffering from bipolar disorder but for their family and friends.

Common Words Used to Describe Bipolar Disorder and their Consequences

During my time as a bipolar support group facilitator, I became acutely aware of how certain words were being used.

For example, after listening to some in the group express themselves, it became clear that the presuppositions and conceptions those individuals had of themselves were largely due to misguided or false information they received that ultimately became part oftheir belief system.

The following is a case in point.

Certain individuals had been told that bipolar disorder is a "sickness" or a "disease". Buying into that idea and applying those labels to themselves, those people who perceived of themselves as being "sick, were behaving like sick people.

To make matters worse, those same individuals had a tendency to blame their laziness, irresponsibility, character deficiencies and poor personal relationships on their "illness", insisting they were incapable of doing anything about it.

It has been said, and correctly I might add, that those suffering from manic depression are not at fault for showing the signs of having the disorder, but knowing that treatment exists, they are certainly responsible for their recovery.

Based on those early experiences, I resolved never to refer to my disorder as a sickness.

In the strictest sense of the word, bipolar disorder is not a "sickness".

It is not something someone contracts like the flu or a virus.

It is rather a biochemical imbalance that occurs in the brain.

As human beings, these chemicals affect our moods and subsequently our behavior.

For someone suffering from bipolar disorder, an abnormal increase in these chemicals will determine the degree and severity of their mood swings.

There are a wide variety of medical tests, including brain scans that reveal the difference between a bipolar brain to that of a normal one.

To ignore the science behind bipolar disorder is irresponsible.

I've also found that using words like "sickness" and "disease", especially when in a psychiatric context, tends to promote stigma and discrimination rather than reducing it.

Clarifying The Meaning Of The Words Remission, Recovery, and Living Well.

• Remission is the process by which one experiences a reduction or lessening of symptoms during treatment.
• Recovery - does not mean "cure", but is rather a consistent absence of manic depressive episodes, replaced by emotional stability together with a healthy rational way of thinking, that enables one to live a productive life.

In laymen's terms; remission is the journey and recovery is the result, or as another author puts it, "having the right picture, opens the door to recovery and a better future."

How Language Affects One's Self identity, Treatment Goals, And Behavior

Alexander Pope, the renowned English poet, once said, "Know Thyself'.

Shakespeare declared, "To your own self be true".

Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived proclaimed, "As a man thinks within himself, so is he." (Prov. 23:7)

In other words, the words we use internally, (self talk) greatly influences the insight and perception each of us have of ourselves as well as the impact it will have towards gaining a meaningful purposeful life.

This then raises another question;

Where Do I Begin

Before we can say we know ourselves, we must first correctly identify who we really are. Years of radical moods swings, together with irrational thinking have created the false self image many of us have of ourselves.

During my depressive cycles, I frequently thought of myself as worthless, useless and unfit to inhabit this planet. As a result, I hurt those closest to me, lost jobs and made poor decisions about most things.

The people I associated with found it difficult to separate me from my behavior which led to criticism, condemnation and rejection. Those dismissals only reinforced my negative self image.

Mania also distorted my true identity. At times I saw myself in an exaggerated extravagant light. Having that image of myself led to ill conceived business ventures, unwise decisions, financial irresponsibility and a complete disregard of risks and dangers that are so obvious to others.

As my emotional peaks and valleys began to level out, thanks to the medication I was taking, I knew it was time to address those issues.

The inner journey to discover who I really was began with what I called an honest self confrontation. That exercise was a slow, sometimes painful and arduous process.

As difficult as it was, however, I eventually got to a point where I was able to distinguish the true from the false ideas I had about myself. That new perspective turned out to be a major milestone in my recovery.

Helpful Practical Self Care Exercises - Here are some I found most helpful.

• Keep a journal that briefly describes the things you most think about. At the end of the week, circle the negative words and concepts you've recorded and jot down positive constructive words to replace the negative ones.
• Ask yourself the following questions: How are my thoughts (self talk) and the words I use, impacting my self identity - are they preventing me from living a purposeful, meaningful life - what can I do to change that? Do the words I use correctly describe the reality of my experiences, or are they being used to justify my negative behavior? Are my words producing hope within me or are they feeding and perpetuating depression?
• Read or listen to things that teach and inspire. For example, whatever things are true, honorable and right; whatever is lovely and of good repute; is there anything excellent and worthy of praise; dwell, ponder and think on these things.(Phil 4:8)
• Set realistic short term goals you'd like to achieve and then list the specific strengths, gifts, talents and abilities you have that will help you reach those goals.
• Join a good support group and pay attention to those who have learned to think and speak in a heałthy rational manner.

How we think and the words we use are not just semantics - they really do matter.

It is my fervent desire that anyone who has taken the time to read this blog, has found it profitable, encouraging and worth your time.

Keep pressing on.

It is better to say I'm glad I did, rather than saying, I wish I had.