Bipolar Disorder Type I: Mania and Delusions of Grandeur
Not long ago the Bipolar Burble had a commenter ask me about delusions of grandeur in mania as a part of bipolar disorder. She was feeling alone in her experiences and so was hesitant to talk about her own delusions of grandeur during mania.
I’m not familiar with delusions of grandeur in mania and bipolar disorder so I looked it up and I asked if anyone had stories of their mania and delusions of grandeur. Naturally, my lovely readers provided.
Delusions of Grandeur as a Part of Mania of Bipolar Disorder
Delusions of grandeur is not officially listed as part if the diagnostic and statistics manual (DSM) of mental illness. Accoding to the DSM-IV TR (the latest version) one of the symptoms of bipolar mania is:
Inflated self-esteem to levels of grandiosity
Without mention of delusions in mania. However, this physician’s reference adds:
Mania may also include . . . delusions of grandeur. Delusions associated with mania frequently center around an expansive sense of self that goes well beyond narcissism, eg, believing oneself to have special (eg, supernatural) powers or to be the chosen leader of the world or universe.
Delusions of grandeur are part of mania and bipolar disorder I, not bipolar disorder type II (hypomania). (Delusions themselves can be part of other disorders as well.)
Different Types of Mania in Bipolar Disorder Type I
There has been an attempt made by researchers at Duke University to divide mania in bipolar disorder into five categories (using a sample of 327 inpatients with bipolar disorder):
- Pure type 1: (20.5%) – similar to hypomania, no aggression or paranoia, low irritability
- Pure type 2 (24.5%) – severe mania including grandiosity and psychosis
- Group 3 (18%) – psychosis, paranoia, delusional grandiosity and delusional lack of insight, lower levels of psychomotor and hedonic activation
- Group 4 (21.4%) – high dysphoria, low psychomotor and hedonic activation
- Group 5 (15.6%) – mixture of others; dysphoria, euphoria
Mania-Related Definitions
- Dysphoria: emotional state marked by anxiety, depression and restlessness
- Grandeur: affectation of personal greatness or splendor or by absurd exaggeration
- Hedonic (hedonia, hedonist): pleasure seeking above all else
Delusions of Grandeur Common in Bipolar I Mania
In short, delusions of grandeur are pretty common in type I bipolar disorder mania. (According to the above, almost 45% of bipolars in a manic episode experience it to some degree.)
You’re not weird or a freak at all. You’re not alone in your delusions of grandeur. Delusions of grandeur are just another thing about bipolar disorder that people don’t want to talk about.
Real Life Stories of Delusions of Grandeur in Bipolar Disorder
Hanna’s personal experience of delusions of grandeur is a really great example:
As the week progressed and my mania increased everything started coming in brilliant detail. As I drove past fields of grass no longer could I see the wind blowing across a field, but instead as I looked out I saw millions of individual blades of grass blowing. It was like a clarity I have never seen. Everything was in super sharp focus. It was like a whole new world, and it was beautiful. But as it progressed the more I saw in detail the more I felt “one” with nature, to the point where I thought that I could BE one with the wind.
One afternoon driving home from work I thought that I was so in tune to the nature around me I could drive with my eyes closed. I rolled down my window and extended my arm out as far as I could, each finger spread out wide. I gently at first started letting the wind guide my arm up and down, then at the precise moment I felt it “carry” me I closed my eyes and let the wind guide me down the interstate. This abruptly ended when I hit the side of the road. I was so torn between some part of my mind telling me I was crazy and the utter disappointment I felt with the wind for not guiding me and keeping me on the road.
I ended up in the hospital the next week.
From another person with bipolar disorder (kept anonymous for privacy reasons):
I thought I was the incarnation of Bast, Egyptian cat goddess, and I could talk to every kitty in the universe. Most people when they get in that state think they are Jesus. I was brought up Jewish and I am a cat person, so I guess I thought of Bast. It got bad when the cat was talking to me and I could swear I could hear the kitty in the apartment across from me talking to me.
Manic Delusions of Grandeur Examples
Both of the above are from great people. Just like you. Trust me; you’re not alone in this.
31 Responses to “Bipolar Disorder Type I: Mania and Delusions of Grandeur”
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My boyfriend of 4the years is highly delusional. He believes i am his queen and he is king…or the superior being. He says he deserves more than one wife and treated as kings were back in the day. ….his mood swings are constant and blames all arguments on me. I have tried telling him his thoughts are not real and even read other peoples stories of there delusions and he says he knows he. is the ‘one’ and they just wanted to be like him.
He thinks the whole universe is his and he created.
it and everything else. He talks about past lives.
.and how he is in everything….it gets very frustrating cops have been involved and hes even been to the hospital and so far even on his meds hes gotten worse..i need professional advise
His symtoms started after christmas 2011. He gets mad at the smallest thing i say…i just dont know what to do i want to help him i just dont know how
Hi Summer,
I’m sorry to hear about your boyfriend. Delusions can be extremely difficult to deal with and it’s common for people to be angry when you try to suggest that their delusions aren’t real.
I highly recommend you contact a schizophrenia support group. This one is local to my area and we have them throughout Canada, I suspect you could find them in your area (sorry, don’t know where that is) too. Specifically, the online support information here is invaluable: http://www.bcss.org/category/resources/topics-by-audience/family-friends/
Here are their fact sheets on psychosis: http://www.bcss.org/category/resources/about-mental-illness/psychosis/ (delusions are part of psychosis).
Please check out their information, I think it may be able to help you.
- Natasha Tracy
I don’t understand any of this. I was diagnosed with Manic Depression/Bipolar Disorder I @ 14 years old. I went through a lot of hell becuase of my “behavior” as they called it. It took getting in severe trouble with the law (in a manic state allegedly) at the age of 27, before anyone would help me. Or maybe they tried before I don’t know, I don’t think so but either way I’m sure I never got the help I needed.
Then several years later, I find that I’m still in the same boat, only now there are several holes in my boat and I’m probably really close to drowning. My therapist and my psychiatrist do not agree on anything and both call each other idiots, because she believes that I have PTSD and he believes that I’m bipolar and he states that the evidence of my psychiactric hospitalizations, suicide attempts, several other diagnosis of bipolar I by several different psychiatrists, as well as my arrests prove his diagnosis. This is the first I’ve ever heard anyone mention PTSD in regards to myself, and the thing is despite whatever I tell her, she always finds an excuse for my behavior. “Well you’re just stressed out today” or “those rapid thoughts are just you’re way of dealing with the stress” blah blah blah. I like her, but I don’t know if she’s helping me or harming me. I don’t know if either one even cares about me as a person or maybe I’m just they’re toy, like when cats play with toys they just bat them around. I kind of feel like I’m a cat toy.
I don’t know what I am, I only know that I need help and I identify with nothing and everything all at once. I don’t want to be either. I fucking hate feeling this way, but also I love it because I am capable of everything; which is great and sometimes not so great, so its really confusing to say the least. Even the so called medical professionals can’t agree on what I am, like I’m not a person just another case study. That’s what I feel like. A human specimen to be studied who lost all sense of humanity and normalcy whatever the hell that is. I’m all over the place and I don’t know what to do. I’ve never stayed with a medication long enough to see whether or not it would help me, except for the times I was hospitalized, and they seemed to, but maybe I was just dreaming they did, maybe I’m something else all together. I think that I’m probably a special case. I don’t think I am like anyone else and probably more doctors need to study me to help other people. Because I think that probably the answer is in me, and I was created for this purpose. Maybe I am the answer.
That’s what I need to do. I need to help everybody else. Give my life for the sake of humanity. what if I’m the cure? There is definitely something about me that’s amazing. I know I can change the world, and that’s why they fight, because they know it too. Damn doctors know that I’m the answer, and they want to claim me. What if that’s what’s happening? Wow. I think maybe I might be on to something. Is this what it they mean by awake? Am I finally awake? Everything is clear to me now. Thank you.
Hi Somalunamuerte,
It’s sounds like you’ve been in some really tough spots and you’re in one right now. But you’re not alone. Many people have stories like yours. It often takes years for a correct diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness like bipolar disorder.
I’m sorry your treatment team can’t agree on what you diagnosis is. That’s tough. But what matters is the treatment. What is helping you? If the medications helped when you were in the hospital, why aren’t you on them now?
If you don’t feel like the people treating you are meshing well with you or what you need, it might be time to find someone else or simply be more directive about your treatment, if you can.
You are _not_ a case study, you are a person. We’re all complex creatures and sometimes it takes time to work those complexities out and sometimes it takes the right person to see in us what we have and what we need. Don’t give up. There are people who can help you and there are people just like you out there in the world. I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but there are. I talk to them every day.
You don’t have to give your life for the sake of humanity – you can _live_ your life. Really.
I have felt beyond help myself sometimes, but I’m not and neither are you.
- Natasha Tracy
I definitely understand a lot of peoples concerns. As a kid growing up with bi polar… I had grandeur of being superman and crazy strength. As an adult I focused these thoughts and started a business based around programming games/ 3rd party applications for smart phones. I concentrated these thoughts into a useful manner. Johnny Depp has been known to do the same thing for his acting career. We as bi polar are special and should use it for our strengths. Being successful is one thing but being a successful bi polar… That has definitely given me hope.
Hi Brandon,
Channelling bipolar symptoms into something positive is the best way of handling the illness is possible. Such channelling isn’t always an option, but when it is, it can really work.
I’m glad you’re being successful and bipolar. You’re an inspiration to everyone still reaching to get there.
- Natasha Tracy
I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when I was 40. I really appreciate this article because there are not many ‘specifics’ about delusional experiences. I have had several episodes beginning in my late 20′s. The episodes have always been triggered by stressful events: traveling to Europe/lack of sleep, birth of child, loss of mother, and intense stress of job requirements. It’s odd because in the interim of episodes, I am really high functioning- I have a graduate degree- work two jobs, handle things pretty well.
My delusions usually center around some ‘puzzle’ or ‘riddle’ or ‘test’, that I ultimately feel I cannot pass. I have noticed that the experiences have become increasingly terrifying. When my mother was dying and I was on my way to say goodbye- I became delusional, and felt like I was lost in a forest. I felt trapped, like there was no way out- and with no one to trust for direction. I literally was driving through the Olympic Forest, and felt like my only option of escape was to turn my car toward the woods and step on the gas pedal. I survived, but totaled the rental car. Plus, I wound up spending 2 weeks in a mental facility and missed my mother’s funeral.
I have ‘been’ Christ, Mary, the Devil, and have done some things I’m embarrassed of. On the other hand, it’s very insightful to experience mental illness, personally. It makes you realize the true vulnerability of what we call our ‘self’.
I guess I wonder if there is some meaning contained within the delusions, perhaps on some symbolic level. I think it would be really interesting if there were some kind of group where people who have experienced similar things (delusions/psychosis) could talk/share, and see if there are connections between their delusions and their histories.
Hi Lisa,
I agree, there aren’t many specific accounts of delusional experiences which is why I wanted to write this article. More delusional experiences might be outlined in schizophrenic writings, however.
Yes, typically stress does precipitate the worst episodes, and it sounds like in your case, delusional ones. It’s good that you’ve identified stress as a trigger as it can help you deal with it in the future.
It sounds like (from the small amount you have shared) you have a pretty classic case of bipolar I. And in that disorder people are often very high-functioning between episodes. You’re lucky (?) that way. People with bipolar II often don’t experience this.
I’m sorry your delusions got so bad you took such severe action. I can only imagine how scary that was for you. All I can suggest is to try to catch the delusional thinking early enough that you can avoid getting into a full-blown state, if that’s possible.
“it’s very insightful to experience mental illness, personally. It makes you realize the true vulnerability of what we call our ‘self’.”
I agree. I’ve not been psychotic, personally, but I’ve been different enough to know this is true.
I don’t have a suggestion for a group where people share information about delusions, specifically, but again, maybe a group more centred towards schizophrenia?
- Natasha Tracy
I too was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder after experience a week long manic episode. i was 18 then and am now 22, but I thought i was special lol now i see everybody else with this disorder had similar experiences. I too saw seemingly infinite beauty, clarity, and unlikely coincidences, tied with strong emotions of fear, excitement, and perpetual bliss. I was sure evrything around me was a direct yet symbolic message from the divine creator we call “God”. However i had virtually no feelings of irritability or aggression whatsoever, although throughout the 5 days I slept no more than an hour or 2 a night because of fear that i may not wake. Through this entire experience not even my immediate family detected this change in me until the end of the week when i became increasingly delusional and ended up hospitalised for a week, and then unfortunately doctors brought me back down to earth.
Hi James,
Oh, don’t worry, you’re special, it’s just that you’re special like us :)
Thanks for sharing your story.
- Natasha Tracy
How long can you be delusional for? How long can you string along a consistent theory/story you see unfolding over weeks? (in my case in the workplace) .A interactions of people at work, actually seeing people in groups and overhearing their conversations, some days things happen other days nothing. Then a cause and effect with me saying something about what I think is going on in the workplace and suddenly you notice a behaviour change in people around you, as I think they have been made aware I now know. Can the brain make such a thing, a delusion, stretch all this stuff out over weeks?
This is a great post with very real comments. I’ve had delusions of grandeur quite similar to a couple of the folks commenting. I thought I was on a special mission from God to prepare for the battle of Armeggedon when Christ returned. I was supposed to setup a secret fort somewhere, get a tank and a fighter plane, and wait. Bizarre it was. I eventually got hauled off to the hospital and that was the end (mostly) of that. I still have fond memories of that escapade however.
Although nobody got hurt, my poor friends and relatives must of been really frustrated. They new I was manic and delusional but were helpless to stop it. I enjoyed it completely. If only there was a safe way to experience delusions.
Jeff
I’m almost 42. I just recently learned I have delusional manic attacks and that I likely had some kind of psychotic break about three years ago. I underwent a series of huge stresses and cracked under the pressure, and then people I loved passed away for the first time. I was seeing stars for a while and did not realize I was drifting through a dream world.
this year, I made a decision to take a year off of life and moved to a new city. with all the previous life stresses gone, though I was still receiving message from the space bunnies, I was able to function and deal with people really well. then some hard life events came up, and suddenly a switch flipped on my personality again and I got grandiose and messianic. because I’d simplified my life so much, I observed the mania rise up, felt the intensity, but didn’t understand what was going on. however, my life was quiet enough I could pay attention. I found myself debating whether or not the Universe wanted me to use a play I’d never read to “save” an organization, and after watching that dialog in my head, I realized, “holy crap. this isn’t real. I’m making this up.”
then I saw the pattern. my former husband and I both previously agreed that I changed dramatically at a certain point in time, and looking back, that’s when the stress became too much.
I was scared at first when I realized what happened to my mind, because I’ve tried to get help in the past but couldn’t recognize I was delusional. I told therapists that my response to stress was off, I possibly had ptsd, and that I was unable, try as I could, to move forward in life from certain events. instead of helping me dial down my stress reaction, I was stressed out more when told that I just needed to get out of my own way and move on. I was lectured angrily about my attitude week after week from someone who refused to switch strategies when her approach failed to resonate with me.
my new found understanding of my mental condition then gave me a sense of relief. manic episodes explained the extremely risky behavior I engaged in, including moving alone to a whole new city, when I was in the zone. I’d never been in trouble of any kind with the law, but the first thing I did when I cracked was threaten someone with blackmail. I thought “this is not who I am” but felt powerless to stop until I knew what was really happening in my head.
now that I know what the deal is, I have made a concerted effort to relax myself down to a more functional state, and found a therapist who actually believes me and is willing to work with me. despite the ways in which I’ve got myself in trouble over the last few years, I’m feeling optimistic about my ability to learn to modulate my stress responses and create a life that doesn’t challenge me emotionally every minute of the day.
I began coming out to my friends. not to ask for their pity or to get a free pass for everything I’ve done, but to let them know that I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, that I discovered I have a real problem, and that I am working out solutions. so far, so good. but I’ve been blasted and accused of being a lying, self-absorbed narcissist attention whore with this news. who on earth would tell people she had a psychotic break just for the attention?
any comments or advice on dealing with people who would rather believe that you’re just a selfish jerk trying to evade personal responsibility than that you’ve short-circuited and have some healing to do?
Hi Karen,
Wow. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. Congratulations on seeing your own patterns and on getting help that works for you. That’s a huge achievement and you should be proud of yourself for that.
As for dealing with others, that is tricky. You have to understand it’s a learning process for them, just as it was for you. You didn’t reach this realization over night and they likely won’t either. Try to be gentle with them and encourage education about your disorder.
Also, understand that people who care about you would likely prefer not to believe that you’re sick. Believe it or not, it’s easier to believe that someone is a “jerk” than that they’re sick. If the person is sick we worry for them, with a jerk, we don’t have to. And who wants to believe someone we care about is ill? No one. It’s a scary thing to have to cope with.
So I think gentle persistence is key. They need time and information in order to adjust and hopefully they will lend their support when they’ve had a chance to wrap their mind around it.
Although keep in mind not everyone can and you’ll probably end up losing some people from your life. It’s not pleasant, but it’s one of the costs of the illness.
You will, however, retain the best of friends and those who will be with you no matter what.
- Natasha Tracy
Natasha,
Thanks for your levity. I need to remember this is a big adjustment for everyone. I see a few gifts in store for me, though. Being delusional when I feel OK gives the world an extra sparkle, and is the source of a lot of great creative ideas (I’m a writer and graphic artist). Now that I know what I’m dealing with, I appreciate there are ways for me to soothe myself and positive places to funnel this energy. Plus, I know the friends I’ll have as I work through this will really care about the whole me. It’s scary and unknown, but ain’t all bad. =)
Karen
Karen,
It sounds to me like you have a great attitude and that will go a long way in dealing with illness. Good for you.
- Natasha Tracy
Here is the problem. Everyone has dreams, projects, self-esteem, believes..normal and bipolar as alike. But in what point does a dream becomes a delusion? When a selfish-great- ego is a grandiosity delusion? What about the first guy on NASA who mention “Yes, we can land on the Moon”. uh… and let’s talk about faith, religion and believes. Were all prophets delusional? Were Christ, Buddha or Mahoma?
The case is clear when I claim that I have wings and no one else can see it. But becomes weird when I a can see the solution of a math problem before I finish reading the question. The right solution on 80% of every math exam while I studied engineering. Yes, in this case, I have wings that no one else can see, but I can fly with them.
Where is the line between normal, delusional and genius or gifted?
Forgot to mention.
The article is great. There are serious risk in being delusional. You can get killed (crucified, for example).
I use a lot of “check points” or “reality checks” every day. Family and friends are good in this, and they can save lives.
Hi Oscar,
Agreed, the line is fuzzy, but not as much as you might think.
Delusions are the belief in something despite contrary evidence.
So, if you think you walk on water but every time you try you come back soaking wet still proclaiming that yes, you walk on water, then that’s a delusion.
Genius isn’t this. Genius may not be able to be _proven_ but it can’t be disproven either. Someone said they could walk on the moon. No doubt, others didn’t have that vision. But there were a million little steps between thinking it and actually doing it, all of which were possible, none of which disproved the idea.
Religion is a whole other thing. I choose not to comment on those matters.
I can’t comment on your math abilities, but if I gave you a test with only the first half of 100 questions and you scored 2% and still believed you knew the answers before reading the question, that would be delusional. If you got 80%, then it probably wouldn’t be. Either way, it’s irrelevant if its implications aren’t hurting anyone.
Yes, many delusions can be dangerous. “Delusions of grandeur” in particular are dangerous because inevitably, it makes you think you have supernatural powers that, not having them, will seriously hurt you or others. “Reality checks” are an excellent idea.
- Natasha Tracy.
Great article. Maasiyat does have a great point. When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t see that you need help.
Thank you so much for writing an article on this. There was no way I could have got help when I was in the middle of mine. What is most bizarre is a few individuals knew of my delusions and my believing I could see spirits and talk to dead people , read minds, tell the future, and oh i was helping to train an army that would fight alongside the savior when he returned at the end of time and they totally believed me. Even asked me to do “readings” for them. That only fueled my delusion more. These are not people with bipolar or any type of mental illness. Even at work I was becoming violent. I would lash out at co-workers to the point my boss took me aside one day and had a talk with me, but no one did anything to help me. I wasn’t in a position to help myself. This is why it is important for people with bipolar especially if they are having delusions to have a good support system and why medication and hospitalization should be forced. In that state, there is no way I could have given consent. I didn’t even know I needed help.
Hi Maasiyat,
You bring up a good point. The people around a person with a mental illness don’t necessarily _want_ to see the signs of illness. They make excuses for why you’re acting “weird.” It was mentioned in another comment that a family member just thought the delusional person was “drunk.” Which, of course, is ridiculous. It’s just an excuse people make up so they don’t have to see what’s really going on.
And as you’ve stated, that can fuel a delusion, which is a dangerous thing.
“This is why it is important for people with bipolar especially if they are having delusions to have a good support system and why medication and hospitalization should be forced. In that state, there is no way I could have given consent. I didn’t even know I needed help.”
Again, an excellent point. It’s really important for people who have felt this way (understanding they needed treatment without consent) say so. Because there is _no_shame_ in admitting this. It’s just saying your disease was out of control. Which any disease could be. People take loved ones to the hospital for treatment of many diseases when their loved ones can’t take themselves. This is the same, although admittedly, more difficult.
Thanks for your feedback, as always.
[Regarding more information, there are the two sources I linked to in the article and I also came across this one: http://chestofbooks.com/health/psychiatry/Manual/Delusional-Mania.html If you need more beyond those three links, perhaps you doctor can recommend a good resource for you.]
- Natasha Tracy
Wow. This is almost exactly what happened to me. I had no idea at the time that I was bipolar or manic or having psychosis, and people around me actually encouraged my beliefs so I didn’t understand it wasn’t ‘normal’. And yet my psychiatrist argued with me that because I haven’t been sectioned with mania in my life, I couldn’t be BP1. Not everyone around you is a mental health professional that can recognise the signs. It’s scary how many people must slip through the net.
Marisa,
It’s so sad that people would actually _feed_ delusions. I understand that they don’t know how destructive they’re being, but still, it just seems so, well, crazy. I suppose it’s that people don’t want to believe that you’re experiencing psychosis and by playing along it proves that you are “normal” and not sick. Even if it isn’t true it’s more convenient for others to believe.
- Natasha Tracy
Well I think what’s worse is that most people just don’t have the awareness to know what delusions are and how to spot them – I didn’t know I was depressed until I was 23, I didn’t know what bipolar was until later, and once I did things started making sense to me.
This is why campaigning and raising awareness is so crucial. It’s why I applaud the work you are doing here, and why when I get myself stable enough, I’m going to press for work in the mental health sector so I can bring my experience to the table.
Marisa,
You’re right, awareness and education is key. I sort of find it unfathomable that people wouldn’t be able to spot psychosis or depression, but that’s just because I’ve been ensconced in it for so long, for most people it just isn’t obvious. At least if people could just identify that _something_ was wrong they could get help. But most people are too afraid to even do that much. Unfortunately.
- Natasha Tracy
Delusions of grandeur is a serious bipolar system that should be told to your doctor and therapist as soon as possible. These type of delusions can kill. During one of mine, I was an angel welcoming in the Second Coming. Convinced I could fly, I did a swam dive off a 2-story balcony crashing into the concrete floor 20 feet below. Luckily, I lived and learned a life lesson about delusions of grandeur.
Hi KristiLynn,
You are absolutely right. In Hanna’s experience, she very easily could have died from her actions resulting from delusions. And she’s not the only one. You often hear of people thinking they can fly, for example. Which I guess is OK, until you try to prove it from the roof of a building.
The unfortunate thing though is that most delusional people are too delusional to get help. It’s only after they’re picked up by the police or are hurt that they get help. It’s really hard to talk a deluded brain into doing anything.
But hopefully people outside the person’s brain can recognize it for what it is – a serious danger sign that needs attention.
- Natasha Tracy
What if your bipolar one 20 years old diagnosed at16 think the worst of every situation and how I’m the strong one to save every situation when really I realize my heads trippin and I have no control untill it’s too late what if your afraid to harm urself or others to make yourself go to jail . Like reality makes it worse because learning about what u once wanted to learn about is alot uglier and you’d rather have it different. Job can’t seem to find /hold one. Ssi or Ssdi is all u have and medication appts you barely can afford to make . If your unorganized in every aspect shouldnt you be hospitalized because your unsafe to your family spending and the cycle owns you. The disease has control over me and I want it to go away I would never wish this on anyone.
Hi Experience123,
I’m sorry to hear things are so tough for you right now. You’re not alone. Many people are in that situation.
It sounds to me like you need more support than you’re getting. Maybe a life skills course would be useful for you. Sometimes cognitive behaivoral therapy can help in a situation like yours. http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/bipolar-bites/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-effective-bipolar-disorder
I would recommend trying a workbook for cognitive behavioral therapy if money is an issue (see the above link).
I also recommend attending a support group. You can find those online or in person. You could start by looking up your local NAMI chapter and see if they have any suggestions for support groups or programs locally.
You are not alone and help is out there.
I wouldn’t wish it on anyone either, but you can get through it.
- Natasha Tracy