Despite the quality of the films, I have never been a huge Star Wars fan. I still have not worked out which order I am supposed to watch them in...
Yet the world created by George Lucas is full of ideas that can be useful along our journey with bipolarity. Today, I am borrowing a little wisdom from our dear Yoda.
A distinctive little character, endearing in his own way, and a master of both words and lightsabers.
Through that character, let us explore what it means to adapt when our mood shifts into a different phase.
We will begin with some general reflections on bipolarity through the eyes of a seasoned Jedi, then look more closely at how those ideas might help in daily life.
I hope this article brings back a little lightness, or at least offers some comfort during a short read.
In my experience of bipolarity, several steps matter when moving towards recovery:
This is not an exhaustive list or a rigid sequence. These are steps we may revisit as we learn what recovery means for us. Sometimes we find ourselves returning to something we thought we had already worked through.
That is why it helps to look at your current situation in concrete terms.
Take a pen and a piece of paper and write a brief account of where you are right now.
Keep it simple. Just write down what comes to mind.
For example:
Although my phases are becoming less intense, I can feel that I have moved into a lower phase. I need to adapt how I manage my activities and everyday life. Our article on understanding and overcoming daily challenges may help.
I may also need to reach out more often to the people around me for day-to-day support. For me, awareness, acceptance and looking for solutions are steps I have already worked on, even if I return to them regularly. I can now focus on the small details that might make this phase easier to manage.
For someone who is still working towards acceptance, the questions might be: How do I feel about what I am experiencing? What does living with bipolarity mean? What support is available? Who can I talk to?
Everyone has their own way of assessing their situation, but I recommend writing it down. It can make your thoughts more tangible.
Once you have put your situation on paper, you can ask a few more questions:
That last question brings us to the next point.
You may know the saying, “Alone we go faster; together we go further.” When it comes to bipolarity, I would put even more emphasis on the second half. Trying to carry everything alone can make the journey much harder.
Recovery does not have to depend only on your own strength. Perhaps a Yoda-like master, living far from the pressures of our everyday world, could manage it all alone...
Even then, I am not convinced!
The point is that support matters.
A person you can trust might be a friend, parent, sibling or someone offering professional or peer support. If you do not have that person in your life yet, looking for support can be a first step.
Living with bipolarity sometimes asks us to do something difficult: open up.
Talking about what you are experiencing can ease an emotional burden. A trusted person can also offer a different perspective and help you find a way through the confusion that a new phase may bring.
Because that is what we are talking about.
Changes inside us and around us can feel chaotic, unsettling and sometimes overwhelming.
But...
Chaos can also be an image for the beginning of something new.
Looking back at our lives, we may notice times when a period of disruption was followed by change.
We do not always see it while it is happening. What matters is finding ways to respond to it, with support.
And that brings us to the next point.
A new phase can create disruption that we need to learn to manage.
That is easier said than done.
Sometimes things feel so chaotic that we cannot see where to begin, let alone how we will get through them.
The first thought I want to share is that things can change.
In other words, the way you feel today does not have to define your future. Mood episodes can change, and help is available.
Over time, the aim is to find ways to make these changes less disruptive and to build a direction that supports your recovery.
Here are a few starting points:
These six steps can help you find a starting point during a difficult period.
I particularly want to emphasise getting support, in whatever suitable form is available, while learning to take your own needs seriously.
I have written before about what I call our underused sixth sense.
By that, I mean learning to notice our feelings and needs, getting to know them and making space for them in everyday life.
You might simply call it intuition. Paying attention to yourself can help you notice when you need rest, connection or a change of pace. During an intense mood phase, check important decisions with a trusted person or your care team rather than relying on intuition alone.
Sometimes the results of taking time to listen to yourself can be surprising. It can bring thoughts to the surface that were difficult to hear through the noise of the day.
It takes practice and can feel uncomfortable because it involves letting go of some of our usual distractions. For me, it has become one part of looking after myself.
For example, this morning I went for my usual walk with my dog, Voltaire, a podcast in my ears and some sunshine ahead.
I quickly realised that I did not feel like listening to anything. It would be better to enjoy what was around me: the morning birdsong and the view of the mountains.
Sure enough, ideas for articles started coming, including the idea of writing a little like Yoda.
Which brings us to walking.
I have not yet found an activity more restorative than walking. To be honest, it suits me so well that I am not looking for a replacement.
How many times have Clément, the founder of HopeStage, and I said how much our Wednesday morning walk helps us? I have lost count.
There is usually a way to adapt to the weather.
A raincoat, an umbrella, a warm coat: we have plenty of ways to get outside comfortably. That said, there is no need to head out in the middle of a storm!
I find walking relaxing, creative and refreshing, and I recommend finding a version of it that fits your health and abilities.
I am lucky to have a dog who needs to go out.
On every walk, I am grateful that he sometimes gives me that little push, because it so often does me good.
So, close this article and go for a short walk!
I am joking. We are almost at the end. Let us finish this chapter before heading out...
It was not really Yoda's teaching that took us through these ideas, but borrowing his way of speaking made it fun.
Listen to your needs, build trust in yourself, ask for help and make time to care for yourself, whether through walking or another activity that suits you.
These habits have helped me along my recovery journey. There is no magic timetable, and they complement rather than replace professional care. Progress can take time; for me, it has sometimes taken years. I would rather be honest about that.
I will leave you to reflect on your situation and choose a next step that feels manageable.
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