Thinking / Attention Issues

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With bipolar disorder comes impulsivity. After dealing with the fallout of decisions made in haste or when unwell, I know it’s essential to take my time when making choices that could have a substantial impact on my life. Here’s how I move forward when faced with big decisions. Bipolar Disorder & Living in a State...

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When I become obsessive about something, it’s like having an elephant in my mind. I cannot let go of or ignore my newest compulsion. Here’s how I am trying to sort out which interests deserve my attention and which are less helpful or possibly detrimental. One commonality I’ve noticed between myself and the bipolar community...

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When I find myself struggling with bipolar symptoms, I like to mix things up by experiencing opposite or conflicting sensations. Here are several ways I embrace seemingly “bipolar” activities to get out of a rut. Is It My Personality, Astrological Sign, or Bipolar? Whenever an acquaintance asks me what my zodiac sign is, I tell...

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When positive self-talk and empowering affirmations guide our actions, we can redirect our moods and shift our behaviors toward confidence and balance with bipolar. Words—whether spoken or thought—carry incredible weight. They are capable of healing or harming. The unkind phrases we tell ourselves so often can easily turn into beliefs, shaping an unfair and cruel...

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In managing my cognitive symptoms, I’ve found power in research and observation—even though self-monitoring can feel like taking a selfie in the dark! Taming the Dragon … with Science Since so much of my bipolar is outside my control, I’m always searching for new ways to tame the dragon. And in my journey, I’ve found...

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Recent medical tests gave me “answers” that left me second-guessing almost everything—even my bipolar diagnosis. I shifted my mind-set, learned some new words, and decided to reconsider therapy—something I’ve avoided for years! Blanking Out Ever since I was a child, I have been experiencing momentary lapses in consciousness, when I feel as though I lose...

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Sometimes I doubt my own judgment—“Do I really love this new thing, or is mania misleading me?” Understanding brain chemistry allows me to work with my bipolar, instead of against it. In my experience with bipolar disorder, it seems as though my brain’s “good judgment chemistry release valve” is faulty—it gets stuck closed sometimes! I...

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Depression is a thief of joy. It robs us of the activities we love. It tells us that what once gave us pleasure is now pointless. But depression is a liar, too. Embrace the Discomfort One of the best ways to help someone who is depressed move toward a place of wellness and peace is...

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“This is the WORST!” We’ve all said it & we’ve all thought it. And sometimes it is actually true. But consistently ruminating over how things can go badly does not protect us against negative experiences. It robs us of the ability to recognize those quiet, small joys—even in hard times. What Is Worst-Case-Scenario Thinking? Worst-case-scenario...

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If you lose yourself in obsessive thought spirals or cycles alongside your bipolar, you are not alone. I have come a long way with managing my obsessive thinking. Here is my process for dealing with those ideas, images, phrases, and worries that won’t go away. OCD and Hypomania I have found that bipolar disorder and...

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Distractability can be a major challenge, but there are many things you can do to maintain focus throughout the day when you find your mind wandering. One thing we deal with a lot in the area of bipolar disorder is distractibility, which can be one of the symptoms of this condition. Now, that may happen...

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One of the challenges of living with bipolar disorder is the inability to remain focused. However, there are techniques to help stay on task.   By Karl Shallowhorn   One common symptom of bipolar disorder is distractibility. This sense of being unable to focus is something that can be very annoying, if not downright frustrating....

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Obsessive thoughts often revolve around irrational or exaggerated worries. The repetitive loops can make it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand, disrupt sleep, and affect daily behavior as you start to avoid certain activities or pursue others to an extreme. Psychologist Bruce Hubbard, PhD, offers these countermeasures: Switch your focus. In what Hubbard calls “the...

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Obsessive thinking is a fairly common but rarely discussed symptom of bipolar. We look at ways you can take charge when intrusive thoughts take hold. Getting something stuck in your head—the catchy chorus of a song, a gruesome image from the news—can be annoying for anyone. But annoying segues to alarming when intrusive thoughts, worries,...

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Bipolar flashbacks are intrusive and painful––which can really take a toll on the mind and body. But there are ways you can successfully manage this symptom. The past year has been remarkable in the lifecycle of my bipolar disorder because it is the first time I have experienced a total lack of symptoms. I could...

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The world demands we multitask, but the added frustration and stress can cause some bipolar disorder symptoms to rear their ugly heads. In the early part of the millennium, multitasking was all the rage. It practically became a badge of honor to tell people how well you could multitask. “I can cook dinner while talking...

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Even though I am stable, I feel that bipolar depression has permanently changed all aspects of my brain: my memory, ability to focus, and self-confidence. Having lived with Bipolar I for over a decade, I have been through my share of depressions. However, there was one from the winter of 2011 until the fall of...

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These simple, yet, surprisingly powerful strategies to break free of the loop that links bipolar depression, anxiety and negative thinking may just transform your life.   There’s a well-established loop between dreary outlook and depressed mood—so learning to shift out of negative modes such as pessimism, catastrophic escalation, and destructive self-talk can improve your mental...

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When it comes to bipolar disorder, there are many thoughts that are worthy of ignoring—and for different reasons, including self-sabotage. One of the worst things about living with bipolar disorder is figuring out which thoughts are worthy of my attention. Just because I think it doesn’t make it true. That bit of truth is relevant...

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Have trouble remembering names, appointments, where you put your keys? Is it hard to stay focused and get things done? Check out these workarounds to help you cope. Deb of South Dakota has grappled with memory problems for a long time. Names, appointments, even special events like her children’s birthdays—they all drift off to some Never-Never Land....