Learning to Live Responsibly with Bipolar Illness

Abstract

The so-called ‘symptoms’ of bipolar illness are better conceived as medleys and collages of traits widely disseminated in the gene pool, the vast majority of which are favorable in nearly every way until aggregated with others to produce actual symptoms that lead to disruption of life. The argument is 1) that drugs enable the bipolar individual to deal with traits as such and thus confront this disease/disorder from a soft-wiring perspective in a manner enabling a productive existence both personally and socially, and 2) bipolar individuals have numerous positive traits that can be utilized both to steward offices as well as contain or otherwise restrain negative traits. Techniques are offered together with theoretical insights to help bipolar sufferers come to possess a responsible attitude by which to steward their natural talents and consider the needs of others as integral to their self-mastery and health.

Keywords: Bipolar Disorder, Mental Illness, Psychiatry, Personal Responsibility, Stewardship