What is everyone grateful for... I needed to start this thread because I'm feeling low today and I would much rather focus on the positive then the negative... This is the first time I'm being proactive about being BiPolar so I hope you all join me on this...

I'm thankful for my son, my dog and my family (when they are by myside) my boyfriend, and a good friend of mine!

I am not sure right now but good for you. I guess I am thankful my sister, who I just talked to on the phone, is understanding of my condition and I didn't think she would be. My husband is great and tring hard to help me when I need it like today!!! :( I just posted my thread and hope someone can enlighten me. Keep it up :) Have you heard of Julie Fast? try her sight. she is big on this and I love her. She has been like a life saver to me.

The thing I like most about bi-polar is that the lows are sooooo bad that it makes me appreciate every tiny little thing when I'm well. I love being outside and being with my boy. I love being able to laugh, you know when you watch something funny or hear something and you really laugh? I love sleeping a 'normal' eight hours and waking up feeling good, cooking myself a good meal, buying myself a top, all those things that you miss when you're depressed because nothing makes you feel good. Christmas two years ago was spent just me and my boy - my friends all thought I was mad spending it alone, but do you know, just waking up, for the first Christmas Day in five years and not feeling suicidal - that was the best present I ever had. I'm not material - like I used to be. I don't judge people (because I know what it's like to be judged). I feel I have a lot of empathy now and when someone tells me they're feeling depressed I really understand what they're going through. I think it's made me a better friend, because I know what little things make a big difference (like someone doing your laundry for you when you haven't even bothered to wash for a week). It's definitely made me a better mum - I tell my boy I love him every single day because I never know if the next depression's going to be the one that gets me, and when I'm well we hang out and have a good time!! It's made me focus less on the superficial stuff that doesn't matter anyway and more on the really important things. I still find the depression unbearable, and when I'm hypo I frighten myself because my brain goes so crazy, but, oddly, life in between is the best it's ever been - I think BP really makes you look at life differently and appreciate the good bits more.

Thanks for the thread, Dee-Nah - it's nice to have a positive one to get in to! You sound like you're coping well, I hope things are going okay for you.

Picali xx