Bipolar Support Groups.com blog

Bipolar disorder symptoms include dramatic shifts in mood and the ability to function. Successful bipolar disorder treatment requires a careful course of medication, psychotherapy, and discipline to stay on track–and avoid an emotional crash.

Most teens spend their time discussing their latest crush with friends, studying for college admission tests, and taking driver’s education. Not Robin Molliner. When the 26-year-old California native was 16, she was busy trying to talk car dealers into selling her a new ride — even though she didn’t have a dime to her name — and staging a two-week walkout from her high school chemistry class because she wasn’t “happy with the level of the teaching.”

But what seemed like normally high levels of energy and ambition were just the beginning of the full-blown mania that quickly followed.

“I wanted to have sex with anything, I didn’t care who or what,” she recalls. “I felt like my mom was trying to hurt me, and I had feelings of being a prophet.”

At the time, “I would go from moments of being totally happy, bubbly, and having fun to moments when pain from every point in life would come exploding out and I would lose control,” she says.

The Lowdown

As a result of these symptoms and the depression that followed, Molliner was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Affecting more than 2 million American adults, this illness brings dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and ability to function.

Just about everyone has ups and downs from time to time, but for people like Molliner, these changes can be severe. Moods range from ecstatic or irritable to sad and hopeless — often with extended periods of normalcy in between. Manic episodes may mean increased energy, euphoria, and an unrealistic belief in one’s abilities. People with bipolar disorder may go on lavish spending sprees. They may also have hallucinations (such as hearing voices) and delusional thoughts, as Molliner did about her mother.

Onset typically occurs in late adolescence, as it did with Molliner, or early adulthood. But some people develop symptoms later in life and still others start showing them during childhood. The illness affects children and teens differently from the way it affects adults, according to results from the Course and Outcome of Bipolar Illness in Youth (COBY) research program. The very young develop symptoms that last longer and swing more swiftly from hyperactivity and recklessness to lethargy and depression, the study showed.

While the exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, most researchers say that it is the result of a chemical imbalance in certain parts of the brain. And some evidence suggests that individuals may have a genetic predisposition to the illness. More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the disorder or with unipolar major depression. True to form, Molliner has two uncles and a grandfather with the disorder.

Medicating Mania

Bipolar disorder can’t be cured but is typically treated with medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes. Doctors often treat the mania symptoms with one set of drugs, and use other drugs to treat the depression. Maintenance treatment with a mood stabilizer such as lithium or an anticonvulsant drug can substantially reduce the number and severity of episodes for most people, but this can be a tough pill to swallow.

Why? Because many people with bipolar disorder struggle with the idea of staying on their medication for life. Some even enjoy the initial phases of the manic stage, while others feel fine and don’t want to deal with the side effects of the medications, which can include weight gain and sexual problems.

Having been on lithium for 10 years, Molliner says, “I didn’t have that choice [about treatment], because I was 16 at the time of diagnosis. [But] the peak of the mania and the deepest end of the depression were so scary and big that I never wanted to experience them again. In the manic stage, I was totally out of control in my own mind and body, and that is the scariest experience ever,” she recalls. “And the depression felt like death.

“The biggest issue with the lithium for me was that it triggered [the skin condition] psoriasis, and I developed a slight hand tremor. But there were no sexual side effects,” she says. Weight gain was an issue, though. “For the first six years [of treatment] I could not lose weight for the life of me, but finally my body adjusted.”

Balancing Act

One of the concerns voiced by those with bipolar disorder is that medication will wipe out their ability to feel joy and express creativity. Like many artistic types, Maurice Bernard, the Emmy Award-winning actor who for 13 years has played General Hospital’s tempestuous mobster, Sonny Corinthos, at first feared that going on lithium would affect his productivity — and his livelihood.

“If you’re an actor, people think if you take medication for bipolar disorder you won’t be able to creatively do the work,” Bernard tells WebMD. His track record refutes this notion. He received the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 2003 and was also nominated in 1996, 1997, 2004, and again in 2005.

After a series of personal events ranging from being misdiagnosed with a brain virus and being told he had six months to live, Bernard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 22. And even though he knows full well that going off the lithium could result in hospitalization, Bernard says that he flirts with the idea every day.

“I don’t want to take them lately,” he says of the pills he has been on for more than a dozen years. “I don’t have any side effects from the medication — I just don’t feel like taking pills anymore. But the main thing is, I know what the consequences are. It’s pretty simple: When I haven’t taken my pills, I have a breakdown. So I am not stupid.”

The ‘Learning Curve’

Bernard, who also serves as a spokesman for the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), admits that there has been a learning curve. “I did go off for one year and had a breakdown, and then I went off for two and a half years and I had a breakdown,” he says. The last time he stopped taking his medication, he threatened to kill his wife, Paula, and ended up in a psychiatric facility.

Regardless of the downsides, the mania can be compelling. “I felt like God was talking through me at one point, and I bought lavish gifts for my girlfriend [now wife],” Bernard recounts. “It’s the feeling of being high and feeling like you are the messiah.” In an upcoming story on General Hospital, his character Sonny — who also has bipolar disorder — will traverse the manic stage of the illness.

“You feel like you are on top of the world and nothing can stop you. And then, of course, the real problem is having to deal with the crash,” says Bernard.

“I understand that patients who feel elated [also] feel wonderful … it’s like being on cocaine and can be extremely attractive and very seductive,” says Joseph Calabrese, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve and director of the Mood Disorders Center at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio. “There is one problem,” he adds. “One hundred percent of people have a depression after a high.

“There are short periods of productivity on the way up, but once the highs get more severe, they are less productive,” Calabrese says. And “once you are ill, you have to be able to stay on your medication for life, since in most instances when medications are stopped, people will relapse.”

“It’s a human phenomenon,” agrees Gary Sachs, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Bipolar Mood Disorder Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, both in Boston. “There is a willingness to take a treatment when you’re acutely ill, but then when symptoms are no longer [obvious], it’s hard to get your arms around the idea of taking a drug forever when you are not perceiving any benefit.”

Just as with Bernard, “as patients experience more and more relapses, the wisdom to take medication becomes clearer,” says Sachs. Some people, he adds, may get the message after three lapses — and for others it can take 13.

James E. Rosenberg, MD, director of neuropsychiatry at the Sports Concussion Institute at Centinela Freeman Hospital in Marina del Rey, Calif., says that people with bipolar disorder think, “‘I am going to finally write the great symphony or make some brilliant discovery.’ But in the long term, people with untreated mania may find they no longer have family, are HIV positive from engaging in risky, thrill-seeking activities, are in jail, or are bankrupt. There are horrible consequences that affect the rest of your life.”

For Molliner, the repercussions were mainly social. “I lost my identity as a 16-year-old adolescent girl. I didn’t take final exams [the year] I got diagnosed because I was being treated, and everybody I went to high school with knew why, and the shame that went with that was the biggest repercussion,” she says. “I felt like I didn’t fit in and never would.”

More Than Pills

In addition to medication, there is also family support, counseling, and keeping regular routines to help people with bipolar disorder live with the condition. Molliner has been successfully living with bipolar disorder for 10 years, but that’s not to say she does not feel the onset of symptoms and moods from time to time. “I know I need [help] when I sense symptoms coming on in my sleep. I let the people in my life know that I sense it coming on. In doing that, I feel empowered,” she says. Exercise helps, too.

Molliner’s family has been a huge source of support over the years. “They didn’t throw it in my face,” she says. “Initially they were like, ‘Have you taken your lithium?’ ‘Are you having a manic episode?’ or ‘Are you having depression?’ — which was not helpful,” she recalls. “What was useful for them to say was: ‘You are feeling happy, that’s OK,'” she says. “They learned to be supportive of me having emotional experiences without it being an episode.”

Bernard agrees that support from his family has been crucial in his recovery. “Since taking my medications and starting on General Hospital, I have accomplished a great deal in acting and in my life. My life is as perfect as can be,” he says. “I still go through moods and whatnot; but in general, if you get treatment for bipolar disorder, stay on your medications. You can live an incredible life. That’s the bottom line.”

The same holds true for Molliner. The Berkeley graduate is now earning her master’s degree in psychology at Phillips Graduate Institute in Los Angeles. “I am developing programs for people recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder that incorporate art therapy, relapse prevention, and building medication compliance.” She says she wants to become the therapist that she never had.

“We work on self-esteem and identity through group therapy and relapse prevention through education about symptoms that come on before an episode, as well as coping mechanisms,” Molliner says. “You can’t get rid of bipolar, but you can choose how to live with it.”

If you or a loved has bipolar disorder, you know how important it is to manage mood episodes with bipolar medications and healthy lifestyle habits. But did you also know that certain foods and dietary supplements might play a role in helping — or hindering — people with bipolar disorder?

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a complex disorder that’s defined by dramatic or unusual mood episodes of highs and lows. The episodes of mania and depression can range from very mild to extreme in their intensity and severity. With bipolar disorder, mood episodes can come on gradually over many days or even weeks. Or they can come on suddenly, occurring over the course of just a few days. To count as episodes, symptoms must occur as a constellation of features that affects not only mood but also sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior and must last for at least several days, representing a change from your usual self.

With bipolar disorder, the person may experience episodes of major depression or instead, extreme elation and excessive energy. The elation is called mania. The mood episodes of bipolar disorder are accompanied by disturbances in thinking, distortions of perception, and impairment in social functioning.

Bipolar disorder was once thought to affect about 1% of the population. Some experts now believe it’s higher, perhaps affecting 3% to 4% of the population. There are no laboratory tests to diagnose bipolar disorder, and its symptoms can overlap with other psychiatric disorders. As a result, it’s often misdiagnosed and undertreated.

Is There a Diet for Bipolar Disorder?

There is no specific bipolar diet. Nevertheless, it is important to make wise dietary choices that will help you maintain a healthy weight and stay well. These choices include:

Avoiding the “Western” style diet that’s rich in red meats, saturated fats and trans fats, and simple carbohydrates. This eating style is linked to a higher risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Eating less saturated fats and simple carbohydrates can help overall health but does not directly affect the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Eating a balance of protective, nutrient-dense foods. These foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean meats, cold-water fish, eggs, low-fat dairy, soy products, and nuts and seeds. These foods provide the levels of nutrients necessary to maintain good health and prevent disease, in general.
Watching caloric intake and exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight. Some findings show that those with bipolar disorder may have a greater risk for being overweight or obese. Talk to your doctor about ways to avoid weight gain when taking bipolar medications.

Does Fish Oil Improve Mood With Bipolar Disorder?

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fatty fish at least two times a week. Good choices include:

Albacore tuna
Herring
Mackerel
Salmon
Trout
If you do not like fish, the AHA recommends taking 0.5 to 1.8 grams of fish oil per day as supplements. That way you will get enough dietary omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA).

Fish oil can help keep your heart healthy. But some experts also believe that fish oil might play a role in brain function and behavior. While studies of omega-3 fatty acids for mood symptoms are not conclusive, some experts believe that they may be helpful in some people with bipolar disorder, particularly if they have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or high triglycerides.

Some research suggests that getting more omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil is linked to greater volume in areas of the brain. In particular, these areas are related to mood and behavior. In one study of 75 patients, one of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids was decreasing depression in bipolar disorder.

Still, the overall evidence for benefit of fish oil in bipolar disorder is inconsistent. More studies are needed before fish oil can be recommended as a proven treatment for bipolar disorder.

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan looking for possible benefits of fish oil, go with nuts. Walnuts, flaxseed, and canola oil contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is converted to omega-3 fatty acid in the body.

Which Foods Should I Avoid if I Have Bipolar Disorder?

Some general dietary recommendations for treating bipolar disorder include:

Getting only moderate amounts of caffeine and not stopping caffeine use abruptly
Avoiding high-fat meals to lower the risk for obesity
Watching your salt if you have high blood pressure but not skimping on salt if you are being prescribed lithium (low salt intake can cause higher levels of lithium in the blood)
Following your doctor’s instructions to stay away from foods that may affect your specific bipolar medication, if any

In addition, you need to be wary of natural dietary supplements that can cause a drug-herb interaction.

Avoiding too much caffeine may be helpful for getting good sleep, which is especially important for people with bipolar disorder. When someone with bipolar disorder is feeling depressed, extra caffeine may temporarily cause a boost in energy, and possibly mood. The problem is that caffeine can disrupt sleep. Caffeine can also cause nervousness, heart palpitations, and headaches, worsen high blood pressure, or cause irritation in the stomach or esophagus in people that have acid reflux. 

In addition to lowering caffeine, it’s important to avoid high-fat meals with some bipolar medications. High-fat meals may delay the time it takes for some bipolar medications to be absorbed into your system. Talk to your doctor about your medications and necessary dietary changes.

If you take MAO inhibitors (a certain class of antidepressant that includes Emsam, Nardil, and Parnate), it’s important to avoid tyramine-containing foods. These foods can cause severe hypertension in people taking MAO inhibitors. Some foods high in tyramine are:

Overly ripe bananas and banana peels
Tap beer
Fermented cheese
Aged meats
Some wines, such as Chianti
Soy sauce in high quantities
Your doctor can give you a list of foods to avoid if you take these drugs.

Also, avoid taking natural dietary supplements if you are taking bipolar medications. Supplements such as St. John’s wort and SAM-e are touted to treat moderate depression. A few studies show benefit for some people with depression. But these natural therapies can interact with antidepressants and other bipolar medications. Discuss any natural dietary supplement with your doctor to make sure it is safe.

What About Alcohol and Bipolar Disorder?

Instructions for most psychiatric medications warn users not to drink alcohol, but people with bipolar disorder frequently abuse alcohol and other drugs. The abuse is possibly an attempt to self-medicate or to treat their disturbing mood symptoms, and they may also cause mood symptoms that can mimic those of bipolar disorder.

Alcohol is a depressant. That’s why many people use it as a tranquilizer at the end of a hard day or as an assist for tense social situations. While some patients stop drinking when they are depressed, it is more common that someone with bipolar disorder drinks during low moods. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with bipolar disorder are five times more likely to develop alcohol misuse and dependence than the rest of the population.

The link between bipolar disorder and substance abuse is well established. Alcohol is a leading trigger of depressive episodes in many people who are vulnerable to depression or bipolar disorder. About 15% of all adults who have a psychiatric illness in any given year also experience a substance use disorder at the same time. Substance use disorders can seriously disrupt efforts to treat bipolar disorder and often may require their own forms of treatment.

Can I Drink Grapefruit Juice While on Bipolar Drugs?

Be careful. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice with your bipolar medication. Grapefruit juice may increase the blood levels of many psychiatric medications that are used in bipolar disorder. These include some antidepressants (such as Zoloft or Luvox), the anti-anxiety drug Buspar, certain anticonvulsants (such as Tegretol), some antipsychotics (such as Latuda, Seroquel or Geodon), stimulants (such as Adderall or Dexedrine), and many sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines), such as Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, and Ativan, which could cause excessive drowsiness, mental impairment and even toxicity.

Should I Take Bipolar Medication With or Without Food?

Each bipolar medication is different. So talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking the first dose. Some bipolar drugs can be taken with or without food. Others (such as Latuda or Geodon) are better absorbed into your system when taken with food or are less effective if taken with food (such as Saphris). Your doctor or pharmacist can pull the latest recommendations on taking the bipolar medication so you can safely take the medicine and get the full benefit of the drug.

Some people with depression prefer non-drug approaches to help them manage their condition and feel better. Natural treatments and home remedies may be good for milder forms of depression. But there’s no hard evidence that they’re effective for moderate to severe depression.

Talk to your doctor about which complementary and alternative treatments might work for you.

What Is an Alternative Therapy?

A health treatment that isn’t considered standard Western medical practice is referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). These can be anything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes, including:

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Biofeedback
Chiropractic treatments
Guided imagery
Dietary supplements
Hypnosis
Massage therapy
Meditation
Relaxation
Yoga
Herbal Supplements

St. John’s wort is a common herbal supplement suggested for depression. It’s been used for medical purposes in other parts of the world for thousands of years. But research findings have been mixed. It seems to work best for mild to moderate depression, not the more severe forms.

12 Basic Yoga Poses
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5-HTP and SAMe are other supplements that have been studied for depression.

Don’t take a supplement unless you’ve talked to your doctor about it. They could interact with your medicines, and they can be dangerous for people with certain conditions. Your doctor can help you weigh the risks and potential benefits. That way, you can make an informed decision.

Meditation and Yoga

Meditation is sometimes described as an altered state of consciousness. It can help you relax, which helps with your depression.

Yoga is part meditation, with specific body poses and breathing techniques. It also helps you relax. Practices vary, and some aren’t recommended for people with certain medical conditions. Some evidence suggests yoga may be good for depression, too, but the evidence isn’t conclusive.

Massage Therapy

Most touch therapies are based on the idea that the mind and body are interconnected; your physical health and emotional well-being are closely linked. The belief is that when your body is relaxed, your mind can add to better health, less depression, and overall wellness.

There are also reports that mind/body exercises, used with various types of bodywork, can boost feelings of calmness.

Exercise

Different forms of exercise can lower stress, relax you, and help lessensymptoms of depression.

Exercise can also improve your energy, balance, and flexibility. In general, it’s a safe, effective, and easy way to better your health.

Check with your doctor before you take on something new or ramp up your activity level. From http://www.bipolar support groups.com

Make eye talk when talking and listening. It will give the other person a sense that you care, that they matter. If you fail to look someone in the eye as you converse, the other party will feel that his position or opinion is unimportant to you. Making eye contact is so powerful that even manufacturers employ this tool in their packaging. Researchers found that consumers are more likely of an image of a person looking straight at them, than at a product with a person looking to the side, or no person at all.

And it has been discovered that when children and adults are completely denied eye contact , they develop depression and anti social traits.

Ei explained book

Present Tense Affirmations 
I am breaking free from my past 
I accept my past experiences
I am at peace with my past
I am coming to terms with negative memories
I forgive myself for making mistakes
I am on the path to a brighter future
I learn from my experiences and they help me to grow as a person
I am strong because of everything I have been through
I am at peace with myself and am ready to move forward
I am free from my past

Future Tense Affirmations 
I will break free from my past 
I will make peace with my memories and experiences
I will transform negative experiences into positive personal growth
I am finding it easier to think positively about my past
I am beginning to let go of my past
Each day I find myself more and more detached from the past
I will have a brighter future
My mind is starting to be less focused on negative memories and experiences
I will accept my past and move on
My past is becoming less of a concern to me with each passing day

Natural Affirmations
I deserve to make peace with my past
Letting go of memories and experiences comes naturally to me
I am more valuable than just my memories and past experiences
I naturally transform negative experiences into positive growth
The difficulties in my life have only made me stronger
Making peace with my past is the key to a brighter future
Breaking free from the past is something I can and will do
My mind is peaceful, relaxed, and free from the past
I have the power to break free from my past and create a better life for myself
I find it easy to process experiences and constantly move forward

Present Tense Affirmations 
I am in control of my emotions 
I am always centered and calm
I always keep control of myself at all times
My mind is focused, clear, and logical
I stay calm in stressful situations
I am strong and in control
I am able to deal with stressful situations in a controlled manner
I feel emotions without losing control
I deal with excess emotions in a positive way
My emotions are under control at all times

Future Tense Affirmations 
I will remain calm 
I will control my emotions
I am transforming into someone who is naturally calm and collected
Others are beginning to notice how in control of myself I am
I am finding it easier to calm myself down
I am gaining more control over my emotions with each passing day
Controlling my emotions is becoming easier and easier
I am beginning to think logically, even in stressful situations
Stressful situations are becoming easier to deal with
I will deal with my emotions in a positive fashion

Natural Affirmations
Controlling my emotions is easy for me
Feeling calm is normal for me
I can easily manage my emotions
I can think clearly even in difficult and tense situations
My mind is always calm, clear, and logical
Moderating my emotions is something I just do naturally
I can feel emotions without spinning out of control
Controlling my emotions will improve my life
Others will look to me as someone who remains calm in stressful situations
I have the power to completely control my emotions

Present Tense Affirmations 
I always express my emotions 
I let others know how I am really feeling
I always speak my mind
I show the world who I truly am
I allow others to see the real me
I stand up for myself and tell people how I feel
I am in touch with my deepest emotions
I stand up for what I believe in
I am comfortable confronting others and telling them how I feel
I show my true self to family and friends

Future Tense Affirmations 
I will let my emotions out 
I am transforming into someone who is unafraid of being their true self
I will always express my opinion
I am finding it easier to tell others how I am feeling
I will always stand up for myself
I am developing the courage to show people the real me
It is becoming easier to say what I want
I will always tell others what I really think
Letting my emotions out is starting to feel normal
I will show people the real me

Natural Affirmations
Expressing my emotions comes naturally to me
I love sharing my feelings with others
Telling others what I think is important to me
Letting out my emotions is healthy
Expressing my emotions is improving the way I feel
I am the kind of person who just tells others how I feel and what I want
It is important that I voice my opinion
It feels good to show people the real me
I have the courage to be myself at all times
I stand up for what I believe in

Present Tense Affirmations 
I am letting go of my worries 
I am free from worry
My mind is peaceful and focused
I am calm even when I have a problem to solve
I am relaxed even when life becomes difficult or stressful
I am able to resolve problems and worries logically
I let go of worries knowing that I can always come back to them later
I am at peace with myself
My mind is relaxed and thinking clearly
I am working calmly towards resolving my worries and concerns

Future Tense Affirmations 
I will stop worrying 
I will be free from worrying
I will learn to deal with my worries in a logical way
I am beginning to feel free from stress and anxiety
Every day I become more and more relaxed
I will let my worry go because I know that obsessing about it doesn’t solve it
I will approach my worries calmly
Letting go of worry is becoming easy
Relaxing my mind is transforming my life
Others are noticing that I am less anxious and worried

Natural Affirmations
I am naturally calm
I have a clear and relaxed mind
I can let go of my worries and come back to them later if needed
Letting go of worry is something I can just naturally do
I enjoy relaxing my mind
Letting go of my worries helps me to deal with life more effectively
I love the feeling of calming myself and letting go of all my stresses
I deserve to relax and stop worrying
Staying calm and relaxed is improving the quality of my life
Freeing myself from stress and anxiety will make me healthier and happier

Present Tense Affirmations 
I am free from my past regrets 
I am living my life without regrets
I am at peace with my past regrets
My mind is focused on enjoying the present moment
I am on the path to a brighter future
I accept my life and everything I have done
I live in the present and look to the future
I am letting go of my past regrets
I am always positive even when remembering my past regrets
I accept my past regrets knowing they have made me a better person

Future Tense Affirmations 
I will live without regrets 
My enthusiasm for life is growing
I am starting to live life to the max
Accepting my past becomes easier with each passing day
I am transforming into someone who lives happily in the present moment
Letting go of my regrets is becoming easier and more natural
I will move on with my life
I will become free from regrets
I am starting to see that my future will be bright and happy
I am beginning to see my past in a more positive light

Natural Affirmations
I deserve to live a live without regrets
I find it easy to live without regrets
Living my life free from regrets comes naturally to me
I have accepted my past regrets and am now ready for the future
It will feel incredible to free myself from past regrets
I am moving forward and leaving my regrets in the past
I have hope for a brighter future
Living a life free from regrets will make me happy and content
I have accepted my regrets and am ready to move on
My mind is relaxed and focused on the present moment

Present Tense Affirmations 
I am comfortable with myself 
I enjoy being on my own
I love who I am
I am in touch with my true self
I enjoy the silence of my own mind
I am creative and clever when on my own
I am at peace when I’m alone
Being by myself opens me up to new ideas
I enjoy being immersed in my own thoughts
Being alone is rewarding for me

Future Tense Affirmations 
I will explore who I really am 
I will stop being afraid of being alone
I will stop needing a constant social current to pull me
I will understand that being alone isn’t the same as being lonely
I will learn new things about myself
I will appreciate myself for all that I am
I will take the time to understand myself
I am beginning to enjoy my own company
I will be encouraged by my inner strength
I will listen to my intuition

Natural Affirmations
I am naturally relaxed on my own
I always give myself the time and attention I deserve
I understand who I am through my own eyes
I have found myself through being alone
I am attuned to all of my personal needs and desires
I have learned to love who I am through introversion
I am discovering new things about myself every day
I see myself for the person I really am
I look forward to spending time alone
Only I can unlock my true happiness