CREST.BD Identity & Bipolar Disorder Slides

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CREST.BDBipolar Wellness Center Webinars
Connect. Learn. Engage.

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Bipolar Wellness Center Webinars
Connect. Learn. Engage.CREST.BD
Identity

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Connect. Learn. Engage.CREST.BDCREST.BD
Featuring: Dr. Nasreen Khatri
CREST.BD Member,
Registered Clinical Psychologist
and Researcher at the
Rotman Research Institute,
Baycrest
Identity

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Defining identity
Why identity is important to your QoL
Identity and BD
How you can take action
Webinar focus

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Defining identity
Everybody has a unique sense of self, or identity
Encompasses all the meaningful roles, relationships,
characteristics, values, commitments, behaviours and
associations about ourselves
Whether or not we live with BD, a solid sense of
identity is important for health and QoL
At the same time, as we grow from life experiences,
our identities grow with us

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Understand (or interpret) the world through the lenses
of our identities
How we see ourselves can actually shape who we are
Why is identity important to QoL?

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Emotional turbulence of BD can challenge finding
stable sense of self
BD can involve dramatic changes in your feelings,
thinking and behaviour – strains ability to maintain
consistency
Identity and BD

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Identity and BD
Negative identity:
• In depression, may view
yourself in an exaggeratedly
negative way, ignoring your
gifts and accomplishments
Overly positive identity:
• In hypomania/mania, may
view yourself in an
exaggeratedly positive way

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Some people with BD describe the onset of BD as a disruption in
their life story and identity1
Describe a process whereby they re-evaluate their sense of self1
Disruption may be even more critical when onset of BD occurs
in youth, when identity still being discovered and solidified
Others, however, report positive changes, seeing their BD as
transformative or life-altering1
1
Michalak, E., Livingston, J. D., Hole, R., Suto, M., Hale, S., & Haddock, C. (2011). ‘It’s something that I manage but it is
not who I am’: Reflections on internalized stigma in individuals with BD. Chronic Illness, 7(3): 209-224.
Identity and BD

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Role engulfment
Identity becomes entirely based on one aspect of
self, or one role you fill, undervaluing or ignoring
other aspects and roles2
“I am a parent, a caring friend, I care about the
environment, and I live with BD”
You have strengths, characteristics, values and goals that go well
beyond your BD
However, there can be times in your illness, especially when coping
with a difficult mood episode, when focusing almost solely on
managing your BD can be an effective strategy to regain health and
wellness
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Lally, S.J. (1989). “Does being here mean there is something wrong with me?” Schizophrenic Bull, 15: 253-265.

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You can, with practice and commitment, develop
insight into who you are versus what aspects of your
behaviour come from BD
Aim: develop a stable, positive identity that keeps you
in touch with the full range of your values, abilities and
roles, rather than focusing only on limitations placed
on you by BD3
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Yanos, P.T., Roe, D., Lysaker, P.H. (2010). The impact of illness identity on recovery from severe mental illness.
American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 13: 73-93.

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Try to develop a sense of self beyond your illness
Make a list of your characteristics (values, roles, strengths and
abilities, interests, priorities, habits, etc.) in two columns
1. List those related to BD, e.g.“I suffer from rapidly shifting
mood”; or “sometimes I go on impulsive spending binges”
2. List those not related to BD, e.g. “I enjoy playing tennis” or
“I’m a helpful person”
3. Most of your characteristics are not caused by BD – remind
yourself that you are much more than ‘bipolar’.
BD can be seen as “something I manage, not who I am”1
1
Michalak, E., Livingston, J. D., Hole, R., Suto, M., Hale, S., & Haddock, C. (2011). ‘It’s something that I manage but it is
not who I am’: Reflections on internalized stigma in individuals with BD. Chronic Illness, 7(3): 209-224.

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Teach yourself and others to tell the difference
between normal changes of emotions and mood
episodes
• E.g., you can be excited or happy without being
manic, sad and frustrated without being depressed
• Can be very important to feeling supported and
validated by others

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Identify negative self-messages about your BD, e.g.,“having
BD means I’m flawed”
• They is an example of self-stigma
• Cognitive Therapy can help to identify negative thoughts
that are unrealistic, unfair or unhelpful, to challenge
these thoughts and to replace them with thoughts that
are more realistic, fair and helpful4
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Yanos, P.T., Roe, D., Lysaker, P.H. (2011). Narrative enhancement and cognitive therapy: a new group-based treatment
for internalized stigma among persons with severe mental illness. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 61:
576-595.

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Instead of approaching your BD as one huge,
overwhelming problem, try thinking of it as a series
of specific, smaller problems which you can manage
using your creativity, problem-solving ability, personal
values, skills, strengths and social support network
• Remember that friends, family members and
healthcare providers can help you with this
endeavour

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When exploring your different characteristics, be
gentle and accepting with the parts of yourself that
you would like to change
Being critical towards yourself causes unnecessary
hardship
Being kind to yourself can help to give you strength
and can even help you make changes for the better

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If you would like to make changes in your life, explore
what values are important to you
There is no ‘perfect’ or ‘correct’ set of values: everyone
has their own unique values that they consider
important
• Make a list of the ones that you feel are important
• Once you have your list, try making realistic,
specific and attainable goals that support each
value

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Tools and Resources

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Resources
Living With Bipolar Disorder and Finding Your Identity
An interesting article written by someone who lives with BD – suggests actions
you might follow to take care of your identity and actively define your own life
path.
http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/bipolarvida/2013/07/living-with-bipolar-
disorder-and-finding-your-identity/

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Resources
The Problem With How We
Treat Bipolar Disorder,
Linda Logan for New York
Times Magazine
Personal story about losing
and finding self with BD.
http://www.nytimes.
com/2013/04/28/magazine/
the-problem-with-how-
we-treat-bipolar-disorder.
html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

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For more information and resources,
visit our Bipolar Wellness Center at:
http://www.bdwellness.com/
To assess your quality of life,
visit our QoL tool at:
http://www.bdqol.com/

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Acknowledgments

CREST.BD Identity & Bipolar Disorder Slides

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