The experience of Bipolar Disorder is deeply internal and unique to each individual. In the beginning, one struggles to articulate the new range of emotions in addition to managing mood shifts through the misery of mania, depression, anxiety, and pain.
When I was in the thick of it, I would often complain that I felt like a baby, so unfamiliar with how to handle my emotions. My mentor advised me to begin journaling as a way to learn how to express this new reality. She also advised me to purchase a physical journal that had some personality.
Navigating Bipolar Emotions: Your Personal Journaling Guide
I remembered people were really into Moleskines because of the quality, but I ultimately selected the Decomposition Book because of the cover art and this idea that a mental health crisis can be treated as a metamorphosis, one that entails decomposition before re-birth.
I’m grateful that I followed the advice and captured my thoughts and feelings; many of the seeds I planted then blossomed into my book, The Five Pillars of Bipolar Recovery. If you are struggling in your mental health, I encourage you to search for a journal that resonates with you.
Here are a few more links to get you started: Paperage, Mead, Intelligent Change, Biuwory, Yansanido.
Dealing with the acute phases of bipolar disorder can present unique challenges, and journaling is a mindfulness practice that can be a valuable tool to navigate the complexities of mood fluctuations. Whether you’re seeking self-reflection or looking for a way to track your emotions, these seven journal prompts are designed to help individuals struggling with bipolar disorder gain insights and maintain mental well-being:
7 Journal Prompts for Bipolar Disorder:
How am I feeling on a scale of 1 to 10?
Do I have any mood patterns?
What are my healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms?
What am I grateful for today?
What seems to be helping me to recover?
What do I wish to express to my support system?
What are my goals this week?
Conclusion:
To conclude, each person’s journey is unique, and finding what works best for you is an ongoing process. Journaling is just one tool in your mental health toolkit, and it can be a powerful step toward understanding and managing the acute phases of bipolar disorder.
Wishing you health and happiness,