I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 2 1/2 years ago. I had "unipolar" depression since age 23 (I'm 46 now).
There was violence in the home growing up, (and worse- the threat of violence which was a diabolical method of child-rearing). Deep down, I was a very frightened boy. I didn't develop a healthy sense of "self" growing up and that spilled into adulthood.
After some 20 odd years of psychotherapy I am much much better in that area and I am much more solid inside and out. A big difference.
Apparently I developed an habitual way of thinking such that today when I would consider or start something on my own (anything new - even minor) I would quickly dismiss it, and say it's not worth it and don't bother with it etc.. My therapist says it's the old self-talk from 35 years ago that's coming up. I scare myself and reproduce the fear I had when I was a kid growing up surrounded by the threat of violence. I did intensive work in therapy on this and had much success.
My therapist, however, says this self-talk problem is still the principal reason for my inaction and I'm not sure he is correct. The depression side of my bipolar is murderous at times. The utter loss of energy, phenomenal fatique, sadness, disinterest etc... really disables me. I question whether my therapist is on the mark when he says that it's my past childhood trauma that's stifling me with old voices and negative self-talk.
I know a lot of what happened in the past had affected my thinking and maybe still plays a part today, but I feel my mood is so dysfunctional that it can't be just "negative thoughts." My therapist thinks that when my mood is stable it's not the bipolar that's the issue but how I'm talking to myself. I don't think this is true. The bipolar is overwhelming. My therapist doesn't have bipolar disorder. I have a sense he lacks experience or insight, or he's in the textbook too much.
It's complicated. Where does psychology end and bipolar begin? Do I need to practice positive self-talk as much as possible when often the depression slows me down? How much of this is the bipolar illness and how much is my habitual thinking. I don't feel helped in this area and sometimes I feel like the bad guy.
Anyone have any feedback, thoughts, suggestions etc...
If you read all the way through this I thank you.