Lesson 1173: Self-Identity and Self-Esteem Repair in Bipolar I Disorder
Duration:75 minutes
Topic Introduction (Overview):
In the experience of bipolar I disorder, many people experience profound "identity confusion"—high self-esteem during manic periods and self-denial during depressive periods, making it difficult to distinguish: which is the real "me"? Which is the distortion brought about by mood swings? This recurring sense of self-torn apart causes self-esteem to rise and fall like the tides, plunging people into the agony of "Am I broken?" and "Will I never be a stable person?" This course will guide you to understand again: the self is not the sum of emotions, and self-esteem is not measured by "high or low states," but can be gradually rebuilt through fluctuations.
In repairing self-identity, we don't seek to make ourselves uniform or eliminate fluctuations, but rather learn to find the "persistent" parts within those fluctuations: your values, your preferences, your warmth, your beliefs, your care for the world—these may be amplified during mania and obscured during depression, but they are always there. Mandala drawing isn't about creating something; it's about observation—observing how you are in different emotions, observing the inner core that hasn't been destroyed by those emotions, and rebuilding self-understanding and respect from those cores. This lesson will help you practice how to gradually retrieve your "self" from the waves of emotions.
▲ AI Interaction: Exercise to Recognize "I am not an emotion"
Please write down the three "self-narratives" that you most frequently use during your manic periods (e.g., I am omnipotent, I can handle anything).
Write down the three most common "self-narratives" that occur during periods of low spirits (e.g., I am a failure, I will drag others down).
Then ask yourself: How much of these narratives come from your true self? How much from your emotions? If you were to replace these narratives with a more truthful yet gentler statement, what would it be?
Click the button below to practice separating "emotional narratives" from "true self" with AI.
○ Self-identity: Exercises on the "core themes" in music
Choose a piece of music that feels "like yourself"—it doesn't need to be fancy or exciting, just something that makes you feel "this is me".
Use this music for a short "re-establishment exercise" every day: Sit quietly, listen for thirty seconds, and ask yourself: "At this moment, what parts of me are still me?"“
When your emotions are fluctuating greatly, this music can become your "core theme," helping you avoid being overwhelmed by your state.
Herbal Healing Tea - Self-Esteem Restoration Tea
Recommended drinks:Rose petals + stevia leaves + chamomile.
Roses elevate mood and soften feelings of guilt and shame; stevia leaves bring a subtle sweetness, symbolizing "allowing oneself to be treated kindly"; chamomile helps relax a tense nervous system, freeing self-esteem from the pressure of stress.
It is recommended to drink it during the period when self-doubt is at its strongest, as a symbolic act of "I am willing to stop and take care of myself".
○ American Low-Carb Diet: A Self-Esteem Repairing Plate for Boosting Stable Energy
Self-esteem is not only a psychological experience but also profoundly related to physical energy. In bipolar disorder, fluctuations in blood sugar often amplify the extremes of emotions. The low-carb self-esteem repair plate recommended in this course includes: eggs, leafy green vegetables (spinach or kale), avocado, olive oil, and a small serving of nuts. It provides stable energy, allowing your emotional evaluation to be closer to reality, rather than being swayed by fatigue or euphoria.
You can choose a specific meal of the day and designate it as a "self-stabilizing meal," allowing your body to support its self-repair process while maintaining stable energy levels.
Healing Recipes
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🎨 Dream Mandala Healing · Mi Xiangwen 1173 · The Return of Fragments of the Self
Imagine you are standing in a quiet circular space, with many points of light scattered on the ground—each point of light is a part of you: the gentle you, the hardworking you, the tired you, the rational you, the wounded you, and the you who was once ignored.
You don't need to pick them up; just observe: which points of light are flashing? Which are dimming? Which are gently approaching? A mandala isn't about drawing something; it's about observing—observing how these points of light slowly coalesce into a recognizable outline. You'll discover that no matter how your emotions change, you always possess these points of light; they never truly leave, they've only temporarily scattered. And in this moment, you are putting them back in their place.
○ Modern Art Calligraphy: Writing Sentences of Self-Value
Modern calligraphy emphasizes rhythm, blank space, and fluidity, which aligns perfectly with the rhythm of self-esteem restoration.
- Sentence writing:“"I am more than my moods."”
- Chinese equivalent:I am greater than my emotions.
- hint:When writing each letter, allow for a slight tremor in your hand gestures; let "authenticity" be more important than "perfection."
Lesson 1173: Self-Identity Repair - Guided Drawing
Objective: To separate the "real me" from emotional narratives.
Steps: Write two columns on a piece of paper. Write "The Me My Emotions Tell Me" in the left column, and "The Me I'm Willing to Believe In" in the right column. No drawing is needed; simply observe the differences in the wording: the left column might be sharp, heavy, or exaggerated; the right column might be soft, simple, or even somewhat uncertain. Then gently look at a sentence in the right column and repeat it three times: "This is the self I'm willing to cultivate."
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○ 1173. Self-Identity and Self-Esteem Repair: Journaling Guidance Suggestions
① Write down your most recent moment of confusion about "Who am I?" and what happened?
② At that moment, what negative interpretations did you make of yourself? Write them down.
③ If you lower your emotional tone, how do you think the "real you" would describe yourself?
④ Write down a new self-statement you are willing to practice, such as: “I deserve to be seen” or “I am learning to know myself”.
⑤ Describe the moment today when you felt yourself getting a little closer to your true self.
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Emotions may change your speed, brightness, and voice, but they won't change your core. You deserve to pick yourself up again, little by little.
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