I Am Not Bipolar…
I Am Not Bipolar
I AM TRIPOLAR
A journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance
Talking about it is not enough
ALLE GONZALEZ
I AM TRIPOLAR
I AM TRIPOLAR.
First edition published by WOW Book PublishingTM and Vishal Morjaria at WowBookPublishing.com
www.IamTRIPOLAR.com
Copyright © 2022 Alexandra Gonzalez ISBN: 9798849772486
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced mechanically, electronically or by any other means including photocopying, without permission of the publisher or author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission from the publisher or author.
Warning—Disclaimer
The purpose of this book is to educate and entertain. The author and/or publisher do not guarantee that anyone following these techniques, suggestions, tips, ideas, or strategies will become successful. The author and/or publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to anyone with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.
Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any
DEDICATION
Many times, others notice things before we even do so. I appreciated the way my friends raised awareness in me of my own patterns of behaviour. It wasn’t easy to accept their feedback. I had to learn to be okay with that without feeling defensive or snapping at others out of pride and shame.
When we are not feeling well, it is so hard to interact with those we love because our mind puts us in a place of disbelief. Many times, the rejection or non-acceptance of our own condition and illness is hard for them to face. I am grateful that I have so many people that care around me.
I am also grateful for my family because they are the most important people in my life, and it is hard to talk with them about these things. I feel as if I have or will disappoint them. Only with time, I understood that accepting my own experiences is actually empowering. Please remind me of this quote when I am having one of my ‘bad’ days.
If we embark on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, our challenges can be turned into opportunities: our diagnosis into a gift to unravel. Actually, when we learn to self-care, we can channel that energy that seems to be tearing us down into a catalyzer—a force we can generate—that can change the world around us.
What I call being TRIPOLAR is the certainty that anyone is way more than their diagnosis or limitations and way smarter than they think, because in the end, we all can trick our mind into doing great things.
My journey is a journey of self-discovery and self- acceptance.
I hope you can one day journal yours. Be proud of who you are today, what you experienced and who you are becoming. Be proud of being TRIPOLAR.
CONTENTS
Testimonials……………………………………………………………vii
About The Author ……………………………………………….. xi
Foreword……………………………………………………………….. xiii
Acknowledgements ……………………………………………. xv
Note To The Reader………………………………………………xvii
PART 1: MY BIPOLAR JOURNEY
- Who Am I?………………………………………………………….3
- The Effect Of The Lockdowns ……………………….. 9
- I Am Not Bipolar. I Am Tripolar. …………………….25
- Why Tripolar? This Is My Story …………………….33
- Leaning On Others…………………………………………..39
- Leaning On Me………………………………………………….51
- How To Be Functional ……………………………………..57
- An Invisible Diagnosis ……………………………………..69
- Believe In Yourself ……………………………………………77
- You’ve Got It! …………………………………………………..85
- Time Tells All…………………………………………………..89
- Be Proud Of Being Bipolar ……………………………95
- How Do We Change The Stigma? …………….103
PART 2: DREAMLIKE JOURNEY
- Breaking Down Paradigms …………………………121
- Living Unproductive Overdrive……………………141
- Tripolar Dichotomy……………………………………….157
17. Breaking Down……………………………………………..165
- From Bipolar To A Normal Mind ………………..185
Epilogue: The Work Of A Lifetime……………………191
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alle’s vision as a bipolar patient is to help clarify many of the myths and the stigmas surrounding this diagnosis. Using what she calls her TRIPOLAR gift, she presents to all of us a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.
Having been raised in Colombia and living in Canada for twenty years, Alle’s extensive knowledge and expertise in education and the arts empowered her to dig deeper and document her experiences.
Her inquisitive mind led her on a journey to learn about mental health, especially being bipolar and what the diagnosis entails. Her insights helped her to understand the effects the diagnose had on her as a patient, in her relationships with family and friends and to reflect on which strategies she could use to minimize the effects.
She shares ideas that help create awareness, manage bipolar swings, and overcome the fear of using medication. These strategies have helped her to become productive and keep up with a life worth living. Learning to validate her own condition, she looks at being bipolar as a gift she needs to unravel. In her journey she answered many questions that helped her understand that being bipolar is manageable and one can be functional.
Do you feel that you are not capable or are worth less than others due to being bipolar? Is your life spinning out of control because of being bipolar? Are you looking for a clear understanding of the struggles with anxiety, bipolar and other kinds of mental distress?
This book exemplifies and portrays real situations where you can monitor yourself and act proactively to overcome symptoms, creating a sense of self-worth and self-understanding.
Learn more about Alle at www.IamTRIPOLAR.com
FOREWORD
It is hard to see all the concepts that I have passed on for years into action. Alexandra is little by little understanding and mastering her WOW. A very particular and interesting title sums up her experiences as a bipolar patient and at the same time a successful and determined professional. I have seen in my WOW Book Camps the determination and the commitment of many to finally come out with a complete book in a short period of time. I am proud to present the foreword of this book.
There are no coincidences in life. Being able to meet on an on-line platform with people around the world is one of the greatest results of this new technological age. There are so many stories to be told and Alexandra sums up her experiences and owns the responsibility for her own life. Like every other person who one day decides to publish a book, she is now able to move further than where she was at the start. She is presenting to us a unique, innovative and clear picture of the challenges that with her commitment and determination will make a mark on her life and in the lives of all who meet her. Everything happens for a reason and I have seen her mature into a determined author that values learning and that is willing to follow advice to reach higher grounds.
I wish her the best in the future, to surround herself with the right people, to keep reaching out and developing those amazing projects. I know that this WOW Book Camp has unleashed a world of possibilities for her. Keep on writing, keep on growing. Alexandra don’t forget the bet, because as you have learned, many are able to finish a book in three days.
—VISHAL MORJARIA International Speaker and Award-Winning Author MASTER YOUR WOW. Discover the Real Secret of the Rich. MasterYourWOW.com Wowbookpublishing.com
NOTE TO READER
The information, including opinions and analyses, contained herein is based on the author’s personal experiences and is not intended to provide professional advice.
The author and the publisher make no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, applicability, effectiveness, reliability, or suitability of the contents. If you wish to apply or follow the advice or recommendations mentioned herein, you take full responsibility for your actions. The author and publisher of this book shall in no event be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of any of the information contained in this book.
All content is for information only and is not warranted for content accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose.
My TRIPOLAR mind exists only in English. It is weird but true and I’ve tried to find the cause. I believe it was my effort, my desire to adapt and to take in every second, every minute of the life I have experienced in Canada, the country I love and call my home. That is also why you will find a few words in Spanish without being translated. I apologize but in my TRIPOLAR mind, and in my heart, I know that what that word expresses to me in Spanish, does not exist in the English language.