The recovery of bipolarity, a chronic mood disorder characterized by strong variations between ups and downs, has a global cost.
Beyond the financial aspect, which we will discuss briefly in this article, we will mainly focus on the psychological, energetic and daily management aspects, which also have a cost that is higher than one can imagine.
So, let's start our journey with the financial side so that it is settled and we can move on.
It might be interesting to research the exact costs of caring for a bipolar patient over a year of follow-up, treatment, and support.
However, this is not the purpose of this article, which is more aimed at shedding light on the personal costs of research and the achievement of recovery. However, let us all the same be aware that the care for a bipolar person has a much higher cost than we think in financial terms. And in the majority of cases, it is social security that pays for these sometimes colossal expenses.
For simple information, it has been estimated that the average cost per bipolar patient is around 7,500 euros per year. This includes the costs of hospitalization, treatment, consultations, etc. Knowing that these costs can vary greatly from one patient to another.
In short, this part is just there to become aware of the reality of things and that yes, yes, the French mental health system is far from perfect, but that, if you think about it carefully, we are still lucky with what we currently have.
That's it, we're getting to the heart of the matter, the one that really interests us because it can potentially help us get closer to the sacrosanct recovery. Emotionally, bipolarity is a real battle that we have to fight on a daily basis.
However, with helpful acceptance, it is then possible that this emotional burden can be reduced or even reversed to become a significant advantage. Because yes, knowing how to use your emotional and empathic abilities in society has advantages.
Often, frustration, anger, misunderstanding, feelings of injustice, and many other emotions accompany us throughout our bipolar journey.
And these emotions, more or less unpleasant, tend to cost us quite a lot in energy and therefore in our quality of life. Indeed, displaying such emotions on a daily basis leads, by attraction, to situations that are sometimes funny and often of the same order in terms of pleasure. But as important as they are, these emotions can change. I would even say more, we can make them evolve.
I am not an expert in this field but several solutions are available to us to make it so:
These are only suggestions here, but what I think is important to remember is that each emotion has its reason for being, for existing and that, if it is expressed, it is because there is something to understand behind its expression, however violent it may be.
And it is usually the violence of their expression that leads to fear and to the fact of wanting to bury them deep inside, where no one will be able to dig them up.
This is in vain, because everything exists for a reason and will reappear sooner or later. And often when you least expect it.
The bipolar person's path to recovery is full of pitfalls that can be more or less managed alone. So after paid an emotional cost that was already hard to accept, it is important to know that there is a cost to trying to achieve recovery. This results in energy expenditure on research, trials, errors and all this for, sometimes, not many results. At least on the surface.
Personally, it took me more than ten years (from the diagnosis) to find a balance that was all in all appropriate, allowing me to thrive on a daily basis. But how hard I tried to find the path that was right for me, the treatment and the dosage that would work for me and so much more.
And it must be said, I am only at the beginning of this journey because I intend to continue my research and my trial and error to reach something even more adapted to my vision of life. I am getting close but I am not quite there yet.
And you, have you ever wondered what your ideal recovery would look like? And what would be the price you would be willing to pay to reach it?
I am sorry to tell you this, but this price to achieve recovery will necessarily have to be paid. Negotiations are sometimes possible but don't count on it too much anyway.
Just be prepared to do what is necessary to make this trip in the best conditions.
This article was relatively metaphorical and I hope you will understand its essence and what I wanted to convey.
To put it simply, in life, everything has a cost, financial or not. And the restoration of bipolarity is no exception. Working on your lifestyle, the way you see the disease, the relationships you maintain, etc., are all parameters that should be measured and changed throughout this search for balance.
This search is perpetual and it is more advisable to seek fulfillment in the path rather than in the hypothetical end that will never happen in the end.
Take the time to sit back and ask yourself what price you are willing to pay to achieve YOUR balance and take action once you are clear with yourself.
Each path is unique, build your own and shape it to your image.
