Why Does Depression Make Us So Mean and Selfish?

Why do we have trouble being generous when in a bipolar downswing?

Depression is very, very internal and narcissistic. It puts us in our heads so completely that we lose the ability to see the world in a rational way.

The depression is talking to us and it is never nice.
It is taking our energy or redirecting our energy.
It makes us overly sensitive or takes away our ability to feel.
It is mean and so nasty. So incredibly nasty. “I would be better off dead.”
It takes our ability to see color and life and possibility.
It robs us of hope.
It removes the ability to be future oriented.
It tells us that we are the problem or it tells us that others are the problem. There is no balance or middle ground.

I could go on and on here, but you get the idea.

So, imagine all of that is happening in your head due to BRAIN CHEMICALS. It’s not from how you were raised. It is episodic and is in direct contrast to how you see the world when you’re not depressed. Think about this burden.

Waking up with this brain. Going to bed with this brain.

Now, try to be generous.

Try to be thankful and open and kind.

Try to see the happiness of others as a positive.

Try to see the world as a safe place.

Try to work. Try to make love. Try to go to school.

Try to have a rational response to a difficult situation.

Try anything.

Depression will always get in the way.

This is why I teach the idea of Treat Bipolar First. Nothing else matters if you have clinical depression except treating and then managing the depression.

This ends the selfish, narcissistic, mean and nasty behaviors.

There is no other path. And of course, those of us with bipolar have to treat mania and prevent mania at the same time. A double bubble of trouble!

The ONLY path is to deal with the illness that is depression. Then you can be generous. Then you can be happy for others. Then you can be calm.

Then you can be you.