Welcome.
My name is Jeff Burton and I have Bipolar Disorder Type 2.
I'm on medication prescribed by a psychiatrist and receive counselling from a psychologist,
Both of which have helped a great deal.
I have no medical or psychological training,
So I urge you,
Should you suffer from Bipolar Disorder,
To seek and adhere to a treatment plan from appropriate professionals.
Having said that,
I do have the experience of Bipolar Disorder and in this meditation I would like to share with you a practice which I have found helpful.
Settle into your meditation position.
You may prefer sitting or lying down.
Move a little bit until you are as relaxed as you can be.
When you are ready,
Gently close your eyes.
If you would prefer,
You may like to keep your eyes open.
Soften your gaze and focus on a spot in front of you on the floor a little way off.
Take a deep breath.
Take another deep breath.
As you breathe in,
Become aware of the rising of your chest or abdomen.
As you breathe out,
Breathe out any stress or anxiety you might be feeling now.
This time,
When you breathe in,
Imagine breathing in a luminous cloud of healing,
Spreading through your body,
Reaching every cell and clearing out any negativity or distress that your body holds.
As you breathe out,
Imagine breathing out a grey cloud of all that has been cleansed from you.
Watch it dissipate into the air like a mist.
Do this several more times.
Now return to your natural breathing.
Pay attention to how your body feels and see if you are more relaxed.
Pay attention to how you feel,
But do not judge your feelings.
There is no right or wrong here.
There is only acceptance.
You have probably experienced depression.
I have.
Perhaps you are in a depressed state now.
Right now,
During this meditation,
I would like you to accept your depression.
I am sure that,
Like me,
There have been times you have struggled against depression.
Accept your struggle.
As painful as it is,
Your depression is part of your journey.
Perhaps,
Even in these dark places,
There are things our depression may teach us.
You have faced that darkness and it has taught you to be vulnerable.
As you breathe in,
Say to yourself,
I have struggled.
As you breathe out,
Say,
But I am still tender.
I have struggled,
But I am still tender.
Repeat this in time with your breathing for a while.
If your thoughts wander,
Gently lead them back.
You have probably experienced some form of mania.
I have.
Your mania has taught you the power of the flame.
Perhaps you have been burnt,
But you have still endured.
As you breathe in,
Say to yourself,
I have felt the flame.
As you breathe out,
Say,
But I have endured.
I have felt the flame,
But I have endured.
Repeat this in time with your breathing for a while.
If your thoughts wander,
Gently lead them back.
It is easy to become dispirited.
It is easy to feel you are less than worthwhile,
That you need to be fixed.
The truth of the matter is that you are alright now,
Just as you are.
You are on a pathway,
On a journey,
Just like everyone else.
Breathing in,
Say,
I am alright now.
Breathing out,
Say,
Just as I am.
I am alright now,
Just as I am.
Repeat this in time with your breathing for a while.
You have faced the darkness,
You have faced the fire,
And yet,
Here you are.
Be proud of yourself.
Bring your attention back to your breathing.
When you are ready,
Slowly open your eyes.
Stretch.
Go on your way,
Knowing that you are alright now,
Just as you are.
You are alright now,
Just as you are.
