Bipolar disorder is a very unpredictable condition that makes your mood go up and down a lot. Sometimes you might feel really down or depressed, and other times you might feel incredibly good about yourself, like you could do anything you set your mind to. At still other times, you might feel like you have a lot of energy but can't sit still and often feel angry or annoyed.

The bipolar symptoms you experience also affect the people around you. It can be very helpful for you to talk to your family and close friends about these symptoms and to ask for their help in monitoring them.

A chronic condition like bipolar disorder can be so overwhelming that it seems like it defines who you are. But you are not bipolar disorder, and bipolar disorder isn't you! You're a lot more than just someone with bipolar disorder.

You're probably still getting used to what bipolar disorder means for your life, what it looks like, and what it can do. You're not alone in trying to figure these things out. You probably have family, friends, counselors, and health care professionals who care about you and want to help you. This is a great time for you to ask these people for help.

Many of us spend a lot of time living in the past or the future rather than truly living in the present. Mindfulness means intentionally focusing on one thing at a time with your full attention, in the present moment, and without judgment. It helps you notice what your mind is doing and what feelings you are having. You can then choose whether to stay with these thoughts and feelings or let them go.

We all have times when our emotions overwhelm us and have a big effect on our actions. For example, when you're feeling really depressed, you may hide away from other people. When you're feeling manic, you are probably more social and outgoing and look for activities to do. And if you have a crush on someone, you might do some crazy things you wouldn't normally do! Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) calls this thinking with your emotion mind, and in this workbook, we refer to it as thinking with your emotional self. When you think logically before acting, you are using your wise mind (according to DBT), or your wise self.

excerpt from The Bipolar Workbook for Teens: DBT Skills to Help You Control Mood Swings by Sheri Van Dijk, MSW and Karma Guindon, MSW.