Bipolar Disorder and Disability: Thinking Through Internalized Stigma, Self-Compassion, and Resilience

Recurrent (hypo)manic and depressive episodes alternate with euthymic periods in bipolar disorder (BD). Subthreshold symptoms are frequently experienced during interepisodes of BD. Many patients fail to achieve full recovery which leads to increase their risk of relapse. So enhancing well-being could protect against recurrences and relapses. Since functional impairment is seen even in remission in BD, disability and functioning are said to be overlapped for this disorder. The ambiguity between symptomatic or euthymic periods causes people with BD to view any mood swings they experience as a possible cause for stigmatization. Internalized stigma heightens self-judgment and criticism, resulting in an adverse connection with resilience among individuals with BD. There are many different researches regarding the relationships between internalized stigma, self-compassion, and resilience in BD. This chapter aims to delve into these researches and to provide a suggestion for clinical implications in terms of positive clinical psychology. Based on the results of the research in which three variables were examined together, this perspective focused on strengths that could enhance psychosocial interventions aimed at preventing relapse in BD.