Essay: Bipolarity & Indulgence

By Anthony David Vernon

What is bipolarity if not the embodiment of “The highs and lows, the ups and downs.” What is mania; if not a high, an up, but it is not indulgence by itself in and of itself? What is depressiveness if not a low, a down, but it is not indulgence by itself in and of itself? However, the unity of the manic and depressive found in bipolarity embodies indulgence. One cannot have an indulgence of just highs or lows, to be a sole consumer of highs or lows is binging. Why then does borderline personality disorder not embody indulgence over bipolarity? Sure borderline personality disorder comes with its own great heights and deep lows! Indulgence takes time, moving to and fro constantly does not meet the criteria for indulgence for indulgence requires settling for a time. “Mood changes come swiftly…Filled with anger one hour, calm the next…The borderline undergoes abrupt mood shifts, lasting for short periods,” an indulgence is not swift but lasting. Swift to and fro constant changes are not matters of indulgence but matters of binging. Those with borderline personality disorder have binging personalities while those suffering from bipolar disorder have indulgent personalities. Indulgence is not a matter of overabundance but of great abundance. An overabundance is perspectival while a great abundance is quantifiable. When a bipolar individual is riding their mania or depression they do not see themselves acting in overabundance but may realize their great abundance. A bipolar individual may come to realize in the midst of one of their dramatic moods that are riding on a fantastic high or sinking into a deep low. It can be asked, is bipolarity also not a matter of personalityand not just one of mood? But of course, it is. Indulgence is a personality trait and indulgence is both the underlying and the overlying personality trait in bipolarity. As shown in part by a “willingness to indulge in reckless or dangerous activities.”“It is with human beings as it is with this tree. The more they aspire to the heights and the light, the more strongly their roots strive earthward, downward, into darkness, depths – into evil.” Nietzsche is both the greatest liberator and justifier of bi-polarity. The tallest of trees must also have the deepest of roots, the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows all at once. This liberation and justification all at once of bi-polarity makes the bi-polar prone to danger including the lighting that strikes down trees. But is there, not delight in danger, joy in suffering, calm in madness, and so on of the like? So, these states of being should not be liberated from nor just justified, but handled accordingly. We only need to point to Kanye West to see Nietzsche’s philosophy of bipolarity in action without the Stoic sensibilities. It is the combination of Nietzschean and Stoic philosophies that provides a powerful tool for assisting with bipolarity. Stoicism provides a balance on the scale with Nietzsche’s philosophy of bi-polarity. Need I only point to the common quote, “You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Along with a certain quote from Marcus Aurelius, “If you attend well, you will find that whatever happens, happens.” Yet, should these be the final words on the matter? Yes and no, for one must learn to attend well to their conditions whatever they may be with an immense deal of care. To attend well and receive care may not hopefully be solely a matter of personal fortitude. Yet, there will be times when we find ourselves as the self-alone, so must one (especially if there is no must also) learn to attend to ourselves and care for ourselves. It is easy to see the manic as indulgent, “people who are in manic states may indulge in activities that cause them physical, social or financial harm, such as suddenly spending or gambling extreme amounts of money or driving recklessly.” Yet, depressive indulgence is a state all its own, the heaping of woe. The depressive justifies their indulgence of woe finding in or even seeking anything to justify this indulgence. Indulgence is too stereotypically seen as the indulgence of a midlife crisis as if indulgence is a purely capitalistic matter. The indulgent like myself know there is an inexhaustibility of what can be indulged in, an “excessive indulgence.” Those who suffer from bipolar disorder suffer in part from an overabundance of indulgence.

Bibliography

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“Chance The Rapper (Ft. Joey Bada$$) – The Highs & The Lows.” Genius, n.d. https://genius.com/Chance-the-rapper-the-highs-and-the-lows-lyrics. 

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Nietzsche, Friedrich. Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book For All and None. Edited by Robert B Pippin. Translated by Adrian Del Caro. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Anthony David Vernon is an amauter paddle boarder and an adjunct philosophy professor.