Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for mania and provides direction when mania removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Mania
Mania often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when mania has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult mania periods
- A basis for action independent of how mania makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Mania
Ask yourself: 'If my mania were less present, what would I be doing more of? What kind of person would I be?'
Values are not goals (achievable and done) but ongoing directions: being a present parent, creating beauty, contributing to others.
Values-Based Action in Mania
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when mania is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite mania, are more sustainable than waiting for mania to lift first.