Dealing with Bipolar Disorder? Who is in this?
Published: Thu, 02/25/10
Hi ,
How are you doing today?
I hope you're having a great
day.
You know I talk a lot about
being in control of your bipolar
disorder.
That's because if you don't,
the bipolar disorder will be in
control of you.
So how do you take control?
By doing the things you need
to do to be stable.
By doing the things I talk about
in my courses/systems:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
Although you are not the only
one with bipolar disorder, you are
the only one who can take care
of your own disorder.
It's different for different
people.
But there are some things
that people with bipolar disorder
should have in common:
1. Take your medication.
If there are any problems
with your medication, you
need to report it to your
doctor so they can help
you.
2. Eat a healthy diet.
There are some foods that
are bad for people in general,
much less people who have
bipolar disorder. For example,
caffeine (even in chocolate)
can be bad for you.
3. Live a healthy lifestyle.
You can't smoke, drink, and/or
take drugs if you want to get
better. Even nicotine can
possibly affect your stability.
And substance abuse is a
problem in itself (and can
also have bad consequences
for your bipolar medication).
4. Stick to a good sleep schedule.
You should get at least 8 hours
of uninterrupted sleep every
night, and go to bed at the same
time and rise at the same time
every day. Your body clock
needs to be stable in order for
you to be stable.
5. Go to all your appointments.
Not everyone with bipolar disorder
is on the same treatment plan, but
each should have at least a doctor
and therapist. You may have a
psychiatrist as well, who manages
your bipolar medications. Missing
appointments can become a very
bad habit, and hurt you in the long
run.
6. Have a strong support system.
Not everyone has the same people
in their support system, as each
person decides for themselves, but
they should all have a support system.
You could have your supporter,
friends, family, co-workers, your
clergy person, your pharmacist,
and others to help you.
In addition to these common things,
there are other things that some people
with bipolar disorder do to maintain
control over the disorder.
1. Keep a mood chart or diary.
Recording your moods on a
daily basis can be very beneficial
for you if you have bipolar disorder.
You can see at a glance any
patterns, such as a prolonged
depression, that can indicate that
you might be going into an
episode, and you can avoid it.
2. Have a good social life.
You don't need to hide just because
you have bipolar disorder. And
you shouldn't be alone a lot of the
time, because isolation is one of
the biggest triggers to a bipolar
episode. Having friends and a
"normal" social life is good for
your self-esteem as well.
3. Stay close to family.
Many people with bipolar disorder
shy away from their family, or have
offended them when they were in
an episode. It's important to maintain
these relationships, so they can be
there for you.
4. Be productive.
You may no longer work outside
the house, you may even be on
disability, but that doesn't mean
that you can't be productive with
your time. Some people with
bipolar disorder start their own
home business, while others
volunteer their time to a worthy
cause. Being idle and/or bored
can lead to a bipolar episode.
So who is in control?
If you do these things, chances are
that YOU will be in control of your
bipolar disorder.
If you aren't doing these things, or not
doing them consistently, your stability
is in jeopardy, as your bipolar disorder
has control over you.
What are some of the things that
you do to maintain stability?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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one is designed to help you with a different
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You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
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