Dealing With Bipolar? Critical Maintenance Procedure
Published: Mon, 05/10/10
Hi ,
How's it going for you today?
I hope it's a good day.
I have to tell you, I am not a car
mechanic (no big surprise, huh? LOL)
But I do practice good car preventative
maintenance.
I get my oil changed regularly.
I flush the gas lines.
I rotate the tires.
I keep up the fluids.
Now, do I like doing these things?
Not especially.
But do I like the alternative?
Definitely not.
I'd hate to have my car overheat on
the side of the highway on a really
hot day just because I ran out of fluid.
So I do it for good car preventative
maintenance.
It's the right thing to do.
Well, it's the same with bipolar disorder.
You have to practice good preventative
maintenance with bipolar disorder too,
in order to stay stable.
I've even put it all into an equation that
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
So let's talk about one of the types
of preventative maintenance of
bipolar disorder:
Medication
You don't take medication in the middle
of a crisis, right in the middle of a bipolar
episode, and expect it to instantly stop the
episode.
You take it regularly, on a daily basis, to
prevent the episode in the first place.
That way it keeps you stable, on an even
keel.
Just like a diabetic takes insulin on a
daily basis to keep their sugar regulated,
and doesn't wait until they're in the
middle of a crisis to do it.
Another part of preventative maintenance
for bipolar disorder is:
A Psychiatrist
The psychiatrist helps you control your
disorder through management of your
medications and the side effects from
them, if necessary.
This they do on a regular basis, so
things don't get out of hand - again,
you wouldn't go to see them in the
middle of a crisis. You see them for
regular appointments, when they can
do the most good.
They can adjust medication dosages,
change or add or delete medications,
etc. They can watch and see how
medications are affecting you.
Another part of bipolar preventative
maintenance is:
A Therapist
The therapist works with you on a
regular weekly or bi-weekly basis to
help you deal with the issues surrounding
having bipolar disorder.
This helps you, for instance, to manage
the stress and anxiety that you might
have to face on a daily basis with your
disorder.
You can learn skills, like anger management,
stress management, and time management,
among others.
Another part of bipolar preventative
maintenance is:
A Doctor (Family Physician)
A Doctor helps you by attending to
your physical body and any other
illnesses besides your bipolar disorder,
such as high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, etc.
They will also do routine blood work
for your bipolar medications, check
liver function, etc.
Another part of bipolar preventative
maintenance is:
Bipolar Support Group
Going to a bipolar support group helps
you get feedback from other people as
to how you are doing with your disorder.
It's great for both supporters and
survivors.
Can you think of any other bipolar
preventative maintenance measures?
What do you use?
How does it work for you?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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