Recently in the news
Salena Gomez was diagnosed with being Bipolar, she stated that with her new diagnosis it would not bring her down but it would only strengthen her.
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior.
People who have bipolar disorder can have periods in which they feel overly happy and energized and other periods of feeling very sad, hopeless, and sluggish. In between those periods, they usually feel normal. You can think of the highs and the lows as two “poles” of mood, which is why it’s called “bipolar” disorder.
The word “manic” describes the times when someone with bipolar disorder feels overly excited and confident. These feelings can also involve irritability and impulsive or reckless decision-making.
About half of people during mania can also have delusions (believing things that aren’t true and that they can’t be talked out of) or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there).
How to live a happy life after your diagnosis
- Stay Connected
The more you isolate yourself, the more you increase the risk of mood changes going unnoticed and jeopardizing your health. Lack of connection to others can also put you at risk for a depressive episode. So don’t hesitate to assemble a team of professionals to provide guidance and insight. Doctors, counselors, and others can be a part of your support system, and many people find that attending a support group for people with bipolar disorder can be invaluable. Staying engaged with friends, family, and members of your community can also play an important role in keeping you energized and providing support.” - Educate Yourself
Education starts with learning the symptoms of manic and depressive episodes and getting up-to-date on research-driven treatment options for bipolar disorder. Share your questions and concerns with your doctor or psychiatrist, and ask them what resources they recommend for you to read or gather. Understanding the illness can help it feel more manageable and assist you in identifying symptoms before they get worse. - Track Symptoms
Many people with bipolar disorder find it useful to keep a daily log of their mood, thinking, and behaviors. If you are able to catch small changes in these arenas, then you may be able to stop or decrease the intensity of a mood episode before it worsens. You should also track stressors or behaviors which may trigger a mood episode, such as lack of sleep, relationship conflict, school or work stress, substance use, or seasonal changes. The more accurately you can report these changes to yourself and your doctor, the greater chance of stabilizing your mood. - Engage Coping Skills
In addition to alerting your counselor or doctor, you can utilize coping skills to control symptoms or reduce your risk for a mood episode. Different coping techniques work for different people, but they typically involve activities that help you feel calm, stay connected to others, practice healthy habits, and engage interests. Having a list of coping skills available to you can be useful, as it might prove difficult to generate your own ideas when you feel a lack of control. - Establish A Routine
Perhaps the greatest coping skill for preventing mania or depression is the establishment of a healthy, daily routine. You should be taking medication consistently and accurately. Getting consistent and sufficient sleep every night can reduce the risk of mania. Getting healthy and exercising can help improve and stabilize your mood as well. Schedule regular times to dedicate to family and friends, attend all doctor’s appointments, and carve out time to relax and unwind from life’s stressors. - Develop a Crisis Plan
There are times when even the best routine and set of coping skills may fail to prevent a mood episode from escalating. It’s important, even while you’re feeling good, to go ahead and develop a crisis plan you can activate when you feel out of control. Create a written plan with a list of people that you or others can contact in an emergency as well as information about your medications and warning signs and symptoms. Also, include a list hotline numbers that you can call if you experience suicidal thoughts or psychotic symptoms.
The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening, tomorrows are never promised but the air you breathe now is.
“ I am still me no matter my mental health.” -Nikki Mebai
This post was written by Lauren K., and published by Convenient Counseling Services.
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