Have Faith

Give More

Expect Less

Be True To You

JmaC

I set my own course through the ocean of life.
– Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I Act with Bold Courage:
Standing in the inspiring vision of my future,
I boldly take every step –
large and small – with courage and intent.
– Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The greatest mistake you can make in life
is to be continually fearing you will make one.
– Elbert Hubbard

The means we use must be as pure
as the ends we seek.
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

I leave no trace of wings in the air,
but I am glad I have had my flight.
– Rabindranath Tagore

Living with Bipolar Disorder

These self-help tips can help you manage bipolar disorder, cope with symptoms, and prevent relapse.

How to cope with bipolar disorder

No matter how down or out of control you feel, it’s important to remember that you’re not powerless when it comes to bipolar disorder. Beyond the treatment you get from your doctor or therapist, there are many things you can do for yourself to reduce your symptoms and stay on track.

Living well with bipolar disorder requires certain adjustments. Like diabetics who take insulin or recovering alcoholics who avoid drinking, if you have bipolar disorder, it’s important to make healthy choices for yourself. Making these healthy choices will help you keep your symptoms under control, minimize mood episodes, and take control of your life.

bipolar disorder starts with proper treatment, including medication and therapy. But there is so much more you can do to help yourself on a day-to-day basis. These tips can help you influence the course of your illness, enabling you to take greater control over your symptoms, to stay well longer, and to quickly rebound from any mood episode or relapse.

Living with bipolar disorder tip 1: Get involved in your treatment

Be a full and active participant in your own treatment. Learn everything you can about bipolar disorder. Become an expert on the illness. Study up on the symptoms, so you can recognize them in yourself, and research all your available treatment options. The more

informed you are, the better prepared you’ll be to deal with symptoms and make good choices for yourself.

Using what you’ve learned about bipolar disorder, collaborate with your doctor or therapist in the treatment planning process. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions or questions. The most beneficial relationships between patient and healthcare provider work as a partnership. You may find it helpful to draw up a treatment contract outlining the goals you and your provider have agreed upon.

Improve your treatment by:

Being patient. Don’t expect an immediate and total cure. Have patience with the treatment process. It can take time to find the right program that works for you.

Tip 2: Monitor your symptoms and moods

In order to stay well, it’s important to be closely attuned to the way you feel. By the time obvious symptoms of mania or depression appear, it is often too late to intercept the mood swing, so keep a close watch for subtle changes in your mood, sleeping patterns, energy level, and thoughts.

Know your triggers and early warning signs

It’s important to recognize the warning signs of an oncoming manic or depressive episode. Make a list of early symptoms that preceded your previous mood episodes. Also try to identify the triggers, or outside influences, that have led to mania or depression in the past. Common triggers include:

• financial difficulties
• arguments with your loved ones

• problems at school or work
• seasonal changes
• lack of sleep

Common red flags for relapseWarning signs of depression

• You’ve stopped cooking your own meals.
• You’ve stopped mixing with friends.
• People bother you.
• You crave sugary food such as chocolate.

• You’re getting frequent headaches.
• You don’t care about others.
• You need more sleep and take naps during the day.

Warning signs of mania or hypomania

• You can’t concentrate.
• You find myself reading lots of books at once.
• You’re talking faster than normal.
• You feel irritable.
• You’re hungry all the time.
• Friends have commented on your irritable mood.
• You have more energy than usual so need to be moving.
• Part 2 next

Control your impulses

Count to ten and take a deep breath before you anser a question, respond to criticism, offer advice…. Minimizing impulsivenness means self regulation of your emotions, and not your actions. Reflecting about all aspects of a situation can help you analyze what exactly happening, and how you feel about it, leading you to react in an emotionally intelligent manner.

Say out loud- with words that you feel.

I love and accept myself. I understand and accept that my imperfection makes me perfect. Therefore, I am perfect exactly as I am and will remain perfect as I learn and grow.

I am in control of my world and my body. I am responsible for myself. I release this unnecessary stress and allow my body and mind to relax into a comfortable state of being. I am calm and relaxed. I have a positive and optimistic mental attitude.

Affirmations are about changing limiting beliefs and allowing more positive energies into your life.

Using the affirmations that have been crafted by others can be very beneficial to allowing this, but sometimes creating your own affirmations that are closer to your own heart can yield greater results for you personally. This goes back to choosing your affirmations wisely. 

When creating a new affirmation from yourself, it’s important to know and understand what you don’t want. It stands to reason that the opposite of what you don’t want is what you do want and that is what needs to be the focus of the affirmation.

For instance, you no longer want to be in financial debt. The opposite of not being in financial debt is being wealthy, therefore the focus of your affirmation needs to be on wealth and being wealthy.

It’s important not to focus on what you don’t want in your affirmations because you will end up getting more of it any way. What your mind fixates on is what it will draw into your life without regard to negation. That means, words like ‘not, don’t, no’ have no meaning. This is why it is important to focus on the positive aspects of what you desire instead of the negative aspects of what you don’t.