Bipolar Living: Depression Coping Skills

Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, you have some control—even if your depression is severe and persistent.

You can make a huge change in your depression with simple lifestyle changes: exercising every day, avoiding the urge to isolate, challenging the negative voices in your head, eating healthy food, and taking time for rest and relaxation. Feeling better takes time, but with positive choices for yourself each day and the support of others.

Recovering from depression requires action.   The things that help the most are the things that are most difficult to do.   But difficult is not impossible.  Depression recovery is starting with a few small goals and slowly building from there. Use the resources you have. You may not have much energy, but can try to take a short walk around the block or to call someone close to you..

Take things one day at a time.

Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting depression and keeping it away. It can be difficult to maintain perspective and continue with the effort that is needed to beat depression. But isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your close relationships and social activities are important.

 You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk.   Remind yourself that this is the depression talking. People who care about you want to help.

 Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. Your most treasured relationships can get you through this tough time. Keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.   Join a Support Group.  Being with others who are dealing with similar problems can reduce your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences.  

Depression is negative.   Everything, including the way you see yourself, the situations you encounter, and your expectations for the future seem bleak.

But you can’t break out of this pessimistic mind frame by thinking positive. Replace negative thoughts with more balanced thoughts. 

 Challenge negative thinking:   Allow yourself to be less than perfect. Many depressed people are perfectionists, beating themselves up when they fail to meet them their own expectations. Socialize with positive people. Some people always look on the bright side when dealing with challenges, even minor ones. Consider how you would react in the same situation. Try to adopt their optimism and persistence in the face of difficulty.  Take care of yourself.  In order to overcome depression, following a healthy lifestyle, learning to manage stress, setting limits on what you’re able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day.

 8 hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habit. 

 Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden.  

 Not only does stress prolong and worsen depression, but it can also trigger it.  Figure out all the things in your life that are stressing you out.  When you identify your stressors, you can make a plan to avoid them or minimize their impact.

 A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, or meditation.

While you can’t force yourself to have fun or experience pleasure, you can choose to do things that you used to enjoy.  Express yourself creatively through music, art, or writing. Go out with friends.

Push yourself to do things, even when you don’t feel like it. You might be surprised at how much better you feel. Even if your depression doesn’t lift immediately, you’ll gradually feel more energetic.  

Get regular exercise.  When you’re depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise is a powerful skill for dealing with depression. Studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue

To get the most benefit, aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. But you can start small. Take your dog for a walk.  Take the stairs rather than the elevator   Park your car in the farthest spot in the parking lot.  Incorporate walks or some other enjoyable, easy form of exercise into your daily routine.   Pick an activity you enjoy, so you’re more likely to keep up with it.

 Eat a healthy, mood-boosting diet.  What you eat has an impact on the way you feel. A balanced diet of protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables can improve overall mental health.

Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired.. Minimize sugar and refined carbs.  These energy boot foods can lead to a crash in mood and energy. Try for complex carbohydrates. Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, oatmeal, whole grain breads can boost serotonin levels. Pick up your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To get more, take a B-complex vitamin supplement. is especially effective for people who tend to overeat and oversleep when depressed.

 Consider Omega-3 fatty acids for stabilizing mood.  Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats can give your mood a big boost. The best sources are fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supplements.  Main sources are vegetable oils and nuts.   The benefits of eating 2 servings a week of cold water fatty fish can improve mood stability.

Know when to get additional help.  If you find your depression getting worse seek professional help.  Sometimes the negative thinking in depression can make you feel helpless but depression can be treated and you can feel better.

Positive Coping Skills For Bipolar Living

Healthy Habits, monitor symptoms, coping with stress

Getting enough sleep and regular exercise are two things you can do to reduce your symptoms of mania and depression. You should try to get eight hours of sleep each night and exercise for about 30 minutes each day.

Find out the symptoms of bipolar disorder and see which symptoms relate to your case of bipolar disorder. Each morning and evening you should take note of how you're feeling, if your symptoms of mania or depression are increasing. If your symptoms are increasing, contact your therapist and doctor to discuss treatment options.

Make healthy coping mechanisms when you feel stressed or notice an increase in sadness, irritability or other symptoms of your disorder. Keep a list of things you can do to prevent and decrease stress, and use the list when you need it.

Look for the humorous.  Anticipate the future.  Set clear goals.  Make plans for the future. Take charge. Keep order. Change perspectives.   Focus on top priorities. Listen to your body.  Exercise.  Jog. Swim. Dance. Walk.  Eat for health. Limit use of alcohol. Relax.  Breathe deeply. Strive for self-improvement.  Take up a cause. Invest yourself meaningfully.  Find purpose and meaning. Trust God.  Confess.  Ask forgiveness.  Pray for others. Give thanks.  Let go of Problems.  Learn to live with the situation.  Set priorities. Be consistent. Spend time and energy wisely.  Share beliefs with others. Put faith into action. Be prepared for the unexpected and strive to use your coping skills if needed.

One of the best coping strategies is using a mood chart to track your episodes and symptoms. A mood chart can help identify early warning signs for relapse, and a record for physicians and family to help assess the efficacy of different medications and treatments, and a daily routine and improve awareness of the illness.

The overall goal of the charts is to have a reliable and consistent record of how greatly your moods fluctuate over a period of time. 

Another excellent coping strategy is learning how to manage your medications effectively.  Know what you are taking and why, how long it might take to work, how much and how often you should take it, what you should do if you miss a dose, what side effects you might have and what you can do about them. Keep track of your medication information - names, dosages, how it makes you feel, what symptoms it makes better.  Having this information will help both you and your doctor find the medication regimen that works the best for you.

It can be an extremely frustrating process to find a medication that works for you.  It takes patience and determination.  Give the medications adequate time to do their job. Most people won't feel better right away - it can take four to six weeks for a drug to get into your system.  Work with your psychiatrist to switch medications if you are unhappy with your current one.  However, what medications can and can't do is up to your body chemistry and what works for one may not for you.

Simplify your medications as much as possible, taking them at the same time each day. If you have a lot of trouble remembering, ask your doctor about the possibility of long-acting injections of the medications instead of pill.

Coping skills take time, medications and self help is the key to recovery.  Follow your treatment team’s advice religiously and keep on top of your symptoms to help the treatment of your Bipolar disorder.  Having Bipolar Disorder is a serious life experience but can be overcome and you can have a healthy lifestyle.

Bipolar Living: Exercise

Regular exercise has a multitude of benefits for everyone.  It improves weight stability, heart and lung functions, reduces stress and improves mental functioning.

  People living with mood disorders need exercise for increasing cognitive functioning, lessening of depression and overall physical and mental health.  Exercise releases brain chemicals that control emotional and psychological activity in the brain.  Exercise also counteracts the weight gain that most of the medications used in treatment can cause.  Exercise helps with the length and quality of sleep and is a release for the excess energy of mania.

Simple regular activity is needed to burn off calories, irritability and get fit mentally and physically. 

 Half an hour of physical activity a day is a healthy goal to maintain a good level of fitness.  Choose an activity that you enjoy or can at least tolerate for 30 minutes a day.  Walk to the store for that forgotten loaf of bread or gallon of milk.  You may choose to do indoor exercise if weather is an obstacle.  Whatever physical activity yoga, fitness shows on TV, walking the dog, bicycling decide to keep in mind 30 minutes a day can mean 1 less episode of depression, 1 less spending spree that sends your savings back 6 months.

Choose a date for the beginning of your way to physically and mentally fit.  Keep notes on which day you dide which exercise routine and which you enjoyed the most.  Incorporate it inot your daily routine.

Exercise can be enjoyable it not mean pumping iron in a dirty gym.   30 minutes a day for happier Bipolar Living.

Bipolar Living: Medication

I know been there, done it, walked around but there are no if ands or buts.  For a Bipolar you have to take medication.  It does not matter which medication you and your doctor choose a medication regime is essential.  Medication compliance, which means taken as prescribed, maximizes the prevention of future episodes and all of the drama that goes with an unstable mood.  Find the strategies that work for you and affirm them daily.

Finding the right combination and dosages can take time and can be frustrating.  Some Bipolars must take multiple medications each day; your own body makeup decides which medication works best for you with the least amount of side effects.  Medication is needed to get well and stay well.

The challenge of adhering to a medication routine is the major contributor to relapses.  Compliance with medication is the key to thriving with Bipolar Living.  Find a way to remind yourself when to take your medication: notes on the bathroom mirror, alarms, messages in your computer email; anything that encourages you to take that dose.  Keep the times you take your medication in your cell phone.  Use pill dispensers with days and times you take them.  Keep a log; write down when you last took it and when it is time again for it.

And for those that medication works well for, which is the majority, when you feel you are missing your high and creativity look at the risk of having a more serious depression if you reduce or skip a dose. It takes 1 time to crash and is the chance for a morbid depression worth even 1 hypomanic episode for what may be for a short time.

The effectiveness of medication is in your power.  Take control of Bipolar Disorder and Take Your Medication.

More Bipolar Living

Is it possible to turn suffering into a positive meaningful life experience.  In order to do so you have to understand and learn to have a positive mental attitude.  The diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, a serious mental illness, can be turned into an opportunity to emerge stronger with more self empowerment.  To have a purpose in life to achieve more goals and obtain greater pleasure in life takes work, knowledge and discipline.  It is not something you have to do alone you will need a doctor you can trust, confide in, depend on for  advice when you need assistance with your goal to mental wellness. With the right combination of health care providers, medication and self awareness you can regain the losses you may experience because of Bipolar Disorder.  Being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder need not be the end of hope for a future; it is just a change in your way of life not and end to your life.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has Bipolar disorder the first step is to immediately seek medical help.  A psychiatrist will be able to make the diagnosis and administer treatment.  When it comes to treatment the only true option is medication psychotherapy can be used in conjunction with medication it is up to the individual and type of Bipolar disorder and the treating doctor to decide.  Medication may seem to be a drastic step to make but since Bipolar disorder is biological in nature with a chemical imbalance in the brain medication is necessary in order to bring the brain back to a level state and aid in preventing future episodes.

Depending on the diagnosis the medications vary with Bipolar II with mild to moderate symptoms the medication is far more different than when you are dealing with Bipolar I disorder with psychotic symptoms and full blown mania.  The episode itself needs to be treated first an acute manic episode or a depressive episode the medication of choice will be different until all the evidence is gathered past episodes, family history information is taken by the doctor when making the diagnosis.  Mood- stablizers are prescribed if it is a true case of Bipolar disorder.  The challenges of finding the correct medication for the particular individual can take time varying from person to person.  Each case of Bipolar disorder is different with the basic symptoms accompanied by individual symptoms of the person.

With the basic requirements of treatment, medication, optimism and dedication the transformation is complete and you can continue living but living Bipolar and the future for the majority of Bipolar patients is one of a learning process in a new healthier way.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

A brief overview of the Bipolar Disorder diagnosis.

What is Bipolar Disorder?   Everyone has moodswings anger, sadness, happiness related to life experiences, surroundings and people in their lives.  Bipolars experioence unusual and drastic shifts in mood.  These moodswings include:  energy, thoughts, behavior and the ability to function and are not related to their environment.

The moodswings can be extremely high and irritable or hopeless and sad.  These episodes are chronic and can be mild, moderate and severe in intensity.

What causes Bipolar Disorder; researchers have found evidence that Bipolar Disoirder is biological with an instability in the nerve impules in the brain; in the brain’s biochemical makeup.  It is being examined to see if it is genetically transmitted and there is convincing evidence that it is.  The  exact cause has not been proven yet.

What are the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?   The significant changes in mood from a high feeling sometimes with irritability, which is called mania; to feeling sadness to hopelessness, called depression.

The episodes vary in length and intensitytover years or within weeks, days or in some cases hours.  Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe.

What are the types of Bipolar Disorder?  There are different types of Bipolar Disorder that you can be diagnosed with.  Bipolar I has the main symptoms of the illness and has recurrent episodes of mania and depression with psychosis and possible mixed episodes.  Bipolar II is a milder form with hypomania and no full manic episodes.  Rapid Cycling is when 4 or more episodes occur within a year.

If you feel you have signs or know of someone who exhibits signs of Bipolar Disorder be aware that only a doctor can diagnose a mental illness; many physical illnesses can mimic mental illness.  Substance abuse can often show symptoms of a mental illness and it is imperative that you or the person gets medical advice immediately before any damage is done to themselves or others.

Mental health is prevention not a cure; being aware of your mental and emotional health takes a though evaluation of yourself.

Bipolar Life and Bipolar Living

Finding out that you have a chronic, serious mental illness with no cure available is a difficult thinng to hear. Even the thought of having to see a psychiatrist is hard. Being mentally ill brings out emotions that you never thought that you could never endure. The stigma and perceptions that most people have of the mentally ill for me caused anger. It is a normal reaction to learning that the way you have been living all of your life and will continue to live for the rest of you life is because of a mental disorder is devastating .

When things happen out of our control we feel angry, hopeless, helpless , confused and just plain uncontrollable. But being bipolar is not the wost thing in the world that can happen. It can be treated and you can have a productive life. Looking at the many brilliant famous people you share this disorder with no wonder it can sometimes be considered a gift.

Not all bipolars commit suicide; most find relief through treatment. Even if you are hospitilized with a severe episode you can return to your life with treatment. By managing your symptoms and finding good treatment it is possible to have a productive life.

The majority of bipolars can go for years without symptoms and do not live on a lifetime rollar coaster. They may be overwhelmed and finding the correct treatment is hard but if you are motivated and work at it you can control the illness and not let it control you and regain control of your life.

Stress and Bipolar Illness

Stress puts physical, emotional and psychological stress on us.  Stress can trigger a bipolar episode.  Understanding how stress brings on an episode gives us more control over the illness and our lives helping us to prevent and manage stress and episodes.

Changing the way we think and behave when stressed is the ideal.  Learning coping skills can help minimize the impact that stress has and can reduce the bipolar symptoms.

We can recognize the symptoms of stress including: tension, anxiety, frustration and changes in appetite and sleeping habits. There are also physical signs stomach distress, headaches, sleeping difficulties and constant fatigue.

 

Learning coping skills to reduce the symptoms fo stress and keeping healthy can help you manage your moodswings. Chronic stress is a trigger for bipolar episodes. Uncocntrolled stress leads to severe mania and depression. Having bipolar disorder can be very stressful in itself and creates anxiety that causes the symptoms.

Medicatioon that reduces anxiety or psychotherapy helps bipolars to learn how to stop the worrying about what might become an episode and be more aware of how we respond to environmental stressors.

Coping with stress means you identiffy the source of the stress and then make the deccision to reduce the impacct that the stress has in your present mood.

Keeping track of your behavior when faced with a stressor can give you antistress behavior skills. If you can change the stressor it is a big step but you may have to make changes in the way you handle the stressor.

There are many strategies that can control stress. Working with these techniques with a therapist can help improve your moods and minimize the impact that stress has in preventing future episodes.

Bipolar Living the Choice is Yours

Choosing your life and destiny is up to you. You can take control of your life now. It will talke investments both financial and time, perserverence and discipline but it is in your hands.Living Bipolar requires self sacrifices, self discipleine and a positive attitude. By strenously working on your bipolar disorder you can achieve happiness and peace. Fulfillment of your goals is possible your priorities can be had there will have to be self evaluation and changes but your life is your own and you can make the right choices and although complete freedom from bipolar disorder is not possible the rewards of maintaining a quality life is possible for everyone who dares to look within and listen to their own feelings.

It is a long and difficult journey that lies ahead. There will be trials of medication, therapy and setbacks. But for those who learn to take action for themselves will find the strength needed to live with bipolar disorder. And the road that lies ahead will be a healthier and more fulfilled life than they thought possible before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Never make the mistake of being content with the way things are expect the unexpected what may seem to be remission may just be symptoms lying dormant . Careful and diligent monitoring of your moods is the most important habit you can make.

Keeping track of your triggers and expecting one of them to come is the first step to independence and living bipolar. Keeping your mood chart knowing when you usually have more problems the times of the year the pressures of work, school all play a part in daily bipolar living. Dont make the mistake of falling back into old habits once you learn new ones that help. Keeping in mind that not everything is foreseeable and things happen by chance and it is part of everday living don't expect a miracle pill and you will be well. Medication has its drawbacks also You may have to adjust medications many times over sometimes every person is different and every medication is different. But keeping your medication regime staying in contact with your health care providers is essential.

When you learn to Live Bipolar you will be able to see the beautiful things in life and offer more to everyone in your environment.

Triggers And What You Can Do About Them

Finding out what can trigger symptoms can help avoid or ease future episodes. Stabilizing your moods begins with understanding them and the triggers that may help cause them.

Some possible triggers are: changes in sleep, sleep deprivation can trigger mania. Alcohol abuse can often trigger a depression. Excessive use of caffine or tobacco which contributes to mania. Illicit substance abuse which can trigger either mania or depression depending on the drug used. High sugar consumption . Lack of exercise and an irregular life schedule, eating, sleeping and working at different times during the day.

Stress can trigger depression and also mania. Major life events include: death of someone close to you. Divorce or loss of a partner. Getting married , going away to college or having a child move out to college. The birth or death of a child. Problems at work or school. Financial difficulties which is common among Bipolars. Changes in employment; the start of a new job or the loss of employment. Moving from a familiar environment especially to a completely different one.

Keeping track of you moods and triggers gives you more control in your treatment plan. You can recognize and see beginning symptoms of an episode and can take preventative steps. Knowing your triggers is a self empowerment tool that should be practiced daily.

A Little About SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

How seasonal are you? Not suprisingly there are a lot of you who can say that the have experienced or do regularly experience SAD symptoms. Do you fing yourself slowed down during the fall and winter seasons. Do you feel down in the dumps or truly depressed. Do you gain unwanted weight that refuses to budge? You may be one of millions who suffer from SAD.

Sad causes difficulties at work and in one's personal life. The most cheerful, energetic, productive person during dark winter months becomes a lethargic, irritable hermit. They find it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Their energy level drops and they have concentration problems which are drastically different from their summer months. With the warm, sunny spring months their vitality, energy and love of life returns and they are back to their normal selves.

People with SAD have prolonged episodes of depression at the same time every year; they show up in the short days of September to November and as spring and longer days come back their symptoms dissapate. The depression increases with the shorter hours of light in October and there is a dread of the Daylight Savings Time when the clocks are changed.

Many of these suffers have symptoms to such a degree that it is necessary for them to be treated by a doctor. New techniques with therapy, light therapy and newer medications are used to lift the mood and people have found great success with them. Antidepressants are used to control the depression that drags the person down and the reccurrent depressions can be dispelled and the person can resume life again.

Exercise and diet play a part in fighting the depression caused by the shorter days of winter and if the person can find the motivation to do so the seasonal changes need not be so drastic. Eating a regular diet with low fat and carbohydrates is a natural mood lifter and also keeps off those dreaded pounds.

Artificial light has been proven to be beneficial to SAD suffers and doctors and therapists are using it with great success. Outdoor activity is encouraged and with a regime of meds can have the sufferer back to their summer months.

SAD is not the end of the end with diligence and careful treatment SAD suffers can live their lives without the fear of winter.

Be Your Own Support Group

There are things that you can do for yourself and make your way through the difficult times.

Some people find it hard to confide in others or just do not feel comfortable depending on someone else; for the overly independent Bipolar try these tips to help yourself.

Exercise, physical activity can keep you focused and physically healthier. Socialize find new friends, ride a bus there are always people to chat with and you can relieve stress with a little friendly conversation. Relaxation exercises, listen to music music soothes jagged nerves, dance release all the pent up adrenaline. Pursue your favorite hobby try to keep up with the things you usually enjoy or leanrn a new hobby keeping busy lifts depression. Read a book or try for two take your mind off of what you are feeling by reading about what others are feeling even if it is an imaginary person truth is stranger than fiction. Write about your experiences and you may find that you can learn triggers for your moodswings and ways in which you can limit and reduce them. Write about anything at all let your imagination take you from your pain of depression.

When you are having difficulties in lfe taking your mind off of the overwhelming and returning to a simplistic way of life can hep with the frustrations of trying to stay stable. If you are waiting for medication to work take time off fro your usual schedule and return to a more childlike existance.

Watching the skies and finding enjoyment in little things that are around us takes the big picture of the changes in your life away and you can learn to live Bipolar in peace. Peace for a Bipolar may sound impossible while you are going through a crisis but there is peace for all who seek it and gain the knowledge to use it .

Bipolar Disorder and Relationships

Living with a person who has Bipolar disorder takes empathy, patience and most importantly time and understanding. When encountering a manic episode for the first time it is frightning to watch the person go through the exaggerated and volitile mood. During a depressive episode the person can become so unlike their usual self that it can bring out anger on the families part because they cannot understand what the person is going through or why.

Bipolar disorder is extremely debilitating on all who are around them and it may take years to be fully able to deal with the episodes. Medication regimes have to be kept up and helping the person during times of crisis is an art tht needs to be learned.

Living Bipolar and by Living Bipolar I mean having a healthy, stable and quality life, you will need some basic support. Emotional support, financial support and crisis support. You may also want care for children and pets, household help and accompaniment to appointments for when the depression can make daily living difficult.

Make a list of your support group you may want to share it with your doctor and treatment team if you become unable to take care of yourself or there is the need for hospitalization. Keep a copy of you dotors and heath professionals for your family and friends in an emergency.

You may choose not to disclose the details of your disorder to coworkers and emploer but it is wise to have one person aware that you have an illness and are actively seeking help this may keep your employment from jeopardy. But there are laws to protect you should you choose not

to.

Remember signs of your disorder have probably become noticiable to most of the people you have been in contact with already and telling them about your illness may relieve them of ideas such a substance abuse or some other type of problem. The decision to tell anyone about being bipolar is up to you the doctors and healthc care professionals cannot disclose anything about you to others so the choice of who and when to tell is up to you.

Living Bipolar is a lifetime commitment and for most a possibility for those who have to make drastic changes such as early retirement and disability the choice is still yours for some this is the only option but the majority of Bipolars live long and happy lives with treatment and diligence to their symptoms and a close relationship with a health care team.

More Bipolar Living

Open your mind to new ways of preventing future episodes. The mind holds infinite ideas and sensations at one time the ultimate computer the mind's thoughts travel with lightining speed through neurons which is seen in mania. Capturing those thoughts at times may be difficult but when you can channel your thoughts you can achieve calmness and relax your emotional state.

Think of stressors that trigger your moodswings and try to avoide them, find out your good times when you are not in the grip of a moodswing and try to capture the moment and revive the depressed mood or bring down your agitation to a more normal level.

Discuss with your doctor the side effects of your medication akathasia, sleepiness, lack of initiative and try new medications to control the side effects. Be honest with the doctor even if you feel that the high is good there will come a time when it will sour and your irritability and reckless behavior will win and you will lose control of the high.

Try practicing different cultural beliefs Buddism for one has practices for attaining patiece which every Bipolar knows is lost with a high practice the other cultures beliefrs without losing your own try to find a medium which is pleasant and meditate on it. This is possible and to still keep your own beliefs and Superior Power.

Return to your beliefs if you lave lost some of your faith. Religion is a medicine that never dies faith in your own Higher Power will be there with the hope that you may lose when the depression hits. Hold on to your God or Gods and let them heal you with your own faith whether it be prayer, laying on of hands or just reading a Bible minor miracles occur everyday and when you can focus on a single idea there is little chance for a barrage of ideas to take control.

Think of a phrase or pep talk that you can use to control the negativism of the depression, any thoughts that can get you out of the bed when severely depressed can bring you up and help you face the day . Whether it is to a workplace or just to make it through the hours of the day without letting your depression take control.

Keep a schedule that you do every day If you have to leave the house at 7am to be at work by 9 am then take a little time to be at work 5 minutes earlier and settle into the day's work relaxed without rushing to jump into the tasks envolved, Try not to travel with the rush hour traffic leave the house earlier enough so that the task of getting to work is not more stressful than the work at hand.

Stay on top of your moods and they cannot take control of your life Living Bipolar is just that finding ways to live a quality life with Bipolar disorder.

Getting Better and Staying Well

About 6% of Americans suffer from Bipolar disorder that makes millions of people living with the disorder today. Many are living healthy, productive lives yet there are still many others who are not.In order to maximize you quality of life there steps that can be made for although not a cure, at the present time there is no cure, your life can improve and with treatment you can live with Biploar Disorder more comfortably.

Getting better and staying well takes work, there are basic techniques with a doctor and medication that can make living bipolar easier on yourself and the other people in your life.Bipolar disorder does notonly affect the person with it but family and friends as well and in severe cases is a burden on society dorectly and indirectly.

Acceptance is the first and most key role in healing When you confront and face an obstacle as with any illness the burden of facing a lifetime of treatment is easier to stick with and there are fewer setback such as being compliant with medication regimes and treatment and less chance of setbacks. Know and be informed about Bipolar disorder knowledge is power and can prevent future hospitalizations when you can recognize the symptoms and stop a moodswing from becoming out of control.

Try not to be a Drama Queen. Stress, although it does not cause Bipolar disorder it can be a trigger to an episode and can be prevented with stress relieving techniques. Psychotherapy plays a role in stress reduction. If you are finding yourself in a crisis situation often Talk therapy works as well as a pill. With Bipolar disorder you are in should be in charge of the illness as much as possible consult your doctor and therapist when you first feel the signs of symptoms. Learn when and what your triggers are and what you can do to help stop the episode from becoming fullblown.

Commit yourself to being Bipolar for life Living Bipolar is the step to a quality lifetime with as few upheaval of moodswings mania and depression by relentlessly taking charge of your medication routine. Making sure you have the best medication for you and the adequate dosage takes you a step further towards a better life. Regulate sleep and eating habits that are healthy and keep a routine that works for you. Keeping a daily journal can help you to foresee future moodswings and stop the severity of them and sometimes even the frequency. Keeping a mood chart of when you are depressed and when you are manic even hypomania can be beneficial. Build a support group of family friends and people who you confinde in and use them to help yourself. Other people can see signs of depression and mania often before you do yourself try to listen to others when they voice concern of your behavior or actions.

Know that mania and depression that is becoming out of control is best handled with the doctor find a doctor that you feel confident in and can talk to about anything and everything a good rapport with your treatment team is essential to healing and staying well.

Welcome to My World

Welcome to the real world of sanity unleashed on my world of unreality. Where the light of thoughts bombard my brain into releasing the energy of hyperlife into my tired body. The days of no rest become days and nights of unrest.

Happiness uncontrolled unceasingly persists until the truth is clouded by the unreality of the dreams or wishes of I a captive of violent moodswings.

The mania the deep brooding dark and hope for an end and the future attempts to do this attracts your heart so that it is a reality and you no longer exist. Crowd maddening emotions spurt until they reach a focal point and there is a cold slowly burning anger devastating and lethal.

The dire strands that link my mind with my emotional state at any given time are stretched thin in a tenous rope around my dreams of destruction.

The collapse of self respect when all is torn away and the universes of having in a hallutionatory existence if only for a short time. Then the pseudoreal is extreme and I am a servant of illogical dreams yet to be.

There are no Whys only Whats of can be or is. I ask God to respond to my fears for the tears of dancing not to descend to the melody of the pain from the funeral dirges. This horrendous journey hovers wherever, whenever , whatever. They chase to become a treadmill of this disorder. When the roads of truth and fantasy cross there is only one question that I can ask. Am I suppossed to feel what you feel or are you able to feel what I feel. Hello I am a Bipolar Manic Depressive Welcome to my world.

Bipolar Life

What am I going through at this moment? Do you ever feel this way?

What I feel, my thoughts running on a motor overdriven up and on the run, I feel the universal feelings intensified colliding and can not survive the impact. The head of the spitting cobra in my mind stings and becomes crisscrossed on thehighway of crossing delusions until the realness of my world is topsy-turvy. Sordid nonreal possession of what goes into it. The sanity of dark become the night star in my head that appears at times. When the falling showers of stars light up the background of the sky they make up the words that flow and are a symptom. They race and unleash the poets gift weaving beautiful patterns on a page.

What better way to feel. Welcome to it. What is there to be had when all that is all that has ever bee is.

I represent the Bipolar community who say worse or better there is only the reality in my mind that is all that is the matter when what matters is what is the matter with me.

Mood contemplation. The thoughts of an Old Head not yet of age. I am guilty of feeling good. A pain exquisite and deadly crying for blessed peace in a frightful world that has been created by my mind, Am I less or more of a person that is shown to others? Painful but happy to be me.

Rapid Cycler Bipolar Disorder

Rapid Cycler Bipolar Disorder

A rapid cycler has multiple episodes within week or days. It is most common in women and in the late stages of the disorder. It is fairly rare with only 10-20 percent of bipolar patients exhibiting this form of the disorder. It can be caused by substance abuse and antidepressant use and often with a thryoid disease. Mixed symptoms can be in either mania or depression and with psychosis such as delusions which are distorted beliefs, or hallucinations seeing, hearing or sensing things which are not there. Symptoms can occur together with high energy, depression and suicidial thoughts a mixed state. Treatment of this form of the disorder is more difficult each episode makes the following episode harder and more frequent.

The rapid changes in mood highs and lows with the swings of energy levels can be a source of conflicts. While mania is attractive and encouraging as your mania increases your behavior becomes more and more purposeless. Agiatated and driven behavior and lack of concern for others can lead others to believe you may hurt yourself or others. People become frustrated with the inactivity of depressed states and contribute to your feels of guilt and inadequacy by comments meaning well but often makes things worse. The increases in energy and activity thaat accompany manic moods may feel good, productice and purposeful but to others they may be seen as unrealistic and signs of an unstable illness.

The risks of untreated Bipolar Disorder are suicide alcohol or substance abuse in an effort to self medicate the sy mptoms. The substance abuse influence the mood and so the cycle continues.

Relationship and work disturbances occur rather than to try to deal with a person having unpredictable ups and downs the outcome is usually divorce and breakups of relationships.

Episodes at the workplace affect productivity and losing a job often the outcome of a prolonged episode. It can influence the ability to seek or maintain medical treatment.

Early treatment gives the opportunity for stable relationships and a productive work life and avoid being put on disability at an early age. The support of people you care about and being effective at work can help stabilize moods and reinforce all treatment.

Bipolar Disorder and Early Death

Is there a link between major depression and an increased risk for early death due togeneral medical illnesses.

In the past, premature deaths associated with bipolar illness were attributed to unnatural causes, such as suicide, homicide, and accidents. Recent studies are showing that this may account for only a portion of premature death in these individuals.

People with bipolar disorder tend to have manic phases and depressed phases in their lives. During mania, they might be too wound up to sleep, their thoughts might race, and they might have boundless energy. During depression, they might feel painfully sad, hopeless, and immobilized.

Having a major mental illness such as bipolar disorder increases the risk of developing physical illness from poor diet, smoking, lack of exercise, substance abuse, and a lack of medical care.

Patients with a mental illness and a medical illness have more challenges managing their condition. Diabetes, for one requires a lot of selfcare, poor management can lead to more complications with the medical disorder leading to death.

Another factor to physical illness and early death in patients with bipolar disorder are the newer antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, which are now in widespread use.

Some new antipsychotic medications used to successfully treat bipolar disorders are safer and more comfortable for the patient in some ways than previous medications, but can cause weight gain leading to obesity and other metabolic changes that predispose people to Type 2 diabetes. Some mood stabilizers also cause weight gain and metabolic disorders.

These medications have fewer adverse effects than the older drugs, but they contribute to obesity and metabolic problems, diabetes, and heart disease,

Effective treatment of mental illness are bringing a new problem

Psychiatrists need to pay closer attention to patients' physical health. To effectively treat them for their mental-health problems but them to have them die prematurely from their medical diseases is becoming an epidemic.

Psychiatric staff are now hand with centers for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and family-medicine practices. This is necessary because of the growing problems with the medical care of bipolar patients and the mentally ill in general.

New approaches to healthcare and wellness programs are being tested for preventing premature deaths associated with bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses.

Bipolar disorder appears to increase the risk for premature death due to medical illness, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, endocrine disorders, pulmonary disease.

Bipolar disorder is as big a risk factor for premature death as smoking.


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Bipolar Disorder and Early Death Bipolar Disorder and Early Death Is there a link between major depression and an increased risk for early death due togeneral medical illnesses. In the past, premature deaths associated with bipolar illness were attributed to unnatural causes, such as suicide, homicide, and accidents. Recent studies are showing that this may account for only a portion of premature death in these individuals. People with bipolar disorder tend to have manic phases and depressed phases in their lives. During mania, they might be too wound up to sleep, their thoughts might race, and they might have boundless energy. During depression, they might feel painfully sad, hopeless, and immobilized. Having a major mental illness such as bipolar disorder increases the risk of developing physical illness from poor diet, smoking, lack of exercise, substance abuse, and a lack of medical care. Patients with a mental illness and a medical illness have more challenges managing their condition. Diabetes, for one requires a lot of selfcare, poor management can lead to more complications with the medical disorder leading to death. Another factor to physical illness and early death in patients with bipolar disorder are the newer antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, which are now in widespread use. Some new antipsychotic medications used to successfully treat bipolar disorders are safer and more comfortable for the patient in some ways than previous medications, but can cause weight gain leading to obesity and other metabolic changes that predispose people to Type 2 diabetes. Some mood stabilizers also cause weight gain and metabolic disorders. These medications have fewer adverse effects than the older drugs, but they contribute to obesity and metabolic problems, diabetes, and heart disease, Effective treatment of mental illness are bringing a new problem Psychiatrists need to pay closer attention to patients' physical health. To effectively treat them for their mental-health problems but them to have them die prematurely from their medical diseases is becoming an epidemic. Psychiatric staff are now hand with centers for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and family-medicine practices. This is necessary because of the growing problems with the medical care of bipolar patients and the mentally ill in general. New approaches to healthcare and wellness programs are being tested for preventing premature deaths associated with bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Bipolar disorder appears to increase the risk for premature death due to medical illness, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, endocrine disorders, pulmonary disease. Bipolar disorder is as big a risk factor for premature death as smoking.

Side Effects of Medications for Bipolar Disorder

If you have bipolar disorder, you will probably need medicatiom. You will probably need to take medication for the rest of your life; since there is no cure for it.
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness. Taking medication is just like taking medication for heart disease or any other serious physical.
Psychiatrists use a number of different classes  and typesof medications depending on the frequency and severity of the symptoms .  Treatment for bipolar mania may include lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines.
Maintenance therapy for bipolar disordeconsists of the right medication or combination of drugs along with psychotherpy for crisis intervention. Many people who have bipolar disorder keep taking these medications for years or decades.

Medication really is the most effective treatment available for bipolar disorder. Scientific studies an point to this. Unfortunately, the potential side effects of the medications sometimes make bipolar disoder episodes the better of the two. For some people the decision to take medication is easy to make. For others it can be very difficult. Side effects are the reason people with bipolar disorder stop taking their medications. Many people to give up on medications entoirely, the hospitals become a revolving door switching with the episodes they are having. Though it may take a long time, most people eventually do discover medications they can tolerate. The response to a medication can change with age most bipolars find themselves sympomtom free for longer periods with less severe symptoms over time. Someone with bipolar disorder may take multiple drugs at once, such as a combination of Lithium for bipolar mania and Lamictal for bipolar depression. Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol and Lamictal . . The three are anticonvulsant drugs that just happen to work well for bipolar disorder management, but they are all called mood stabilizers in terms of bipolar disorder use. Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol are antimanic drugs, while Lamictal is used for bipolar depression.

Mood stabilizers have variety of side effects, but they are the most effective antimanic drugs. Lithium is often prescribed first as it’s inexpensive and an excellent drug when it works. Common Lithium side effects include tremors, excessive thirst, memory loss and difficulty reading. Toxicity is common so monitoring Lithium blood levels is needed. The most common side effects of Depakote and Tegretol are weight gain, headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, eye problems and problems with equilibrium.

Possible Lamictal side effects include shortness of breath, neck problems, jerky body movements, itching and a skin rash. There are two kinds of potential rashes associated with Lamictal. One is benign. The other is very serious. Treatment must be stopped if the second one occurs. Lamcital does not cause weight gain and the side effects tend to get better over time.

Thorazine , Haldol and Trilifon are antipsychotic drugs.. These were effective but caused a lot of concerns due to the motor side effect called tardive dyskinesia. The newer antipsychotics are Clozaril , Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal, and Abilify.

Antipsychotics are used to treat psychosis, prevent mania and sometimes treat depression. Side effects include rapid weight gain, especially around the stomach, lethargy, restlessness , dulled senses, tremors, impaired thinking, slow speech, shuffling the feet, and concentration problems. The main concern with Clorazil, Zyprexa and Seroquel is that they can cause metabolic syndrome, a condition that relates to possible diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

While some of these potential side effects can be very strong, Many people eventually find the right anti psychotic with few side effects. They can return to the workfoce and live their lives relatively symptom free.

During a depressive episode you may need other medications. Lithium and other mood stabilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs, and are used to treat bipolar depression.

A mood-stabilizing medication works on improving mood, social interactions, and behavior. Mood stabilizers are effective in the treatment and prevention of bipolar mood states of alternating recurring episodes of depression and mania.

Bipolar patients with severe mania or mixed episodes are usually treated with an antipsychotic medication combined with either lithium or  the anticonvulsant Depakote..
Lithium is one of the oldest and cheapest mood-stabilizing mediations for bipolar disorder. Lithium is a natural salt.
Studies show that Lithium is effective in reducing symptoms and frequency of episodes for most bipolar patients.
While taking Lithium, you need to have regular blood levels of the drug monitored by your doctor, as the medication can be toxic in high doses.

Anticonvulsants are another treatment for those with bipolar disorder.  Anticonvulsants may be combined with lithium or with other anticonvulsants for those unresponsive to Lithium these may be used with better results.

Some commonly used anticonvulsants include Lamictal , Depakote, Tegretol , and Trileptal.

Some of the most popular antidepressants are Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin These drugs are extremely effective for depression treatment, but must be used with extreme caution in people with bipolar disorder, as they have a high risk of inducing mania. Antidepressants can lead to increased rapid cycling and severe mania in people with bipolar disorder, and should never be used alone. They can be used, however, in conjunction with with effective results in some people.antipsychotics. Common antidepressant side effects include agitation, weight loss or weight gain, headache, stomach upset, irritable bowel syndrome, sexual side effects, loss of appetite, leg-shaking, sleepiness, and oddly enough suicidal tendencies Anti anxiety drugs are such as Ativan , Klonopin, Xanax and Valium. Anti anxiety medications can be addictive and some doctors are wary about prescribing them but many people with bipolar disorder have anxiety and sleep problems, they should not be ruled out simply because there is a chance of addiction.

The Cause of Bipolar Disorder

The cause of bipolar disorder is not completely know. Genetic, neurochemical probably predispose thedisorder and environmental issues probably play a role in the progression of bipolar disorder. This seems to be a predominantly biological disorder in a specific part of the brain with a malfunction of the neurotransmitters in the brain.Neurotransmitters are the chemical part of the brain that controls thoughts and emotions. Since it is a biological disorder, it may be spontaneous or it may be triggered by stressors in life.

Reseachers are working to find the exact cause of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder usually runs in families. Studies show that as much as half the people with bipolar disorder have a family member with a mood disorder usually depression.

Having one parent, a fraternal twin increases the chance that a person will have bipolar disorder.

A person who has an paternal twin with bipolar disorder has an even greater risk of developing the illness than a fraternal twin.

Studies of where a child whose biological parent had the illness is raised by another family without bipolar disorder helped researchers learn more about the genetic causes causes.

Bipolar disorder is due to the dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers)in the brain. These chemicals may are norepinephrine, serotin and many others. As a biological disorder, it may be triggered by external factors such as social circumstances or psychological stressors.

A life event may trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic makeup for bipolar disorder.

Even without the specific genetic factors, changes in health habits, alcohol or drug abuse, or hormonal problems can trigger an episode.

Substance abuse is not considered a cause of bipolar disorder but it can worsen the recovery of the disorder. Use of alcohol or tranquilizers may induce more severe depressive phases.

Some medications like antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder. Depressive episodes in some persons must be treated carefully when those people have had manic episodes. Because a depressive episode can turn into a manic episode when an antidepressant is taken, an antipsychotic drug is also used to prevent a manic episode. Protecting the person from antidepressant-induced mania.

Other medications can produce a symptoms that resembles mania. Appetite suppressants may trigger increased energy, decreased need for sleep and increased talkativeness. The difference is that after stopping the medication the person returns to his normal mood.

Illicit drugs such as cocaine, such as Ecstasy and amphetamines.

Excessive doses of over-the-counter drugs, including appetite suppressants and cold preparations.

Nonpsychiatric medications, such as medicine for thyroid problems excessive caffeine can mimic the appearance of mania .

If a person is has bipolar disorder, stress, frequent use of stimulants or alcohol, and lack of sleep may trigger the disorder. Certain medications also may set off a depressive or manic episode.

An imbalance in naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters plays a significant role in bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. Imbalanced hormones may be involved in causing or triggering bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a blood relative with the illness.

Stress, abuse, significant loss or other traumatic experiences can cause a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Reserchers are looking at hereditary as a cause of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is not passed from one generation to another genetically. There is a complex group of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.

Stress is a significant contributor to the development of bipolar disorder.

Psychotic Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar psychosis looks a lot like the symptoms of schizophrenia, causing misdiagnosis many times for patients with manic depression. Most bipolars will or have had a psychotic episode in their lives. Psychosis is usually temporary, but in some casas persists throughout the course of the illness. Bipolars can live their lives with psychotic episodes which is the case of Bipolar I disorder.

Clang is a symptom of psychosis. Linking words together based on similar sounds rather than meaning is a symptom of psychosis which is termed Clang association. This symptom occur in psychotic episodes in the manic phase of bipolar disorder, but can also occur in a depressive episode. The sentences or phrases used are rhyming, or punning.

There are other types of language changes that may be present with bipolar symptoms in addition to clang associations. Jumping from one idea to another seemingly without logical transition.Making up words that have no meaning to anyone but the speaker. Rarely repeating others’ words or phrases.

When a bipolar is becoming psychotic, you will notice that the language gets more rapid and less sensible and understandable as their mood becomes more elevated and the psychosis worsens. They may not be aware that they are not making sense. Untreated the y may become totally incoherent. Treatment for his bipolar symptoms is needed instead of trying to rationalize with them as their language is starting to fall apart.

Clang may be accompanied by other symptoms of psychosis, commonly there are hallucinations, paranoia , delusions, disordered thinking or speaking, being excessively responsive to stimulation Difficulty determining what is real and what is not, problems completing ordinary tasks, memory, concentration and clear thinking

Pressure of speech is a term used by doctors for speech that is rapid and a continuous flow that may be difficult or impossible to interrupt by the listener. It can be loud, emphatic, uninhibited, and continue even though no one is listening.

These speech abnomalities are often a result of Flight of ideas a term for the racing thoughts of bipolar patients. Flight of ideas is when nearly continuous flow of accelerated speech with abrupt changes from topic to topic that are usually based on understandable associations, distracting stimuli, or plays on words. When severe, speech may be disorganized and incoherent at the extreme it can seem to be unintelligible. These psychosis need to be treated with medications called antipsychotics. Confinment in a hospital is often necessary until the psychotic features lessen or are relieved.

Love to Hate Money

Love to hate money. One of the most common symptoms of bipolar disorder is impulsive and irrational spending. The amazing joy of the drive to spend money shows in a bipolars life in many ways

It may be wild shopping sprees. . It may be absurd investments when our bipolar grandiosity is telling us we can do no wrong. Manic grandiosity can tell us to lavish presents and gifts or cold hard cash at random to anyone.

Feeling lucky in love, the use of prostitutes, phone sex,internet dating is possible when you have the money. Gambling, for example on horse racing, Las Vegas trips, even hundreds of scratch off lottery tickets all become an outlet for the drive to spend.


How to curb the excessive squandering of money eludes most of us but there are ways to control some damage that it causes. Some ways in which you can keep yourself under control are trying to avoid internet use. Both online shopping and gambling, and sex related activities online chat rooms.

Give cash, credit cards and ATM cards to someone trustworthy for safekeeping if possible. Leave large amouts of cash credit cards locked away where they are not easily accessable. If you find it tottaly out of control cut up credit cards, debit cards until the episode lifts.

Find a way to divide finances keep small amounts of money in places where if the drive becomes too unbearable there is a little money to ease it. Sometimes spending 2.00 for a cup of coffee is enough to satisfy the drive.

 In extreme cases it may be necessary to arrange for money management through an organization where a certain amount is allotted for a week or a setup plan. A bipolar treatment contract with your doctor and a caregiver which centers around bipolar excessive spending. 

When a manic episode with excessive spending ends, our normal reasoning may return, but this return to reality often is followed by a serious depression. Waking up the morning after a manic episode and seeing the aftermath packages some not even taken out of bags. The credit card statements begin to come through, calls from the banks about overdrafts that are not remembered. All of this is a part of bipolar life. So you learn to love to hate money. With insight you can do get out of debt and start on the road of financial recovery again. The roller coaster ride never ends for some of us but that is part of learning to live bipolar.