Are you looking for Bipolar Support?
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, that often recurs in people several times a year. There are many support things you can do to help yourself outside of the medical community. The goal is to reduce your symptoms and stay out of the manic/depressive swings that often associates bipolar. One of the top items that you can do is to get support from others that you count on - your family and friends.
You are not out of control when you have bipolar disorder. Support for bipolar can also come from a great support network, with such a network you can live fully and be productive and keep the symptoms of bipolar at bay.
Getting Bipolar Support - Help Yourself
If you have bipolar and looking for support you can adjust your lifestyle to help your bipolar stay away. Primarily making important healthy choices will help keep bipolar disorder in check. The goal is to minimize the mood swings and take control over your condition.
Managing your condition starts with getting proper care. Medication and therapy are often prescribed together for bipolar. There are many more things you can do to help yourself on a daily basis. Things you do daily can make major impacts on bipolar disorder - the goal to make the symptoms better by making good choices about your bipolar support.
Learn from your treatment
If you are active in your treatment it will help you tremendously. Learn everything (search the internet, read books, etc.) about bipolar disorder. Talk to others about bipolar and what they do for bipolar support. Become the bipolar expert on your block. Learn about the symptoms and research all the treatment options. The more knowledgeable your are, the better prepared you will be to deal with it and provide your own support.
Work with your physician and work with them on planning your treatment. Ask questions! Do not be afraid of asking a question - especially if it relates to how your bipolar support network will be affected. The best relationships are between the patient and physician and when you work jointly to fight bipolar. Here are some bullet points for you:
Track your Symptoms
Part of being bipolar is knowing yourself and staying closely attuned to how you feel. If symptoms of mania or depression start to appear it can often be too late to correct the mood swing. Keeping close watch on your own internal emotions/moods, sleeping behaviours, energy and internal thoughts can help. If you start to recognize the pattern starting you may be able to prevent a full blown attack by using your bipolar support techniques learned from your support groups.
Watch for Warning Signs
Do you know your bipolar warning signs? Make a list and keep it close of early symptoms that come before you have a mood episode. Identify the triggers or influences that have led to a manic episode or depression.
Common triggers include:
- stress
- financial difficulties
- arguments with your loved ones
- problems at school or work
- seasonal changes
- lack of sleep
Understanding the early warning signs will not do you much good if you are not keeping track of how you are feeling. Checking with yourself, daily/hourly, with regular mood monitoring can help you make sure a red flag does not occur. Using your bipolar support group will help you in working through your internal triggers as well.
Mood charts are another way to monitory what is happening internally with you. It is a daily log of your emotionial status and other symptoms you may be having. You could also track what is going on outside of you life at that moment in time. This will help you understand the patterns and provides a good internal bipolar support tool for you to use.
Have an Emergency Action Plan
If you believe that you are relapsing into a full blown mania or severe depression you should have an emergency action plan as part of your bipolar support plan. If your safety is at stake, loved ones or a physician may need to take charge of your care. You can feel helpless and out of control - but having an Emergency Action plan will help you maintain some responsibility for your treatment. Understanding that you need one of these is important to your own internal psychology in that "I have a plan" when it starts to get bad.
A plan of action typically includes:
- A list of emergency contacts (your doctor, therapist, close family members)
- A list of all medications you are taking, including dosage information
- Information about any other health problems you have
- Symptoms that indicate you need others to take responsibility for your care
- Treatment preferences (who you want to care for you; what treatments and medications do and do not work, who is authorized to make decisions on your behalf.)
Great Bipolar Support: Other People
If you do not have a good bipolar support system then you need one. This support system is vital to keeping you healthy and happy. This could be from friends and family, support groups, even church groups. Make sure you select an environment that is supportive and people that you think will help you control your episode. If you feel you are meeting people that drain you, or leave you feeling discouraged, ashamed or guilty then you should leave. It is necessary for you to find people who will help you and are willing to be part of your bipolar support group.
Want to learn more about Bipolar. Try here. or here.