Bipolar
Disorder Uncovered:
Coping With The Ups And
Downs Of Bipolar Disorder
Introduction
Bipolar is a condition which wreaks
havoc on those that it affects. If you
suffer from Bipolar, chances are good that your family suffers with you. No matter if you are that family member
trying to learn to cope or you are the person that has been diagnosised, there
is hope out there.
Although there is no cure for
Bipolar, just yet, there are many ways in which you can improve your chances of
living a long and happy life. The good
news is that the process doesn’t have to be difficult either.
The ups and downs are what make the
most problems for individuals. Being
happy and go lucky one minute is wonderful but when it is followed by serious
lows and depressed moods the next, there’s even more to worry about.
In this e-book, you will find a
number of different scenarios that will help you to ultimately learn to cope
with bipolar and all of these ups and downs.
Through an understanding of your condition as well as help in dealing
with the beneficial tools we will teach you, you will be able to improve the
quality of life that you and your loved ones share.
** Understanding Bipolar To Get Help
Most individuals that suffer from
bipolar have one goal. That goal is to live a life that is as normal as can
be. To get through today without having
any emotional problems, to make it through the big meeting at work without
having people wonder what is wrong with you and to simply be able to enjoy your
daughter’s graduation are all additional goals that you may have.
Before you can fully learn to cope
with bipolar, you need to fully understand your condition. You need to know what things happen, as best
that you can, so that you can then trigger your coping mechanisms to work for
you.
There is no 100 percent sure way of
stopping these things from happening to you.
But, there are countless things you can learn to do to help you to
improve your outlook.
Bipolar: The Medical Side
Bipolar is a condition in which
there are extremes in moods and life experiences. There is no doubt that bipolar is a health
condition that is serious and disabling to those that have it. It is a mental illness and it does require
necessary treatment.
You may have heard bipolar called
Manic Depression or that a person suffering from it has a manic depressive
condition. But, what scientists have
come to learn is that manic style behavior is only one extreme of this
condition. The other part of it is that
of depression. Both of these conditions
are vitally serious to your well being and even to your life span and must be
treated.
While doctors do not have a cause
for bipolar, they are working on finding one.
Along with that, you can be sure that there are many scientists looking
for a way to cure the condition. Yet,
until that happens, we need to examine what we do know about bipolar and what
it does to the person that you are.
For most people bipolar starts when
they are just in their teens. Some
believe that it is triggered by puberty.
Others will not develop this condition until they are in their early
adult years. Bipolar can last your life
time, too.
For most individuals, bipolar is a
condition that doesn’t happen all of the time.
You don’t go in and out of moods ore other experiences within seconds
and you don’t do this all of the time either.
For example, some people will have bouts that last for several
weeks. Others will have them for a few
months at a time. Although it is possible
to have bipolar in which your symptoms flare all of the time, this is really
the rare case.
If you don’t get help for bipolar,
your condition is likely to continue to worsen.
There is no doubt that depression itself is a killer. Therefore, not getting help is simply not an
option. But, the good news is that there
are medications, treatments and therapies that can help to reduce the symptoms
and help you to cope with your condition.
Do You Have Bipolar?
The first question that you need to
ask is if you have this condition.
Learning the signs and symptoms will help you to weigh the need to seek
out medical attention. If any of your symptoms are severe or you are considering
harming yourself, you must seek immediate medical attention as soon as
possible.
Bipolar individuals will go through
an alternating pattern of highs and lows that play on their emotions. The highs are called episodes of mania.
The lows are episodes of
depression. The intensity of these highs
and lows will vary from person to person and from one episode to the next. For some, the symptoms can be quite mild but
for others they can be quite severe. In
addition to this, you may also have very normal times too.
During the manic phase, there are a
number of symptoms that can be observed.
·
You may feel extremely happy and
optimistic. You may feel euphoria. You may also have an inflated self esteem or
ego, too.
·
You may have very poor judgment, and you may
know this by being told by others that you’ve made the wrong decision.
·
Your speech can be very fast. Your mind is going crazy with thoughts. You may be agitated and feel the need to move
your body and your mind. Physical
activity may be increased, too.
·
Many will be aggressive in their behavior, often
more so than is “allowable.”
·
Some people find this to be a time of problems
with sleeping, problems with concentrating one what you should be doing. You may be easily distracted, and have
problems getting tasks accomplished.
·
You can be reckless or you may take chances on
things that you normally would not do.
Those that suffer from the mania
side of bipolar will transition from it into the depressive side. The
depressive side is that which people often associated with depression like
symptoms. These symptoms can include the
following, more than one, too.
The depressive bipolar symptoms
include:
·
Feeling very sad, very guilty or feeling that
all is lost. Hopelessness is a common
feeling here too. The trademark of a
problem is that the symptom is unfounded and is persistent.
·
You may be very tired, often not caring about
getting your tasks accomplished. You may
lose interest in the things that you do daily, normally. Even those things that you love to do may not
be done.
·
You may be very irritable, losing your temper
for no real reason.
·
You may not be able to sleep although you are
tired. You may not be hungry and some
will lose weight because of not eating properly here.
·
Some have problems with pain, too. If you have pain that there is no real cause
for, this can be a sign of depressive behavior.
·
The most serious of all symptoms and signs of
depressive behavior is that of thoughts of suicide. If you have these thoughts, your condition
needs immediate attention.
If you think that you have any of
these symptoms, then you need to work with your doctor to be diagnosised. It is necessary to get treatment and
treatment really can help you!
What’s The Cause?
The one thing that all bipolar
patients want to know is why.
Why did this happen to me? Why do I go through this? Why can’t my life be normal?
Unfortunately, there just is not an
answer to that. Neither doctors nor
scientists understand why or what causes bipolar to happen. But, they have some ideas of what could be behind
the way you feel.
Most believe that it is a
combination of factors that lead to this condition including environmental,
genetics, and biological factors.
Doctors believe that these conditions not only cause the onset of
bipolar in people but also control when the episodes that you experience happen
and how frequently they do.
Those that have bipolar have
problems within the brain. There are
chemical messengers in your brain that go between the nerve cells and the brain
itself relaying information. These are
called neurotransmitters.
In those that have bipolar, those
messengers are somehow different and simply communicate in a different way to
the brain triggering the symptoms that you face.
It is believed that those that
suffer from bipolar have a genetic code that puts them in that position. While this genetic disposition doesn’t per
say actually trigger the condition to happen, those that have this coding
actually have a better chance of developing it at some point in their lives.
This difference in the
neurotransmitters is believed to have to do with an abnormal aspect of the
genes. Your genes that control the
neurotransmitters in your brain simply developed abnormally, leading to
bipolar. But, remember, just because
this is the case, it doesn’t mean that you are going to suffer from
bipolar. It just means that it is
something that you could experience.
In addition to this genetic code,
most doctors believe that it is necessary for you to have some environmental
effects to happen in order to trigger the problem. This can include such things as drug abuse
and very stressful events. Sometimes, a
very traumatic event especially those that are psychological can trigger
bipolar.
Are You At Risk?
You may be at risk for bipolar if
you have a family history of bipolar or other depressive conditions. In fact, in up to 90 percent of those with
bipolar there is evidence of depression in the family.
Again, if you have genes that are
passed down from those in your family that have these abnormalities, then you
are more likely to experience bipolar.
While the exact genes are not know just yet, there are many researchers
working on finding the gene that makes you more or less likely to have bipolar
disorder.
Should You Go To The
Doctor?
If you are reading this far into
this book, then you probably realize the importance of seeking medical
attention for your condition. The
problem is that most that have symptoms of bipolar don’t realize that they do
have a problem.
Some will realize that something is
not right but most will not realize just how impaired they are. In addition, most don’t realize just how
troublesome going through these mood swings can be for other family members. You probably don’t realize what you are
putting your family and friends through.
Therefore, it often takes someone
else, such as your spouse, friend or other relatives to help you to get to the
doctor so that you can be diagnosed for your own safety and health. Those that are concerned about their loved
ones should seek the help that they need.
Professional help can be quite beneficial to those that are suffering.
If a person that is suffering from
bipolar does not seek out and get the help that he or she needs, not only will
stresses continue to build, but physical problems can also become evident. They can be hurt in one of their episodes.
Who Should I See?
If you realize the need to seek
professional help, your first contact should be your family doctor. He or she can help you to determine that
there are no other medical problems causing your condition. From here, though, the person to see is that
of a psychiatrist.
Do not worry; the process of
seeking help in dealing with any type of mental illness including depression
and bipolar syndrome is quite simple to do.
Take a loved one with you that has noticed the symptoms that you are
experiencing. The first thing that your
doctor will ask is what type of symptoms you are having. He or she will ask you to describe both the
depressive symptoms and the mania symptoms.
During your first meeting with the
doctor, you’ll talk about your daily life, the episodes you are experiencing
and your overall health. The first thing
that he or she will do is work on ruling out other medical problems and other
mental health problems. Other
conditions, such as mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
schizophrenia, and even a personality disorder, can have similar symptoms to
bipolar conditions.
Your doctor may also ask you to
undergo tests that will determine if there are any other things that causing
your condition. He or she will want to
find out if you have physical causes to your bipolar disorder (or the likely
diagnosis of this.)
This can include talking about
substance abuse. Your doctor will ask
and need an honest opinion about this.
If you drink alcohol, use illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine,
then you need to tell your doctor about these things. Remember, your doctor can’t talk about this
with anyone else. These types of drugs
can alter the mood and in some people create larger fluctuations of moods.
Another possible reason for your
mood swings can be due to health problems like thyroid disorders. Here, a blood test will be required. It will test how well your thyroid is working. Many that have mood swings actually have an
under active thyroid. The good news is
that if this is the problem, there are medications that can treat thyroid
problems.
Still there is more to talk about
with your doctor. You’ll want to tell
him about the medications that you are taking, as these can also cause a number
of mood swings. For example, medications
like corticosteroids including prednisone can cause mood swings. If you are being treated for depression with
medications, or for anxiety, then your medication can lead to mood swings. The medications that are used to treat
Parkinson’s disease are also mood swing prone medications.
Your doctor will ask you about your
diet, too. The foods you eat lead to the
number of nutrients that you get. Those
that are lacking in B 12 vitamins in particular can experience vast mood
swings.
Any of these types of conditions
can lead your doctor to determine that you are suffering from bipolar
disorder. By talking with you and
looking at the test results that are given to you, your doctor can determine exactly
what is happening with you.
It is very important for you to
communicate with your doctor about any of your needs and to be honest about
your condition. By telling them about
your daily life, including the bad parts, he or she can make the right
decisions to help treat your conditions.
It is likely that you will find
your doctor is quite experienced in bipolar disorder. That’s because every year thousands of people
see their doctors with worry about having this disorder. It is not as uncommon as you may think!
Once this has been done, your
doctor and you can work on a treatment for your condition.
***
Why Should I Get Help Anyway?
Bipolar is a mental illness. It is
not like a cold that will go away. It is
not like a broken leg which will heal on its own. Without the attention of a professional, your
bipolar can and will get worse.
What happens to you will be
unique. There is no way of knowing if
your condition will worsen quickly or at all.
But, research shows that those that do not seek help for their condition
will find complications do exist for them and for their family members.
If you have bipolar, other
conditions can make it even worse. For
example, if you are trying to deal with anxiety, you will have a hard time
doing so because of bipolar. In conditions
where this is life threatening, for example if you are suffering from
alcoholism, this can be a very serious problem.
If you can’t keep yourself off of
alcohol, then your life may be in danger.
Not only will the alcohol cause problems for your health, but bipolar
can make you think irrationally and you could put yourself in dangerous
situations. For this reason, seeking
help is a must.
For some, the length of time
between depressive symptoms and mania symptoms can be very short. You could move from one symptom to the next
quickly, leading to confusion and even health scares. This rapid cycling in itself will cause you
quite a bit of grief.
It can get even worse, too. It is possible, believe it or not, to be in a
state of depression as well as in mania at the same time. When this happens, the end result is that your
mind and emotions are completely wrapped in each other. You are agitated and annoyed. You are unable to sleep or eat. You can’t get your thoughts to be organized.
Even worse, when this happens,
people are more likely to think about suicide.
This can be very dangerous because people in this state of mind are not
thinking rationally at all and can make the wrong decision.
Another problem is that of
psychosis. Bipolar symptoms that combine
both mania and depression symptoms can lead to psychosis. This is a very serious mental illness in
which your personality is completely disorganized. You are impaired with what is real and what
is not. You are hallucinating and you
are delusional. Even those that very
strongly believe in things can end up making decisions the other way.
The Stress Goes Farther
Even beyond the physical risks that
you place yourself under when you face bipolar, there are the just as
devastating effects that it has on your relationships.
In addition to this many with
bipolar also have financial problems to boot.
They do not make the right decisions regarding money, spending on credit
and making choices in products. With
this comes a number of problems from having to file bankruptcy to having to
burden other family members with this problem.
Still, one of the worst effects of
bipolar is the way that people who have it treat themselves. Many find that the only way to cope with what
is happening to them is to isolate themselves from everyone.
This happens easily during
depressive phases especially when an individual is having a severe
episode. Without the protection they
need from a loved one, they can let their suicidal thoughts take control. Because of this isolation, it is important
for those that have loved ones in this condition to provide them with the care
that they need to keep them safe.
As you can see, the complications
of bipolar disorder can be quite severe.
Because many people that suffer from this condition simply do not
realize that they have it, it can easily escalate and even put people in danger
just doing the things that they do everyday.
Getting help, though, can really
improve your outlook on life and reduce your risks and complications
significantly.
*** Your Doctor’s Bipolar Treatment
As we’ve discussed, the first thing
that you need to do is to talk with your doctor to determine what is affecting
you. If it is in fact bipolar disorder,
then there are several treatment options that your doctors will recommend to
you.
There is no cure for bipolar, but
with the right treatments for the condition, you can increase your quality of
life and keep yourself safe, too.
It is the combination of both
medication and additional psychotherapy help that is the best route to go. Later, we will talk about other things that
you can do beyond your doctor’s care that can also aid in your improvement.
Medications
There are a number of different
medications available that your doctor can prescribe to deliver some help to
you. Medications have the goal of
helping to regulate your mood swings.
The most common types of
medications for mood control include Lithium in name brands such as Lithobid
and Eskalith. These work as mood
stabilizers and are actually one of the first tools to work against manic
episodes. They are your first line of
defense in regards to your mood swings.
In addition to these, there are
other medications that are used to help stabilize the mood. Anti seizure medications in particular
actually provide the help that’s needed.
These include medications like valproic acid with the brand name of
Depakene. Divalproex, Iamotrigine also
provide this same help.
They work as mood regulators. A less commonly used anti seizure medication
is that of Topiramate which is sold as Topamax.
Yet, there is more help needed in
the maintenance of the mood swings brought on by bipolar disorder. You probably will face episodes of depression
and often times doctors find it important to handle these symptoms carefully.
They can actually be treated in a
number of ways, though. Your doctor has
several ways to go.
He may decide to give you
antidepressants. Antidepressants are
ideal for treating depression specifically and therefore often work with
bipolar patients. These medications include
a line of medications including:
·
Paraxetine which is marketed as Paxil
·
Buprpion which is marketed as Wellbutrin
·
Fluoxetine which is marketed as both Proza and
Sarafem
·
Sertraline which is marketed as Zoloft
In addition to these, your doctor
has the ability to provide you with antipsychotic medications if he deems that
you need them. This includes two types
including risperidone as Risperdal and olanzapine as Zyprexa.
Some medications have been created
to treat both the depressive and the mania symptoms that you face with bipolar
disorder. For example, just recently,
the Food and Drug Administration approved quetiapine as Seroquel to treat both
extents of your condition.
Yet, there are some concerns about
medications that treat bipolar. There
are some health risks that you can take on because you are taking these
medications.
The American Diabetes Association
has done research on several of these commonly used medications and has found
that there are some very serious risks with them. For those that are taking antipsychotic
medications, the risk that is highest is the development of diabetes.
In addition, you are prone to
gaining weight to a very staggering level without the proper exercise and
diet. In association with this, the
increased weight can lead to increases in blood pressure which puts your heart
at risk for problems.
This does not mean that you can’t
take these medications if your doctor tells you to. In fact, you must take them if your doctor
tells you to because they can improve your life and health. But, you should always follow the
recommendations of your doctor in regards to limitations as well as diet and
exercise.
Some medications like Risperdal,
Zyprexa and Seroquel are only used in severe bipolar conditions. Even then, your doctor will closely monitor
your health in use of them. Doing this
helps to keep the risks of complications at bay even when you take this
medication regularly as you will for bipolar.
Each medication that you take will
have different side effects and reactions.
Some people find that medications offer no side effects to them while
the same medication taken by someone else will have severe side effects.
In addition, you should realize
that medications often need some time in your system before you’ll actually see
any results. Some medications can take
weeks of taking them daily before you notice their full benefit.
If it goes this long and you don’t
see any type of improvement, talk to your doctor. There should be another medication that will
deliver the desired effects.
It will take some time before your
doctor will be able to get the right dose for you. Be patient and work with your doctor as
closely as you can to actually gain the benefits that you can have.
Psychotherapy
Although psychotherapy sounds like
a pretty scary thing, it is actually something that can be done easily and with
your help, it can be quite rewarding for you.
During psychotherapy, you and your
doctor will work together to determine the best possible treatment for
you. Usually, you’ll be taking
medications during this process. The combination
can be quite beneficial to your overall health.
By meeting with a doctor to talk
about psychotherapy, you both can learn more about your bipolar condition. The goal will be to find patterns in your
episodes. By tracking and exploring the
pattern of episodes that you go through, your doctor can better understand what
triggers them.
By tracking your mood changes, the
doctor can see if there is something that causes them in the first place. For example, if you take medications for some
other condition, those medications may actually be triggering your mood changes
and leading to the effect of bipolar.
Other common triggers include
emotions. For example, if you have an
argument with a loved one that is severe, then you may experience a mood swing
that is severe. In addition to emotional
causes, physical changes can also trigger your causes.
Just identifying these patterns is
not enough, though. During
psychotherapy, your doctor will work on finding ways for you to manage these
episodes. By learning to cope with the
uncertainties that bipolar brings up, you can improve your overall well being.
Medication alone does not often
bring the help that you’ll need to deal with bipolar disorder. Those that face this condition need to learn
how to realize that they are dealing with mood swings. Psychotherapy can help them to realize that
they can cope with what’s happening to them and stop hurting themselves and
those around them.
It can also help you to realize the
very importance of continuing to take your medications. When you realize the extent of what you do
during your mood swings and how they are unfounded, you can learn to spot them
and you’ll realize that you need medication to help control them as much as
possible.
Psychotherapy is something you
should do on a continuing basis. By
doing so, you allow yourself to get the most help that you can have.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
For those that have severe bipolar
disorder, medications and psychotherapy may not be enough to provide them with
the relief that they need.
Electroconvulsive therapy is another option that is available to you. You’ll hear it called ECT more often.
In electroconvulsive therapy, your
doctor will use electrodes placed on your head to start the treatment. Your doctor will also give you a muscle
relaxer during the treatment. When this
is done, you’ll be given anesthesia and you’ll feel nothing.
Once this is done, the electrodes
will admit a very small amount of electrical current. As the current passes through your brain,
your brain will actually have a seizure.
While in normal circumstances, a brain seizure can be very severe and
very traumatic, that doesn’t happen here.
Because you have taken a muscle
relaxant, your body stays still and calm.
The current only passes through your brain for less than a second.
But, why will this be done? There are actually not many answers to that
question! During the process of electro
convulsion, your brain will react in a very unique way. Your brain’s metabolism changes
significantly. The way that blood flows
through your brain also changes. The end
result is that the depression you face is lessened significantly and you feel
better.
Although this has been proven to
help ease depression and depression symptoms in cases such as bipolar disorder,
it is not fully understood why this happens.
It can seem very troublesome to try
this therapy. After all, it doesn’t
sound as if passing an electrical current through your brain is a beneficial
thing.
But, remember that the amount of
current and the time in which it passes into the brain are very, very
small. That coupled with the control of
the muscle relaxers, you end up benefiting from it instead of suffering from
it.
What’s Right For You?
Although we’ve presented several
types of treatment for bipolar disorder, it will be up to you and your doctor
to determine what the right course of action is for you. This decision will stem from your condition
and its severity.
It also will take some time to
adjust medications and to see benefits from psychotherapy. During that time, you may not be able to see
much improvement. Yet, studies have
shown benefits in the combination of medications and psychotherapy enough so
that many patients see remarkable improvement in their daily lives.
By working with your doctor, you
too can find this benefit. Yet, it will
be important for you to do just that: work with your doctor. Stay in constant communication with him about
how you are doing. He’s there to help
work out the wrinkles to find the best solution for you.
*** Why So Many Struggle With Treatment
Although medication and
psychotherapy are methods for dealing with bipolar disorder, many times
individuals simply will not take them.
They stop. They give up. They simply can not stand the entire process
of fighting their bodies and minds. They
just give up.
As you can probably imagine, this
is simply not the best route for you to take when it comes to caring for your
condition. Yet, a vast number of bipolar
disorder patients will experience this feeling at some time or another. Why is that?
Those that take antipsychotic
medications and mood stabilizers are often the types of medications with the
most side effects and therefore the most commonly stopped by the patient.
Noncompliance And
Nonadherence
When a patient stops taking their
medication, this is called noncompliance or sometimes it is called
nonadherence. It is not just those that suffer from bipolar disorder and take
these medications that face this problem.
In fact, those that are told they
need to take medications for long periods of time often go through a bout of
not wanting to do so any longer. Those
that suffer from epilepsy, hypertension and even asthma often face this feeling
of wanting to stop the medications.
One thing to understand is that you
don’t have to stop taking all of your medications to face a problem. Some individuals only stop taking some of
them; perhaps those that they still have pills available for, and stop
others. Partial noncompliance is just as
problematic as those that face cutting off all medications all together.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t answer
our question of why this happens.
Unfortunately, there are a number of different reasons why it will
happen.
You Don’t Understand Your
Illness
The first and most common reason
that this happens is simply because patients don’t understand the illness that
they are up against. In fact, some 10
out of 14 patients will stop taking medications because they don’t realize just
how important they are to their illness.
Many patients, up to 80 percent,
will take medications only because their doctor’s tell them to. Many don’t realize why they need to take the
medications that they do, but simply do so because their doctor tells them
to. Because people do this, it is hard
to understand just how aware they are of their illness.
One of the most important things
that you can do, then, is to truly understand your condition. If your loved one has bipolar disorder, then
help them to stay informed about their condition. It is essential that you provide this
information because without it, they may not realize the importance of taking
those pills each day.
With this education, though,
protection can be significant from these problems.
Dependency
Although lack of awareness about
their condition is the single most common reason that patients do not take
their medication, the dependency that they have on alcohol and drugs is another
reason that it happens.
Those that put themselves in this
position often are at a great risk of health related problems due to those
medications. Many times, it becomes very
important for a patient to make a choice.
Should they take their medications or should they continue to drink
alcohol or do drugs?
This decision is often one that
happens because psychiatrists often tell their patients that they can’t take
their medications and drink at the same time.
This in itself is a very detrimental mixture. Mixing alcohol or illegal drugs with your
medications can have severe health concerns.
For this reason, it is essential
that patients pair medicinal treatment with substance abuse treatment at the
same time in order to stop themselves from these types of situations which can
ultimately lead to a health crisis.
They Don’t Like The Doctor
If you do not like your doctor or
psychiatrist for any reason, seek out the help of another one. The move is simple and the end result is that
you have the care that you need without risking your medication usage.
The Awful Side Effects
Although many people believe that
the side effects of medications is the reason why so many people stop taking
their bipolar medications, studies have shown that this is not nearly as
important as lack of understanding of their illness. Nevertheless, 10 percent of patients will
stop taking medications because of the side effects associated with them.
The problem here is not that the
medication is too harsh for you. The
problem is not that the medication is the wrong one for you, either. The problem is that your dosage may be
wrong. Too high or too low of a dose can
lead to a number of extreme side effects.
Working with your doctor, you can get this dosage right so that you
improve your overall benefits.
It is common to hear that
medications that are taken first, called first generation antipsychotic are
often more prone to side effects than those that are taken when the first
generation do not work. Medications like
Seroquel and Abilify, Geordon and Zyprexa often have many fewer side effects
than other medications.
In this regard, then, some doctors
will change the medication that you are taking if they determine that the side
effects you are facing are that severe.
If you talk with your doctor, you
can easily find the right medication for your needs as well as for your side
effect intensity. By working through the
first few months with your doctor, the right medication will be found for your
specific case.
What Else Can It Be?
There are many other reasons that
people stop taking their medications.
Those that don’t see a very quick improvement in their symptoms don’t
take them long enough to realize their benefits. Some medications take weeks to actually see a
result in their use.
Those that suffer from depression
even in just bouts also often face the problem of not wanting to take their
medications due to this factor. Those
that face depression of any severity should have someone to help them to
remember to take their medications for their own well being.
Some people don’t take their
medications because they don’t have them.
There is no doubt that medications are not cheap and when you can’t
afford them, you don’t get them. This
problem is one that needs to be addressed by your doctor, you and the financial
aid that may be available to you through governmental offices.
Finally, some patients don’t take
their medication for bipolar disorder simply because they enjoy being in their
manic stage. Still, this stage is only a
stage and you are still putting yourself at risk of health related illness by
not taking your medication!
**** Learning To Cope With Bipolar Disorder
One of the biggest messages you
need to take from this e-book is the fact that you can improve your condition
if you make some changes in your lifestyle.
You can learn to cope with bipolar disorder.
You may sit there and think to
yourself that you just don’t want to deal with this. You may want to be able to write it off as an
“Oh well.” But, in fact, you’ve seen
reasons why you can do that. Now, that
you realize that, take the time to realize what changes you can make in your
life to actually improve your overall quality of life.
Don’t try to make all of these
changes today. Give yourself time and
patience to work through each one. Doing
so will give you more ability to actually be successful with coping with
bipolar disorder.
In this chapter, we talk about a
number of simple ways that you can improve your quality of life by learning
coping techniques. Take them one step at
a time but try to get them all worked into your lifestyle. They seem simple because they can be just
that.
The Way You Sleep
Believe it or not, the way that you
sleep plays a significant role in your bipolar condition. What’s important to remember here is that
when you sleep in a normal pattern, there are chemical changes in the brain that
are beneficial to your condition.
To improve this condition, simply
get enough sleep each night, but do this by going to bed about the same time
each night and get up about the same time each morning. Creating a pattern like this will improve
your bipolar symptoms.
If you work a job that has you
sleeping strange times of the day, you need to try to work out a schedule so
that even when you are not working, you are still sleeping the same times of
the day. This is essential to your
coping skills. It also gives your mind
the time that it needs to clear and to wake up refreshed.
In fact, when you do need to make
changes in your sleep pattern that are drastic, such as a new time zone, talk
to your doctor about the best way to do this without causing problems for
yourself.
Monitor Your Medications
We’ve talked a lot about taking the
medications that you need to take and the reasons for doing so. But, you can also learn to cope with this
process to make it that much more successful for you.
Take your medications even if you
feel great. Do what your doctor tells
you to do in regards to taking them even when you have no symptoms. Even if you feel really good, that’s your
medication talking and working! By
stopping the consumption of them, you simply allow the symptoms to begin all
over again.
To make the entire process of
medication taking easy plan out your schedule so as to include your
dosing. For example, when you wake up in
the morning, have your breakfast and take your morning pills. If you take a second pill later in the day,
do so after dinner, for example. By
pairing medication taking with meals, for example, you keep yourself from
forgetting them.
If you do take more than one pill
and are easily confused by them (and who wouldn’t be?) purchase a pill
organizer and use this to portion out your medications. Those that are for a week or even a month at
a time are excellent tools to insure that you don’t forget and don’t become
confused with medications.
Another tip to remember about your
medications is that they don’t mix well.
If you get a cold, consult your doctor about which cold medications you
can take with your bipolar medications.
You should never mix them with any type of alcohol or other drugs.
Maintain Your Level Of
Activity
An important part of managing
bipolar disorder is to completely organize and regulate your life in the best
way that you can. For those that are
used to working very hard, every day, this may mean pulling back some to a
normal paced activity level.
No matter what you do, by
regulating the amount that you do the same or about the same each day, you also
help to ease those chemicals in your brain and therefore avoid the symptoms
that can sometimes happen when you are frantically running around one day and
doing nothing but watching television the next day!
Don’t Use Drugs Or Alcohol
The temptation to use alcohol and
drugs is very strong for many people.
When you are dealing with the symptoms of bipolar disorder, you may feel
the need to just relax. Turning to
alcohol or drugs can be a huge temptation.
The mood swings may feel better while you are intoxicated, but the
mixture of medications with these substances can be fatal. Some will take alcohol and drugs to help them
to sleep. The problem is that it almost
always makes it even worse.
If you have problems with alcohol
and drugs, seeking help and counseling will help to provide you the strength
that you need to overcome this problem.
One of the best tools to use is that of Alcoholics Anonymous or other
self help groups. We’ll talk more about
their benefits in just a minute.
The use of alcohol, caffeine and
even over the counter medications can be deadly and can cause enough medical
trouble for you to land you in the hospital.
This is especially true for over the counter cold medications and
allergy medications. Always check with
your doctor about the right medications to use when you are ill.
In addition to that, realize that
these over the counter medications and trigger mood swings, even when you are
taking your medication.
They can interfere with your sleep
patterns, cause loss of appetite and put your body in the position of being
vulnerable. If you become sick, talk to
your doctor about the best medications for your condition.
Caffeine offers the same type of
trigger and keeps you from getting sleep, too.
If you feel that you need coffee in the morning, you need to find a
decaffeinated coffee or stop drinking it all together. Just a small amount of this type of product
daily is all that it will take to limit the effectiveness of your medications.
·
Don’t use alcohol
·
Don’t use illegal drugs
·
Cut as much caffeine related products like soda,
coffee and chocolate out of your diet.
·
Ask your doctor which over the counter
medications are okay for you to use with your current prescription medications
and those that will not cause problems with mood swings and sleep depravation.
Doing those four things can
drastically improve the quality of life that you have. Although it may seem hard to not be able to
have a drink, you know that the benefits of not having to deal with mood swings
matters more.
Support
Getting support from your family is
vitally important. Many bipolar patients
like to think that they can do it on their own.
But, as we’ve discussed, it is very difficult to do this. Most of the time, you won’t realize how
severe your mood swing is. You may not
realize that you are lashing out at a loved one for no reason.
Step two is to realize that you
aren’t the only one that is suffering.
Bipolar patients often lash out at those that they love. Those in your family have to deal with mood
swings that can be quite severe.
Although you feel you can’t do much about this, helping your loved ones
to be educated and informed about your condition will reduce the amount of
stress that plays along with bipolar disorder.
If they know what you are suffering
from, they can help you. If they don’t,
they don’t understand why you are doing what you are doing. That leads to family stress and painful situations. Without an understanding of what is
happening, your family just can’t be as supportive as they could be otherwise.
In addition to just having
knowledge of the effect that bipolar disorder has on you, you should also seek
out the help that you need from a family therapist. Even a family that doesn’t have much strife
in it will need to get the help and support of a therapist. Bipolar disorder causes trauma in families
and having this additional help is a saving grace in the way of understanding.
Finally, when an educated family
can support the person that is suffering from bipolar disorder, he or she can
strive for improvement with help. The
family can provide support when mood swings take over.
And, they can help to keep you and
your doctor informed about the way that you react to situations, to mood swings
and even to your medications. That adds
up to a successful situation for the bipolar disorder patient.
The family unit is a tool that all
bipolar disorder patients need, but many times you may feel the desire to
simply run and hide. You may feel as if
you would rather be alone. Getting
through that feeling will lead to success.
Reduction Of Stress
Just reading the title of this
section you are thinking to yourself that you can’t do it. You’ve heard it before. You know that stress is a killer of many
people, not just those that suffer from bipolar disorder. Yet, it is essential that you look at your
life and identify those times when stress has lead to mood swings or even out
of control behaviors that put you at risk.
Consider this. If you push yourself at work to be the person
that does the most, what do you accomplish?
You probably will cause the onset of numerous symptoms of bipolar disorder
specifically that of mood swings. When
this happens, you put yourself in a position of not being able to work or even
worse putting your position at jeopardy.
Therefore, you end up not actually
benefiting from all of your hard work, but instead have fewer benefits and
ultimately you drop the productivity level that you could have had.
On the other hand, if you would
have worked a steady schedule and done what you should have done in regards to
stress management, you ultimately would have accomplished more.
Here are some tips for stress
management at work.
·
Work the same hours as much as possible. By working a predicable and steady schedule
allows you to stick to a schedule which helps to lessen mood swings.
·
Get the rest that you need. You need to try to sleep at the same time
each day. You need to be able to monitor
your sleep patterns to reduce mood swings.
·
When you are suffering from mood swings,
consider whether or not you should be working.
For some, it may mean talking with your doctor about how they affect
your job. Ultimately, you need to decide
if you are benefiting yourself or not by continuing to work and tough out these
mood swings.
·
Take time off.
Those that take time off often improve their overall health and well
being. By getting time off each week and
even vacation time, (or taking time off when you need to) you improve your
level of stress and how the body reacts to it.
·
Don’t work in overly stressful
environments. While you may not feel
that this is something that you can control, it needs to be. Those that suffer with bipolar need to
consider their health above anything else.
Mood swings, depressive and manic symptoms, can be made worse when you
put yourself in a position to deal with a lot of stress.
·
Work through problems. If there are small things that happen that
cause you to worry or cause stress, handle them right away. Small problems turn into large ones that are
much less likely to be dealt with. By
handling problems quickly, you reduce the stress toll that they take on you
ultimately.
Reducing stress should be one of
the most important things that you do.
By doing so, you lessen the risk of having a mood swing because of
stress. Learn to spot stressful situations
and learn how to get out of them effectively!
It will pay off.
Watch For Signs
Believe it or not, learning to
watch for signs of the onset of mood swings can be an excellent tool to aid you
in coping with your illness. The early
warning signs of an episode can be seen before they become full blown swings.
Unfortunately, your doctor can only
give you an idea of what will happen to you during a mood swing. That’s because each person is unique and that
in itself provides for challenges. Each
person will move from depressive symptoms to manic symptoms differently and at
different times.
The faster you notice that your
mood is changing, the faster you can take action to prevent it or at least to
deal with what is coming. The faster you
do this, the faster help can get to you.
What are the warning signs? Here are some things that can be a small mood
change that ultimately can be a predictor of a large mood swing behind the next
door. Learn to notice these to spot mood
changes.
·
Sleep
changes. If you are on a sleep
pattern (which you should be) when you notice that you can’t sleep or you are
tired even after getting a full nights rest, this can be a predictor of a mood
swing.
·
Energy
level. Fluctuations in energy levels
are a strong indicator that you are having a mood change. Since most of the time mania will incorporate
increased energy while depressive symptoms take away, you can see how this
could be spotted.
·
Loss of
sexual interest. Some patients will
encounter times when they don’t want any type of sexual touching. Although it is common for people to be
interested and not interested normally, a change that is significant should be
noted.
·
Concentration. You go to work and get the job done. Sometimes, you may have a feeling that you
just can’t stay on task. When you feel
that you can’t concentrate and finish the tasks that you started, this can be a
sign of a mood change.
·
Self
esteem. It is important for family members to take notice of these
situations. If you or your loved one
determines that you are down and out or you are saying negative things about
yourself, then this could be a sign that depressive symptoms are coming. It is essential that these things be spotted
and treated as soon as possible.
·
Thought changes.
If you just for no reason seem to be very optimistic, or you are
thinking about death a lot, this can be a sign that you are having a mood
swing. If these thoughts turn suicidal,
it is imperative to seek help as soon as possible.
·
Changes
in the way you appear. Some bipolar
disorder patients will go through stages in which they feel as if they need to
change the way that they look. You may
change the way that you groom or to the level that you groom. You may all of a sudden hate the clothes that
you have. These can be signs of a mood
swing because of the emotion that is often attached to them.
The early warning signs of a mood
swing can be wonderful tools to aid you in spotting trouble before it happens,
or at least to the degree that it can happen.
But, one of the problems with this is that most people can’t spot these
things on their own. They often see
these stresses as just their everyday lifestyle.
For this reason, it is important
that family members be able to spot these early warning signs and then help you
to get through them. By spotting changes
in you, your family can help you to get some help and quickly!
What should be done if you
experience some of these mood changes?
If you notice the warning signs, you should contact your doctor as soon
as possible to find the relief that you need.
He or she can offer supportive help that extends to medication if he
deems it necessary.
This also can be helpful in
spotting patterns of mood swings and that can be a tool to long term treatment
as well.
Keep Your Doctor Informed
Although you may hate to go to the
doctor and you may think that your doctor never has anything good to say, it is
very important to keep him informed. By
telling him what is going on and what you are feeling, he can make better
decisions for you.
You should contact your doctor:
·
When you feel that a mood swing is going to
happen sometime soon.
·
when you feel that you are experiencing a mood
swing
·
When your medications are not working the way
that you thought they were supposed to
·
When you have any type of suicidal thoughts,
feelings of despair or are having trouble getting through the day without
feeling sad.
·
When your family members tell you that you are
going through a mood swing or they tell you that you are showing signs of
either mania or depressive symptoms due to their understanding.
Your doctor can help you to learn
to cope with these situations. They can
also prescribe medication differences that can also act as a tool to improving
your health and well being.
By keeping your doctor informed,
you allow your symptoms to be monitored.
Your doctor can learn patterns and even notice the things that trigger
these episodes to happen. That can lead
to benefits throughout your lifetime including the avoidance of those
situations which will lead to fewer episodes throughout your lifetime.
Learning to cope with bipolar
disorder is a must. By taking a look at
your life right now, you’ll be able to see things that can be changed that will
ultimately improve your well being. Do
you sleep right? Do you eat right? Do you know what your early warning signs
are? Taking care of these changes now
will ultimately improve your overall well being.
You can learn to cope with bipolar
disorder. Now, there are a few more
things you can do too.
*** Why You Should Consider Support Groups
Everyone hates them and not one
wants to go to support groups. But,
think about why that is. Is it too hard
for you to do? Do you hate admitting that something could be wrong? Perhaps you are like one of the many that
actually find themselves struggling with the need to surround yourself with
others that face the same challenges that you do.
The bottom line is that support
groups do help and that they commonly can help to increase your quality of life
and help you to realize what you are up against.
Learning to cope with bipolar
disorder is not easy but it is challenging.
It is something that you can learn to do. In fact, one of the best ways to do this is
to work with others that are facing the same situations that you are.
Support groups offer that type of
care, something that your family and friends can not give you nor can your
doctor. Being around others that are
struggling with the same problems you are struggling with, gives you hope,
understanding and even a sense of peace.
Who Is Your Support Group?
Learning about support groups is
vitally important. Who is in yours
depends on your family make up and even those that are striving to provide you
with the care that you need.
Right now, you probably have a
family that is helping to support your needs.
You also have a health care team that is there to provide you with
medical assistance. This includes
everyone from your family doctor to the psychiatrist that you’ve poured your
heart out to.
Friends should make up part of your
support group too. Many don’t want to
provide personal information about themselves such as their bipolar disorder,
but the fact is that you should. A true
friend stays by you and helps you to cope as well as offers you the support you
need in all times of your life.
Consider telling those that you
love what is happening to you. It can
only benefit you. What’s more, it can
help people to understand the way that you react and the moods that you go
through, making you a better friend to them.
Outside Support
While having your family around you
will improve your well being and will offer the help that you need, you should
consider additional help through outside support groups as well.
Professional groups that meet to
discuss bipolar disorder are found in many hospitals, recreation centers and in
various psychiatric facilities. To find
one that is located near you, ask your doctor for suggestions. They may have one that is tailored to your
specific needs in mind for you to choose to got to based on your situation.
These support groups provide
professional attention that can be guided by you. For example, several people that have the
same disorder as you do can come together with a moderator. By sharing the ins and outs of your day with
others, you help them to improve their life as much as you’ll help yourself to
do the same.
Bipolar disorder is a condition
where isolation leads to worsening symptoms.
A therapy group will provide you with the needs that you have in meeting
others that have your same symptoms. It
helps you to know that others out there are going through the same things that
you are. It is excellent help in
realizing that you aren’t alone in what you are facing.
If that is still not enough to get
you to a support group, the fact that many of those that do attend them
actually find a reduction in their symptoms should! By being able to talk about your stresses and
your problems, you increase the amount of time between your episodes of mood
swings.
Not only will you be getting
benefits from outside support group members, but you also provide them to
others. No one else can understand the
frustration of not being able notice your mood swings.
No one else can feel the
frustration of feeling down and depressed and not knowing why. And, no one else can understand fully the
problems with taking medications and the sheer fact that you’ll live with
bipolar disorder for the rest of your life.
By utilizing support from both your
family and friends and outside support groups, you can gain a level of
understanding and benefit. Bipolar
disorder may be holding you against your will, but with support from outside
sources, you can fight against the effect that it has on your daily and long
term life.
*** Coping By Monitoring Symptoms: The Mood Chart
Coping with bipolar disorder is
something that you should do in many ways.
One of those ways, as we have discussed includes monitoring your
symptoms. While we discussed several
reasons why you need to watch for the early signs and symptoms of bipolar, it
is also important for you to see how your treatment is working.
Your doctor may ask you to keep a
mood chart especially at the beginning of your treatment. But, it is best to continue with it for the
long term because it provides you, your family, your friends and your doctors with
help in spotting episodes of mood changes.
When all of these individuals can pull together, you’ll see remarkable
benefits in your daily life.
What Is It?
A mood chart is a simple
diary. You will use it to keep track of
your mood changes, your daily feelings, the things that you do and the way that
you sleep. It is quite an effective tool
when put to good use. Here’s what to
include in your mood chart for starters:
1.
The way that you feel that day, including any
feeling changes. If you wake up in a
great mood, record this. If later
someone angers you, record this too.
2.
Your activities also need to be recorded. If you go to work, write it down. If you decide to spend the day in bed, this
too needs to be recorded. Being able to
track the things that you do will help you and your doctor to spot triggers and
to spot oncoming severe mood swings.
3.
Sleep patterns are very important to the bipolar
patient. You should track the changes
that happen in your sleeping because it will trigger differences in your
overall well being.
4.
Medications and side effects should also be
considered daily. If you take your
medication and in an hour feel like you need a nap, this should be
recorded. It is very important to
remember to include changes in your overall response, too. If you begin to have new side effects or ones
that are worsened, this needs to be considered.
5.
Life changes and life events that are
significant should be noted. Sometimes,
the death of a loved one or the stresses at work can lead to mood changes that
can be severe.
Most days, you’ll record a normal
day. Many times you won’t have a lot of
details to incorporate into your mood chart.
Other times, though, you may find the need to include many details.
There are a number of different
types of charts on the market that can be quite useful to you. Select one that your doctor tells you is the
right choice. It will ultimately provide
you with the best record of how to manage your mood swings by keeping track of
them.
If you don’t want to do this on
paper, you can make a virtual diary on a document that you keep on your
computer too. To remember to do this
tracking, simply take note of it the same time each day, perhaps after you eat
a meal. Diarize it! You’ll be rewarded with the answers that you
need for daily life management.
Conclusion
Bipolar disorder is a life long
illness that affects millions of people each year. Most of them go on to live normal and happy
lives because they learn the coping skills they need to empower themselves.
These coping methods are just the
start of your journey. Soon you’ll be
able to see the things that effect you yourself and you’ll be able to rein them
in. You can improve the quality of your
life by simply managing these aspects of it.
You are worth the work it takes to
improve. You alone can make the decision
to change.
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