Millions of individuals have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. From the moment a person is diagnosed they will never be the same.
They may hate themselves, consider themselves weak because of the mental illness and may shut out those that are closest to them. This article is here to provide coping mechanisms for Bipolar Disorder for those suffering and their friends and family. Educating Yourself on Bipolar Disorder is the first step in coping with the mental illness. You will need to know how to recognize symptoms that you may start to experience. Knowing is half the battle and many choose to just ignore the diagnosis completely. By educating yourself as soon as you have been diagnosed, you are already learning how to cope.
- Explore all of the Treatment Options available to you. Not every treatment works for every person with Bipolar Disorder. Being open to the idea of different types of treatment available in Orange County will increase your chances of success in finding what is best for you
- Develop a Routine for Yourself. By developing a routine, this will help to stabilize your mood. Structure should be maintained at all times, during bad and good days.
- Eat Healthy Foods. Keep your diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables that are eaten in small amounts throughout the day to prevent your blood sugar from dropping too low.
- Maintain a Healthy Sleeping Schedule. Sleep is very important in cases of Bipolar Disorder. Not getting enough sleep can trigger a manic episode and sleeping too much can make moods worse. Scheduling yourself to go to sleep and wake up around the same time every day puts the body into a healthy routine and will help with moods and prevention of manic episodes.
- Always Take Your Medication as Directed. Even if it may not feel like it, Bipolar Drugs are there to help you, not harm you. The drugs are part of the treatment for Bipolar Disorder. Follow the instructions given to you and add the times to take your medication into your daily schedule. Never skip a day because you are feeling well, always keep at it.Share your Findings with Friends and Family so that they can also help with the process as well. They can see to it that you are maintaining your daily schedule and healthy sleeping habits and will also be there to talk and help you through rough days.
The most important thing to remember is that It Takes Time.
You will not learn to cope over night and there will be rough patches while trying to adjust to what feels like an entirely different life. Your patience may wear thin from time to time but always remember that you are in control of your disease and your treatment and only you can see that things can get better. Keeping the above mentioned coping mechanisms in mind will help you on the long road to coping with Bipolar Disorder and before you know it, things will feel like they always have.
