Advice for people with Bipolar disorder from a person with Bipolar disorder

The important three things to look into in order to recover are Therapy (Individual, family, or group. I would look into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for dealing with depression), Medication (This can take time, but it is essential.), and Education (like learning the indicators of a manic episode (like racing thoughts) and ways to break the cycle of depression (back to Cognitive Therapy look into The Feeling Good Handbook.))

Sometimes I wonder how miserable I would have been if it were not around. It has given me a choice that in the past people didn’t have. The choice to actively fight there disorder and overcome it.

In the past before medication it was too overpowering for an individual to overcome. Now there is help on all sides, as long as you can find a way around the system with money or agility to get the medications you need.

Today with how many medications are out there, and better ones be researched, it is only a matter of time until you feel so normal you think you don’t even need the medication anymore. When this wonderful day comes for you do not be fooled; it is your medication that is making you feel normal again.

Another important factor is (if you use them) giving up those other little drugs that interfere with your medication: weed, alcohol, and possibly (not sure on this one) smoking. I hate to lecture or anything like that, but the main thing that might be preventing your wellbeing is self-medicating.

If you can find balance in your life by taking care of yourself physically you will discover that exercise is a natural and healthy way to elevate you mood without sending you overboard.

If you are feeling a little hypomania than take a break from exercises like running, and tone it down to calm walking or yoga. Learn to meditate, and calm yourself. It is a lot easier then it seems at first once you discover your own personal niche.

Look up additional steps you can take to balance your life. Have you heard of fish oil? Ask your pDoc (psychiatrist) about it? Also look into how much you should take, because each little tablet adds a little bit of cholesterol to your system. You might want to cut down on cholesterol elsewhere to make up for this.

That is my advice; I hope I didn’t annoy you too much.