Techniques & Tools to Deal With Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that can affect many areas of your life. In addition to any medications your doctor has prescribed and any therapy groups you attend, other tools exist that can help you manage your disorder. These tools can help you keep your mood swings under control and avoid any major episodes of mania or depression.

Self-Maintenance

• One major part of managing bipolar disorder is leading a healthy lifestyle. Your sleeping, eating and exercise habits all play a major role in your mood swings. People with bipolar disorder need to have a regular sleeping and waking cycle. In addition, it is important to maintain healthy eating habits. Changes in sleeping and eating patterns are not only symptoms of bipolar disorder, but they can also make episodes of mania and depression worse. Regular exercise can help fight the depression but shouldn't be done excessively as this is often a precursor to mania. Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, drugs and other mind-altering substances is essential to avoiding episodes for those with bipolar disorder. These substances can have detrimental effects on the brain and increase the severity of mania and depression. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine are okay in moderation, but all other drugs should be completely avoided.

Managing Moods

• Learning to identify symptoms of depression and mania is the first step to learning to manage your moods. In addition, you'll want to learn what specific events and behaviors trigger episodes. The best way to do both is to either keep a journal or mood chart that monitors your mood from day to day and serves as a log of both your moods and the events surrounding them. As you look back over your chart, you may find patterns to your behavior. It is important to have family and friends who know what symptoms to look for and can contact your doctor to avoid a major episode. Often, the people around you notice symptoms of mania first. To help control depression, participate in activities you enjoy to help take your mind off the pain, and tell someone you trust that you are depressed.

The Role of Stress in Bipolar Disorder

• Stress plays an active role in the severity of the symptoms of bipolar disorder. People with this disorder are more prone to stress and often burn out easily. Stress can make the depressions deeper and the mania more out of control. It is important that those with bipolar disorder try to avoid stressful situations. If work or school is too stressful, you should try to lighten your work load or consider taking time off. Meditation is one tool that is recommended to those with bipolar disorder to help reduce stress. Many different forms of meditation are available, and it's up to you to decide which works best. Another way to avoid stress is to take time to do the things you enjoy. If you find yourself getting stressed out, take a step back and watch your favorite movie or read your favorite book to help calm down. Managing your stress levels is an important part of learning to manage your disorder.