Living With Bipolar Disorder

If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you may be relieved that you now know why you have felt or behaved a certain way. You may also feel overwhelmed about the treatment ahead, how to get the support you need, and how to deal with the condition day-to-day. With care and support, you can learn to manage your symptoms and live with bipolar disorder.

How to manage lifestyle changes

Managing stress

Stress is your body’s reaction to life changes and events, both good and bad. Stress can play a major role in bipolar disorder, so it is important to learn how to cope with stress. Some techniques to cope with stress include:

• Meditation, muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises.
• Exercise. Even a short daily walk can help to lower stress levels.
• Getting enough good-quality sleep. Too little sleep can cause mania to start (can trigger mania).
• Making a schedule to manage your time. Knowing your daily schedule can help to keep you from feeling overwhelmed by tasks and deadlines.
• Spending time on hobbies that you enjoy.

Medicines

Your health care provider may suggest certain medicines if he or she feels that they will help improve your condition. Avoid using caffeine, alcohol, and other substances that may prevent your medicines from working properly (may interact). It is also important to:

• Talk with your pharmacist or health care provider about all the medicines that you take, their possible side effects, and which medicines are safe to take together.
• Make it your goal to take part in all treatment decisions (shared decision-making). Ask about possible side effects of medicines that your health care provider recommends, and tell him or her how you feel about having those side effects. It is best if shared decision-making with your health care provider is part of your total treatment plan.

If you are taking medicines as part of your treatment, do not stop taking medicines before you ask your health care provider if it is safe to stop. You may need to have the medicine slowly decreased (tapered) over time to decrease the risk of harmful side effects.

Relationships

Spend time with people that you trust and with whom you feel a sense of understanding and calm. Try to find friends or family members who make you feel safe and can help you control feelings of mania. Consider going to couples counseling, family education classes, or family therapy to:

• Educate your loved ones about your condition and offer suggestions about how they can support you.
• Help resolve conflicts.
• Help develop communication skills in your relationships.

How to recognize changes in your condition

Everyone responds differently to treatment for bipolar disorder. Some signs that your condition is improving include:

• Leveling of your mood. You may have less anger and excitement about daily activities, and your low moods may not be as bad.
• Your symptoms being less intense.
• Feeling calm more often.
• Thinking clearly.
• Not experiencing consequences for extreme behavior.
• Feeling like your life is settling down.
• Your behavior seeming more normal to you and to other people.

Some signs that your condition may be getting worse include:

• Sleep problems.
• Moods cycling between deep lows and unusually high (excess) energy.
• Extreme emotions.
• More anger at loved ones.
• Staying away from others (isolating yourself).
• A feeling of power or superiority.
• Completing a lot of tasks in a very short amount of time.
• Unusual thoughts and behaviors.
• Suicidal thoughts.

Where to find support

Talking to others

• Try making a list of the people you may want to tell about your condition, such as the people you trust most.
• Plan what you are willing to talk about and what you do not want to discuss. Think about your needs ahead of time, and how your friends and family members can support you.
• Let your loved ones know when they can share advice and when you would just like them to listen.
• Give your loved ones information about bipolar disorder, and encourage them to learn about the condition.

Finances

Not all insurance plans cover mental health care, so it is important to check with your insurance carrier. If paying for co-pays or counseling services is a problem, search for a local or county mental health care center. Public mental health care services may be offered there at a low cost or no cost when you are not able to see a private health care provider.

If you are taking medicine for depression, you may be able to get the generic form, which may be less expensive than brand-name medicine. Some makers of prescription medicines also offer help to patients who cannot afford the medicines they need.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider or pharmacist.
• Ask your pharmacist what over-the-counter cold medicines you should avoid. Some medicines can make symptoms worse.

General instructions

• Ask for support from trusted family members or friends to make sure you stay on track with your treatment.
• Keep a journal to write down your daily moods, medicines, sleep habits, and life events. This may help you have more success with your treatment.
• Make and follow a routine for daily meal times. Eat healthy foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruit.
• Try to go to sleep and wake up around the same time every day.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Questions to ask your health care provider:

• If you are taking medicines:
  • How long do I need to take medicine?
  • Are there any long-term side effects of my medicine?
  • Are there any alternatives to taking medicine?
• How would I benefit from therapy?
• How often should I follow up with a health care provider?

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms get worse or they do not get better with treatment.

Get help right away if:

• You have thoughts about harming yourself or others.

If you ever feel like you may hurt yourself or others, or have thoughts about taking your own life, get help right away. You can go to your nearest emergency department or call:

• Your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
• A suicide crisis helpline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This is open 24-hours a day.

Summary

• Learning ways to deal with stress can help to calm you and may also help your treatment work better.
• There is a wide range of medicines that can help to treat bipolar disorder.
• Having healthy relationships can help to make your moods more stable.
• Contact a health care provider if your symptoms get worse or they do not get better with treatment.