Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Initial Treatment
• Part 2 of 2: Daily Resistance to Disease

Bipolar disorder (or “manic depression,” as it was previously called) is a type of mental illness in which people experience dramatic changes in mood, from excessive happiness or excitement (mania) to sadness and despair (depression) and back in a cyclical manner. ... These symptoms can plague a person for weeks or even months. Between bouts of the disease, a person is in phases when his mood is normalized. Even if you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you can manage the condition and continue to lead a productive life. You can be extremely productive by following a few important tips.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Initial Treatment

1. 1 Accept the diagnosis. Like high blood pressure or diabetes, this condition can be pervasive and last your entire life. As with any medical condition, you can take medications and maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid symptoms of manic depression. Accepting the problem is the first step towards change.
2. 2 Become an expert on manic depressive symptoms. You should be well versed in the signs of impending symptoms, the frequency of their onset, the protection and risk factors for the onset of symptoms, as well as the methods of treatment. This knowledge will help you deeply understand the disease and prevent its return. With manic-depressive disorder, a person, as a rule, can identify individual phases of moods and understand when a particular phase begins, which means it is better to prepare for it.
   • Manic episodes are characterized by unnaturally good moods, short sleep cycles, and increased activity to accomplish certain goals.
   • Hypomanic episodes are manifested by a weaker elevation in mood; they include all of the same symptoms as the manic phase, but they are usually much less intense. Often, this phase is not noted as problematic by the sick person or his loved ones; however, it can indicate the proximity of more severe mood swings.
   • Depressive phases include periods of low energy and pleasure. Other symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, despair, and suicidal thoughts.
   • Mixed mania includes the manifestation of symptoms of mania and hypomania, as well as symptoms of the depressive phase.
   • Cyclothymia is a disorder in which mood changes between mild mania and vague depression.
   • The rapid cyclical nature of the disease appears to be rapid changes in a person's mood between mania or hypomania and depression. It is evident when a person experiences four or more of these episodes in one year.
3. 3 Stick to therapy and medication. Medicines are a very important component of therapy. Regular use of medication not only normalizes mood, but also reduces the likelihood of relapse. Make sure you take your medications regularly. If necessary, ask a family member or friend to remind you of your medications.
4. 4 Keep moving forward only. See a therapist regularly, show compliance, and do regular homework.Remember that your level of functionality depends on changes in your behavior; these changes, in turn, depend on changes in your thoughts and feelings, which are the product of manic or depressive changes in your mood. The cycle of changing your mood is constantly repeating itself. Psychotherapy can help you break this vicious circle and gain control over your thoughts and moods, as well as allow you to track these elements to reduce the risk of relapse and function more efficiently.

Part 2 of 2: Daily Resistance to Disease

1. 1 Make a daily plan for how you are going to manage your symptoms. Because manic-depressive symptoms often change direction and intensity, each day will be different for you. Plan your schedule for the whole day, depending on your mood. The side effects of your medications can also affect your plans. If you are feeling lethargic, energized, or desperate, you need to develop a plan to deal with your mood on that particular day. Here are some tips on how to do this most easily:
   • Maintain a stable sleep and meal schedule. Excess or lack of sleep and food will have a negative impact on your well-being and can lead to chemical imbalances in your body, affecting your mood. If you suffer from prolonged interruptions in sleep or appetite, consult your doctor or therapist. In addition to medication or tranquilizers, the right techniques for dealing with insomnia or hypersomnia can be very beneficial for you.
   • Ask your friends and family for help. By discussing your medical condition with them, you can help them identify the various symptoms in your behavior, as well as incorporate them into a routine that helps you feel better. For example, if you are feeling desperate or exhausted, they can take you outdoors to improve your mood.
   • Avoid stressful situations. This does not mean that you should avoid any problems; however, stress can make your symptoms worse. Discuss the stressful situation with a friend or your therapist. You can learn stress management and problem-solving techniques to help you cope more effectively with your mood swings.
   • Set realistic and rewarding goals for yourself. The main problem with unrealistic plans and goals is that they often lead to frustration and feelings of powerlessness. What's more, they push you into a manic-depressive cycle. Achieving one small goal is more valuable than achieving several with meager results. Prepare yourself for any disappointments, as they are part of our life. Remember that your symptoms are not caused by the situation, but by your thoughts about it. Change the way you think and you will see positive results.
2. 2 Apply self-regulation techniques in your daily life. Exercising regularly, eating the right diet, and sleeping well can help you fight the symptoms of your illness. You can create a class schedule and follow it by tracking your mood. Symptoms tend to get worse when something unexpected happens; scheduling your classes reduces the risk of unexpected events. Moreover, when the manic symptoms dominate your mood, you are busy with a lot of tasks, but you can rarely complete even one of them, because you lose concentration. Planning and scheduling will increase your concentration and productivity.
3. 3 Monitor your mood and symptoms regularly. Chart your symptoms and mood on a weekly basis, and keep a daily journal to help you understand your current mood.First, these activities increase your self-awareness, which means you can instantly respond to certain symptoms. They can also help you identify stressors and the reasons for your mood. By getting rid of harmful factors, you can normalize your mood, reducing the risk of relapse and increasing your productivity.
4. 4 Control your emotions. Anger, irritability, sadness, despair and other similar moods are part of manic-depressive symptoms. Using appropriate anger management techniques and replacing dysfunctional thoughts with healthier ones can help you control your emotional behavior: your emotions and changes in mood.
5. 5 Develop a plan to deal with early warning signs. To know when to act, you must be alert. When you start to watch for alarms, you take responsibility for your well-being. Well-functioning people develop a plan of action ahead of time and remain vigilant for their symptoms. You can also ask friends and loved ones to let you know if they notice disturbing changes in your behavior. Remember that these signals can be different for different people and differ from the side effects of your medications. You can identify warning signs based on your previous experience and understanding of what symptoms appear before a mood swings. Some of the common signals that usually appear before the full onset of manic-depressive symptoms are listed below.
   • Warning signals before manic phase:
     • Increased level of activity and energy
     • Talkativeness
     • Reduced need for sleep
     • Feelings of extreme pleasure and increased self-esteem
     • Making unrealistic plans and increasing focus on goals
   • Warning signals before depressive phase:
     • Lack of concentration
     • Depression
     • Feelings of despair and helplessness
     • Lack of energy or lethargy (other than medication side effects) or suicidal thoughts
     • Loss of interest in people or business
     • Bad mood
   • Warning signals before manic and depressive phase:
     • Irritability
     • Broken appetite and sleep
     • Aggression and feelings of anger about small things
     • Lack of concentration and attention when performing certain tasks
     • Deterioration of well-being and inability to cope with academic, social and professional responsibilities.
6. 6 Assemble an emergency kit. Once you've been through therapy and started monitoring how you are feeling, collect the following things:
   • List of early warning signs before the onset of manic and depressive symptoms. Keep this list in your wallet or bag and track them for hasty intervention.
   • Disease control cards containing statements to help you manage symptoms in a stressful situation. Include statements like this: “I handled the previous situation well, I can do whatever I want.”
   • Emotional Control Cards that score your emotions on a scale of 1-10. Write statements on these cards that will help you overcome those emotions.
   • Reading materials describing strategies to use when your mood swings get worse or when you feel you are approaching another phase.
7. 7 Calm yourself down through meditation or prayer. If you are religious, prayer can help you cope with your emotions. If you are not religious, you can resort to meditation to relieve stress and calm your nervous system. Typically, well-functioning people with bipolar disorder use meditation or prayer as a regular method of managing their health, along with therapy and medication.