Hi, how are you doing today? I hope you’re having a great day.
I know you’ve heard me talk about my goddaughter before. Well, the other day, she was visiting, and she started “twirling” in circles. She would twirl and twirl until she finally got too dizzy and
fell down, giggling. Then you know what she did? She got right up and did the same thing again! She just wouldn’t stay still.
It’s the same with bipolar disorder. It doesn’t stay still, either. And it definitely doesn’t go away.
It changes, and as it does, you have to adapt to it.
But that’s the same just in life in general. Change is constant, and you can’t let down your guard.
What I’m talking about here is more like:
What worked for you yesterday may not work for you today, and what works for you today may not work for you tomorrow. And you have to adapt to it – make changes, if necessary.
First of all, you can’t change anything until you realize what needs to change. You need to constantly monitor that. You keep what works, and you change what doesn’t work. You don’t just stay still and do nothing.
Let’s look at some examples of things you might need to change:
1. Sleeping too much or too little
You need to keep a steady, routine sleep schedule. Get at least 8 hrs of sleep each night, go to
bed at the same time at night and wake up at the same time each morning. Sleep (or lack of it) is one of the biggest triggers for a bipolar episode, so you need to watch that, and change your routine if necessary.
For instance, I know someone with bipolar disorder who was having trouble getting to sleep at night (she kept having racing thoughts). So now she drinks a cup of hot herbal tea before bed each night, and that works for her.
2. Poor diet
If you eat lots of junk food, sugar, fats, and cholesterol, your body is not going to reward you with good health. For instance, you may get high cholesterol and need to go on medication for it, before it endangers your life. Changing to a healthy diet will keep you balanced and stable.
3. No exercise (or not enough)
You need to exercise for your own physical health, besides the bipolar disorder. You can do it at home, join a gym, or join the Y, but you do need to exercise, even if it’s just walking.
4. Low self-esteem
You can raise your self-esteem by doing things outside yourself – Doing things for other people
makes you feel better about yourself (like volunteering).
5. Non-productivity
Being idle or lazy (unproductive) can be a trigger to a bipolar depressive episode. It can make you depressed and affect your self-esteem, and definitely affect your bipolar disorder.
Making changes in your lifestyle can go far in making changes in how you feel about yourself –
both physically and mentally.
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
post responses below
Dave, I have been diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder with severe depression. Much of your advice sounds like you advocate the virtures of disciplne and determination which are admirable qualities. I just wonder what you do when your spent emotionally and cannot push yourself another inch. (I push myself very hard & am very self disciplined). When I’m at the end of my rope if I continue to try to push myself I become very agitated and that is not pleasant for anyone to be around. Any thoughts? Thanks, Rick
Dear David Oliver – Thank you so much for your dedication to educating people about bipolar disorder. I myself have the condition – as did my older sister, and my father. I try to inspire myself and look to exampes of people who are brilliant with bipolar – like my sister and my father, and (?) myself. But I know the real world looks for concrete examples of people who have been financially successful – people like Kay Redfield Jamison or Robin Williams. I also am friends with quite a few other bipolar folks and care about them tremendously and feel like their older sister, even if i am years younger. I have quite a spiritual and religious component to my personality and am always seeking new ways to connect with the divine and God. Unfortunately for me, I kind of equate this with or seem to end up being in a state of near poverty. Can you make money a more positive experience for me?
I look forward to your DVD that I ordered last week.
Dear David,
Thanks so much for the articles you have written to all of us with bi-polar. Some of us can’t go to a counselor because of it not being offered close to where we live or no insurance. With you writing us often it’s like pyscho-therapy for me.
I wanted to let you know that my hubby and I attend an Adult Day Care in our area where if we are feeling good that day we help out the handicap or wheelchair bound clients by getting them coffee or tea, sometimes we get to call bingo or help in other ways as a volunteer and this helps our depression by socializing with others and takes our mind off of our problems.
We attend a NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally ILL)support group once a month to help us with our disorders,(we both have bi-polar; mine is more on the manic side and his towards the depressive side).
We try to exercise every Monday evening with a few friends by walking at our local park or go by ourselves walking along our beach during the week.
There are a few people in our church and we try to go on outings with them to let them know they are not alone, and we are there to support them.
I have always helped out people that don’t drive or don’t have a working car to pick up prescriptions or take to their doctors and this usually helps my depression in the long run. I hope all this helps.
Your sister with bipolar until Jesus heals me, Maria
Dear Dave and readers, My name is Lynn, and I’m a recovering alcoholic; I also live w/Bipolar II, one day @ a time. The last 2 summers, I have gardened, which was very rewarding: some regular exercise, lots of fresh veggies, and more than enuf to share w/others. This summer, I’m gonna do plants instead of veggies, and this work will also be community service, as it’s the Chas. Jensen Botanical Garden, which is now property of the Parks and Rec. Dept., and the work is done totally by volunteers. I missed the 1st garden wk.-day this last Sat., as I didn’t sleep well the nite b/4, but there is a regular schedule of them that I can make a note of, so I don’t miss another. Spring and summer are a better time of yr. for me usually, cuz I also have S.A.D., or seasonal affective disorder [=more depression and less energy in the winter, rainy season]. Thanks for letting me share.
Hi, David my name is Marcey an I have been living with bipolar for 2 yrs and i have never takin medication dont have insurance. But over the past 2 yrs my bipolar has gotten worse. The suicde attempts are more often and if it wasnt for my husband i wouldnt be here. I use to think that suicde was a weak persons easy way out but its not like that for me my thoughts of suicide for some reason are like a solution an i have come to realize that you have no rational thought when your in an episode. The hardest part is having to face your family after having a bad one. I was wondering if you had any advice on knowing when an episode is going to happen and some steps i can take to keep myself from blowing up in my own face. I dont know how much more my family can take.