Hey, y’all –
I don’t know where you are, but here in TN it is sunny and beautiful outside right now, which is really good for my bipolar disorder – a sunny day seems to put me in a good mood. Would be even better if I were outside in the direct sunlight a bit, as that’s good for the disorder, but just looking out my window is inspiration enough.
Since the doctor recently switched my medication (tweaked my “sanity cocktail”), I have been feeling very good. I’ve had quite a few good bipolar days in a row, and I appreciate that.
The problem with bipolar disorder is that our days are not always good bipolar days.
If you haven’t been doing what you need to stay stable, then you are probably experiencing some really rough days.
Maybe you don’t know what you’re supposed to do to get or stay stable? Certainly the doctors don’t tell you. And there is very little specific information on stability on the Internet, either – those websites usually just give the basic information that you need to know about bipolar disorder in general.
What I’m talking about are the other things you can do to gain stability with bipolar disorder:
1. Keep a regular sleep schedule
2. Eat a healthy diet
3. Exercise
4. Have a good strong support network
5. Be productive
6. Stay balanced – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
7. Keep your stress levels to a minimum
8. Be alert for signs/symptoms of an oncoming episode
And, of course, the main things are to take your medication as prescribed and religiously every day, and to see your doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist for all your appointments.
It’s hard enough to get stable, but keeping that stability isn’t always easy, either.
There are what I call “bad bipolar days.” It’s not an episode, I know that, but I just feel “off,” or not like myself — I may feel like I’m walking around in a fog with my thoughts unclear, or I may even get depressed. Other times I may have racing thoughts, and have trouble falling asleep.
But a “bad bipolar day” does not an episode make. These are only short-term symptoms, and they usually pass after a day, maybe two.
Believe me, I know when I’m in an episode! Mostly because of how I feel, but also because I have a wonderful supporter, my husband, who watches me and notes when I am “not myself.”
I also know I’m going into an episode by the Mood Chart I keep online (at moodchart.org). It’s free, and each day I get an email to fill out for the previous day on what my mood was, whether I was irritable or anxious, how many hours I slept, and any notes I want on that day’s entry. They make it so easy to do it as a good practice, since I check my email daily anyway. And it only takes about 2 min. to fill out.
If I see on my mood chart that I have charted several days in a row of something – let’s say depression – I begin to see a pattern, and I have to examine myself. Everyone gets depressed once in awhile, but if I’ve charted 4 or 5 days of depression in a row, I have to take action or I will go into a bipolar depressive episode.
So my mood chart is a crucial part of my treatment plan. So is working – I love what I do and I’m good at it, so it serves several purposes. For one thing, I know that if I get bored or am unproductive, I will get depressed. Those are triggers for me. For another thing, my job is a source of good self-esteem for me, because I’m doing something I’m good at doing.
I also get to work from home which, in my opinion, is the best thing to do if you have bipolar disorder. I need the flexibility in my work schedule, so I can take needed breaks and not get too stressed out. I especially like working in my own environment, where it is safe and peaceful, and where I feel the most comfortable.
But I do so appreciate “good bipolar days” like today, because there will be enough time to worry when the bad days do come.
And they will. If you don’t know it already, listen to me. Believing that you will never have another episode (no matter how long you’ve been stable) is unrealistic. The fact is that we have bipolar disorder, that it is a lifelong disorder, that it has no cure, and that even with good management of it, there will still be setbacks.
Setbacks, or episodes, are part of the normal course of the disorder. That’s why you have to be prepared in case they do come – have a plan of action (along with your supporter) of what to do if you do go into an episode. You don’t have to live every day as if an episode is right around the corner, but you do need to know that you will someday have another episode.
In-between episodes, or “normal” periods, however, should be appreciated for all they are worth! Do all the things you want to do, be with the people you care about, and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your stability!
Although you may still have bad bipolar days, you will have so many more good bipolar days.
Wishing you peace and stability,
Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele
