Sometimes it feels like your emotions rule your entire life. You’ll go from debilitating depression that makes getting out of bed a challenge to boundless energy that you can barely contain.
Learning how to deal with bipolar disorder isn’t easy, but it’s doable. By staying on top of your symptoms, recognizing your triggers, and having a crisis plan in place, you’ll be able to move forward with a life you love.
You’re not alone in your experiences with bipolar. As of 2023, as many as 40 million people were estimated to have bipolar disorder, with 8 million of them living in the United States.
At Oceans Healthcare, we recognize that living with a serious, lifelong mental health condition like bipolar will impact your life in a multitude of ways. We also know that you can successfully manage your symptoms because we’ve seen thousands of patients do just that. We’ll work with you to find the treatment options that work best for you.
Living With Bipolar Disorder: What Does the Condition Look Like?
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by a combination of intense manic and depressive symptoms. The exact symptoms you experience will depend on the specific type of bipolar disorder you’re diagnosed with.
There are 3 common forms of bipolar.
- Bipolar I: This version of the condition largely focuses on the manic symptoms. These could include a reduced need for sleep, intense energy, rapid speech, and the ability to switch quickly from one idea to another. To be diagnosed with bipolar I, you must experience a manic episode that lasts for at least 7 days. Many people with bipolar I also experience depressive symptoms, but it’s not a requirement for the diagnosis.
- Bipolar II: In this case, depressive symptoms are at the forefront. Common symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation, or suicidal ideation. Instead of a manic episode, you’ll experience what’s known as hypomania. Hypomania is less intense and lasts for a shorter period. Sometimes, the sudden bursts of energy are even seen as a welcome change from depressive symptoms. To be diagnosed with bipolar II, you must experience a depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks and a hypomanic episode that lasts 4 days in a single year.
- Cyclothymic disorder: The third type of bipolar disorder is associated with less intense symptoms than the other two conditions. Your hypomanic and depressive symptoms won’t be severe enough or last long enough to constitute full episodes. However, symptoms will be more constant. While most people with bipolar I and II experience periods of relative stability, if you have cyclothymic disorder, you’ll have chronic mood shifts. With this condition, stable moods don’t typically last for more than 8 weeks at a time.
Regardless of the form of bipolar disorder that you experience, there is hope. With the right combination of medication, talk therapy, and skill development, you’ll be able to take control of your symptoms and live the life that you want.
Monitor Your Symptoms and Don’t Get Caught Off Guard
The most important part of handling bipolar disorder in your day-to-day life is being aware of your symptoms. Not everyone with bipolar disorder will experience the same symptoms. That’s why you must know what symptoms are common for you.
Many people living with bipolar disorder chart their daily symptoms, either on paper or using an electronic device.
| Mood | Notes | Medications |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms of mania or hypomania | You’ll want to take careful notes about what kinds of highs you experience. Do you feel yourself jumping from idea to idea? Are you feeling unusually impulsive? Has anyone close to you noticed anything unusual? | When charting your symptoms, also track your medication. Especially when you’re starting a new treatment program, this will help you recognize how much medication helps with your symptoms. |
| Neutral mood | What does a typical day look like for you? What kind of sleep do you get on a day when you don’t have any symptoms? Keeping track of your good days can help you find a baseline. | When you’re taking your meds regularly and they’re working correctly, you should have more neutral mood days. Keep taking your meds even when you feel good. |
| Symptoms of depression | What does depression look like for you? Do you feel hopeless? Do you lose interest in activities you usually enjoy? Do you physically slow down? Recognizing and tracking these symptoms will allow you to see depressive episodes for what they are. | Medication should improve your depressive symptoms. If you don’t feel like your medication is effective, talk to your care team about changes to your treatment plan. |
Know Your Triggers and Recognize the Warning Signs
When you chart your symptoms, it becomes easier to identify your triggers and recognize warning signs as they occur. It’s common for major disruptive life events to set the stage for bipolar episodes.
Common examples of triggers for bipolar episodes include:
- Extended periods of stress
- Conflict with friends, family, or other loved ones
- Financial strain caused by unforeseen bills, job loss, or other issues
- Problems at work or school that make it difficult to relax
- Getting less sleep than your body needs
- Seasonal changes or other changes to your environment
Everyone’s triggers are different. You must know what triggers your bipolar symptoms so you can be extra gentle with yourself when they occur.
When you experience a triggering situation, you should also keep an eye out for further warning signs that you’ll experience an episode. Charting your moods can help with this because it helps you recognize what depression and mania look like for you. For example, when you’re depressed, you might begin to withdraw rapidly from friends and family. When you’re feeling manic, you might start to spend money impulsively.
Develop Coping Strategies and Crisis Plans
Once you have a system for monitoring your symptoms in place and you’re familiar with your triggers, it’s time to put a plan in place for when episodes occur. Having a pre-existing crisis plan will empower you to feel in control when you experience severe symptoms.
Consider making a list of coping strategies that work well for you, so you have a physical reference. Brainstorming with a trusted friend, family member, or even a therapist can help you develop a concrete plan.
Coping strategies might look different for you than they do for someone else. Simple things, like exercise, can help you work off excess energy when you’re manic or improve your mood when you’re depressed. Utilizing holistic practices like yoga and grounding techniques can help you get in touch with your body and stay in the moment.
If you’ve recently experienced a trigger or feel your symptoms coming on, it’s important to contact someone you trust. You shouldn’t have to handle this on your own. Having another person who is aware of the situation keeps you safe. You should also take certain precautions in case of an episode. For example, if you tend to make poor financial decisions during manic episodes, you’ll want someone you trust to have access to your financial information.
Take an Active Role in Your Bipolar Disorder Treatment
You don’t have to deal with your bipolar disorder all on your own. It’s important to have tools and safeguards in place so that you can recognize and manage your symptoms, but the right bipolar treatment program empowers you with more resources.
A strong bipolar treatment program will include a combination of medication and talk therapy. Mood stabilizers, like lithium, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine, are a common first line of defense. Antipsychotics such as aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, and lurasidone are used to improve more intense symptoms. In some cases, antidepressants may be an appropriate part of your treatment plan; however, they are known to trigger mania in some people with bipolar disorder.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that’s commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. During CBT, you’ll work with a therapist to develop a better understanding of the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Together, you’ll learn to identify harmful thought patterns and find healthier coping strategies.
At Oceans Healthcare, we empower you to live your best life with bipolar disorder. With more than 30 locations throughout the country and over 34 thousand clients treated annually, we have experience handling the wide range of symptoms bipolar disorder can cause. Call us today at 888-293-6899 to learn more.
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