Bipolar disorder: Self-help a great way to be in control of oneself

How funny, isn’t it, to be asking someone to be in control when his or her entire self is struggling to strike a balance between seemingly uncontrollable impulses and normal human behaviour? A self-help regimen can go a long way in addressing such mental issues commonly known by their medical terminology of bipolar disorder.

Solution within!

Also, sometimes described as manic depression, the solution to the problem, in fact, lies within oneself and it all begins with self-care. All this is not to suggest that one should put a halt to medications and psychotherapy. Self-help is a normal process of taking care to feel good and happy alongside even as you go through your daily work-schedule. So, how to go about self-helping oneself?

The first simple step towards self help is self-education about the bipolar disorder.

Self-education

There is a plethora of useful and interestingly written articles and studies on the disease. The information is freely available on the internet and in online medical journals, web portals of well known mental healthcare institutions, etc. Knowing about your disease serves an important objective of helping you to be one with yourself and intelligently be conscious of one’s actions rather than let yourself be carried away by your own impulses.

Self-education

There is a plethora of useful and interestingly written articles and studies on the disease. The information is freely available on the internet and in online medical journals, web portals of well known mental healthcare institutions, etc. Knowing about your disease serves an important objective of helping you to be one with yourself and intelligently be conscious of one’s actions rather than let yourself be carried away by your own impulses.

Pre-empt mood swings

As a patient gets more knowledgeable about his or her bipolar conditions a first important battle against ignorance is already won. Now it is the time for pre-emptive action and taking control of one’s wavering mood before it takes you for ride. But it’s not that easy to make out if your bipolar outburst is an early sign of a bout of manic episode or a reflection of a self – strong and in control of circumstances.

Controlling manic episode

There are many ways of knowing about the onset of a manic episode in a person. The steps may include:

• Preparing a checklist to identify onset of mood swings and how to control them
• Doing exercises to control mood swings
• Maintaining mood diaries chronicling mood conditions in the morning, afternoon and evening
• Tips about self-medication

The key to the success of self-help is to know and be confident about your ability to manage your disease even in the absence of a psychiatrist or a doctor.

Be open and frank

Being open and frank about your bipolar disorder is important. Onset of a manic episode is the most destabilising and emotionally draining phases in the life of a bipolar disorder patient. Abnormal behavioural pattern that follows such episodes often leaves people around with little knowledge about the disease quite offended and often aggressive towards the patient. Talking to people about the disease is helpful in creating awareness about the disease and saves the patient from withdrawing from public life.

Daily routine

Following a daily routine helps combat bipolar disorder more effectively. This implies that along with medicines, a patient also needs to make effort to maintain a daily routine of having quality and nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle. Adequate sleep, exercise, intake of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, stress free life and complementary therapies like message and reflexology are also helpful in dealing with bipolar disorder.