Bipolar and Stress

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With bipolar disorder, we’re more likely to become overdependent on our digital devices. Here’s how personal tech can affect our moods—plus tips for self-protection. Are we too attached to our digital devices? That question has been debated for almost as long as the iPhone has been around, giving rise to the first National Day of...

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It won’t be hard to say goodbye to 2020, given all the challenges it brought. But New Year’s Eve itself might be difficult, especially if—like me—you are single and anticipating an emotionally charged time with potential mood swings. That’s why I am planning ahead for what to do—I want to ring in the new year...

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Living with bipolar and working toward a graduate degree in public health has given me a unique perspective on this past year. My anxiety was amplified to the extreme, and learning to live through these challenging times required me to reprioritize self-care and close relationships. From Dubious to Facing Sudden Danger As a graduate student...

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Are you consuming too much negative news and social media at night? Your lack of restorative sleep, mood triggers, and ramped up anxiety are good reasons to take back control! This year, I feel as if, collectively, we are glued to our screens even more than usual. From Zoom calls to social media scrolling, many of...

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We are living through a stressful, complicated, and emotionally taxing time of year—all in the midst of a world health crisis. To reduce my anxiety, I streamline and simplify. Here’s how I’ve addressed the stressors of past holidays, plus what I am doing now to reduce my tension in this particular season of uncertainty. I’m...

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Times have been tough. But so are we. The end-of-year holidays can be difficult any year, and, this time around, they pose new challenges to our mood and well-being. Let’s not forget: Living with bipolar has taught us how to navigate through uncertainty. Here are the coping skills I’ve been relying on to remain stable...

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For me, the holidays usually bring not only traditions and gatherings but also stress and strong triggers. Difficult memories arise as the season changes and the holidays are upon us. In the years since my bipolar diagnosis and sobriety, I’ve learned how to navigate these months and maintain a stable mood. Holidays & Memories—for Better...

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Living with bipolar isn’t easy—it requires strength. We can get through periods of societal instability and still remain stable with our bipolar. Here are the strategies I’m using to get through this stressful, triggering season. Bipolar & the Need for Support and Coping Skills in Times of Stress Bipolar disorder isn’t an easy illness. We...

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A recent health concern requiring medical tests, doctor visits, and more appointments complicated not only my daily living but also my bipolar, triggering a depressive episode. Here is how I got through it and came out the other side. Regular Maintenance, a Reality of Bipolar Let’s face it. Sometimes, having and dealing with bipolar can...

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Until recently, I thought my bipolar meant I was made of glass, ready to shatter at the slightest jostle. But now I see that I didn’t triumph over catastrophe, trauma, and uncertainty just to lie down when faced with a crisis. Delicate or Resilient Because of My Bipolar? I’ll admit it, until recently, I worried...

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We all experience times when we drift off—those “Wait, what’d I just miss?” moments. With bipolar and increased stress, I’ve found this happening more frequently than I’d like. Here’s how I’m countering dissociation with self-grounding techniques. What—What Did I Miss? I was binge-watching a great Netflix show yesterday when, all of a sudden, I realized...

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Keeping a positive outlook with bipolar is a challenge on its own. Doing so when you are isolated and facing situations beyond your control can feel impossible! Here is how I am trying to keep calm and carry on. Staying Positive during a Bipolar Mood Swing Trying to stay positive when in the throes of...

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It’s interesting to watch the cascade of emotions that arise when the world is changing around us. Even people without bipolar are feeling the roller-coaster emotions that those of us with bipolar live with naturally. I’d like to share some prompts and strategies that are helping me find peace amidst the chaos. In the last...

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Lately, there’s been a battle in my head—my own thoughts are warring with the cruel monster of bipolar disorder and its lies, all while I hear my psychiatrist’s voice in the background. To keep pushing forward, I’m focusing on the basics: sleep, medication, connection, and creativity. Bipolar Disorder & Feeling Hopeless It’s been a season...

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When the world shifted and everything changed at once, I needed to manage my overwhelming fear, stress, anxiety, and bipolar symptoms. So, I learned to take my own advice to find comfort—even though everything felt uncertain. Dealing with Bipolar, New Stressors, & Dramatic Shifts to Daily Life In just a short amount of time, the...

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Losing my job because of this pandemic meant also losing my much-needed daily structure. With my go-to strategies for stability out of reach, I didn’t know how to manage “empty” time, isolation, and my bipolar. So, I used my calendar to make “appointments” with myself: complete a task, socialize virtually, exercise, and practice self-care. It’s...

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We all need a little prompting to make use of simple, yet effective, feel-good options to ease bipolar stress when life gets difficult.  During periods of high stress, our moods can wane, our appetites may change, and it can become difficult to concentrate. As we navigate through life with bipolar during these anxious times, it’s...

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When positive self-talk and empowering affirmations guide our actions, we can redirect our moods and shift our behaviors toward confidence and balance with bipolar. Words—whether spoken or thought—carry incredible weight. They are capable of healing or harming. The unkind phrases we tell ourselves so often can easily turn into beliefs, shaping an unfair and cruel...

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Losing my job brought up many strong feelings—fear, uncertainty, depression… Here’s how I learned to cope with them. I was laid off from a job I loved in December. I started looking for a new employment opportunity right away. I did the usual things like freshen up my résumé, look for jobs, and meet with...

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I jump-started my job search when I learned my current position was going to be eliminated. With my skills and experience, I thought it would be simple. Unemployment and rejection weren’t in my plan. Impending Job Loss In August, I found out that the company I worked for was being bought out and that my...