It may not be easy, but we can find the power to challenge bipolar’s misbeliefs—such as that we are not worthy of friendship and love. If video is not showing, click here. Delusions or the Lies of Bipolar? I have bipolar disorder, and I find that my bipolar wants me to believe things that aren’t...
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Rifts in relationships with loved ones, friends, and coworkers can arise with bipolar, especially in the aftermath of an acute mood episode or prior to diagnosis and treatment. Take heart—there are practical steps you can take today to repair those close ties. In time, you may even strengthen your bonds and find new, supportive communities....
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I have found that psychosis is often misunderstood and misjudged. My bipolar delusions of grandeur led to my diagnosis and transformed me into a better mental-health advocate and a better, kinder person. Psychosis, Delusions of Grandeur, & Bipolar Disorder When it comes to mental health conditions, sometimes we are unaware of our illness until we...
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To effectively manage our moods and find treatments that work, it is vital that we clear away the confusion surrounding common misbeliefs about bipolar disorder. I understand why people get confused about bipolar disorder. It’s a complicated illness with many symptoms. It helps to know what isn’t true about bipolar so that we can make...
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Depression takes so much energy from our bodies. It makes it very difficult for us to find empathy or be there for others. Treating depression first is the path to ending the “selfish” symptoms that depression creates. Is It Me or Is It My Bipolar Depression? Too often, when we are in the midst of...
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Wondering whether or not you have bipolar? Questioning your symptoms? Confused about how to distinguish one mood episode from the next? Wonder no more! Here are 10 definitive signs—plus their associated moods. While reading each sign of bipolar, ask yourself, “Is this depression, euphoric mania, or dysphoric/mixed mania?” 1. Sporadic Sleep Schedules Noticeable changes in...
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When faced with disappointment, my brain never gives me the luxury of deciding how I feel and how I want to react. Nope. It just experiences it and immediately starts doing bipolar flips and twists in a way I find very hard to control. Here I share two related stories about disappointment that led to...
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After being hospitalized a few years ago, I’ve had more “down stretches” than I can count. Here’s what I’ve learned to do when depression or frenetic anxiety has kicked in. Protect against Unpredictability Because bipolar comes with different mood states, the fact is, when you are in one—or in between them—you know it can shift...
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Meltdowns happen to everyone––even those that are careful in managing their triggers and knowledgeable about the early signs of mood episodes. So it’s extremely important to know how to deal with them. Bipolar disorder can take you from crisis to crisis if it’s not managed regularly. My goal is to think about bipolar every day...
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Whether it’s manic or depressive, the destructive energy of bipolar mood swings can leave you bending over backward for all the wrong reasons. Here’s how to cope. Depressive energy can be smoldering, ruminative, and destructive. Manic energy can be euphoric, electric, and—also destructive. Although some argue that being off meds is better for creativity, and...
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Let hope guide you “stone by stone” through the grief and trauma left in the aftermath of challenging episodes. During a particularly challenging time in my twenties, I stumbled on a wonderful analogy for how we must move through the difficult times in our lives: stone to stone, exactly the way you would cross a...
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You are not alone if your mood swings can make you mean and nasty. But integrity helps you stop yourself before you unintentionally hurt others. Integrity is a word I cherish. It means acting the same no matter what situation arises. This is especially important in our up and down bipolar disorder world. When we...
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Bipolar consists of mania and depression. Sometimes mania gets a pass because of perceived “benefits,” but ignoring your mania means you aren’t fully addressing your condition. Do you really want to end your mood swings? I ask this question honestly. Many of us want to end depression. It’s a terrible, vicious and life-threatening experience for...
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When a spouse, partner, or family member has bipolar disorder, we may need to accept that life will be unpredictable, and then find ways to adapt. Adjusting to New Realities A loved one’s diagnosis will affect the entire household. All family members will need to adjust to this new normal—a life likely full of inconsistency....
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Being a primary support partner doesn’t have to mean maintaining constant vigilance, anticipating another mood episode. Here’s how to manage this unhealthy—and unnecessary—stress. What It Feels Like If your partner is struggling with a mood episode—whether hypomania, mania, or depression—it might feel as if you are “walking on eggshells.” You try to do everything possible...
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Choosing our food wisely can help decrease stress, increase energy, enhance physical and emotional health—and better regulate our moods. Whether you’re dining out, shopping for groceries, or sitting at home on your couch, food temptation is a force to be reckoned with. Images of sweet, decadent desserts, salty snacks, and mouth-watering meals are omnipresent in...
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Although there are no specific recommendations when it comes to the foods that will help symptoms, nixing the processed, packaged fare and focus on eating fresh, whole foods is a good idea. Rather than focus on the foods you should eliminate from your diet, here are 7 healthy options to add in: 1) Salmon Salmon...
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Dealing with mood swings requires many of the same skills necessary for navigating the railway system—patience, planning, and self-reliance. I dislike long road trips, so I often take other forms of transportation. I’d rather be on a bus, plane, or train than stuck in a car. On a recent Amtrak trip, I started taking notes...
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There is a simple question you can ask yourself to help take charge of bipolar disorder symptoms: how’s my personal hygiene? Yes, I did just ask that odd question. Here’s why: It’s easy for us to not care about hygiene when we’re sick, but the people around us do care. They watch us carefully and...
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Those of us who live with bipolar feel life more intensely. How do we handle random encounters that can substantially, sometimes dramatically, shift our mood? Recently, while attending a mental health conference in Washington, DC, I found myself with a little free time. So, I attended a timeshare presentation. From past experience, I knew that...
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