Would you like to
contribute to this site?
Depression Menu
Submit an Article
Submit a Tip
Place your Ad
Add URL
Depression Questions?
Contact Us
| |
Search the Article Archives
|
Ten Mistakes People Who Have Bipolar Disorder Make
By David Oliver
Since I started working on bipolar education, Ive had thousands of people subscribe to my mailing list, Ive received at least 1000 questions and comments about the disorder, Ive spoken to hundreds of people over the phone, and Ive attended dozens of meetings about bipolar. As a result of all that communication, Ive been able to come up with a list of the ten biggest mistakes that people with bipolar disorder make.
Keep in mind that the following list is not in any particular order.
1. They dont realize the importance of money. Money makes the world go around, especially if you have bipolar disorder. The less money you have, the more limited your options are when it comes to doctors, treatments, hospitals, etc. Unfortunately, most people with bipolar disorder dont realize that they need to watch their money carefully and plan for the future. They have to take steps to protect their finances during an episode and to not get cheated by erroneous medical bills.
2. They dont take their medicine properly. Some people with bipolar disorder dont take their medications regularly, so they are usually in and out of episodes. Other people actually go off their medicine to make sure it was working or to determine if they are really bipolar. Both of these are huge mistakes. You should always take your medicine as the doctor directs. If there are problems with the medicine or youre having side effects, then talk to your doctor.
3. They dont use the free resources available. There are tons of FREE resources available that will help you manage your illness and become more stable, but very few people with bipolar disorder actually use them. You can contact mental health organizations in your area to find out whats available, then make use of them.
4. They dont accept help. Individuals with bipolar disorder are often very stubborn when it comes to accepting help, even from their friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, the disorder simply cant be managed without outside assistance. Every bipolar person needs at least one individual they can trust to protect their interests and look out for them during an episode.
5. They dont plan for future episodes. When I started planning for my moms future episodes, people in my family said I was being too pessimistic. Theyre wrong. I was being realistic. Bipolar disorder doesnt go away, so you need to have a plan in place that will make those future episodes easier for you and your loved ones to deal with.
6. They dont have a support team. If you have bipolar disorder, you cant do everything on your own. You need the help of friends and family members and thats why its critical that you put together a support team of people you trust the most.
7. They dont take care of their physical health. When someone suffers from a mental illness, it can become that persons primary focus and he or she often loses sight of other health issues. Eating healthy and exercising will not only keep you in better shape but may also prevent some of the triggers that led to bipolar episodes.
8. They dont apologize after an episode. During episodes, you may say or do hurtful things to the people you care about. If you dont apologize after an episode, you may lose that person from your life forever. Dont let the disorder rob you of your closest relationships.
9. They dont listen to others about episodes. In most cases, your friends and loved ones will be able to see the signs of an upcoming episode while its still in its initial stages. They may ask you about them or suggest that you contact your doctor. If they do, you should listen to them. Bipolar disorder clouds reality, so you cant always see how things really are.
10.They dont realize theres nothing to be ashamed of with the disorder. You have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to bipolar disorder. Its also not all in your head. Research has shown that bipolar disorder is a real condition that is caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals. Instead of feeling bad about what you cant change, you should be working to educate the rest of the world so that theyll change their perception of the disorder.
About the Author:
David Oliver is the founder of BipolarCentral.com a one stop source of information on how to cope and deal with bipolar disorder. Sign up for one of his FREE Mini Courses on Bipolar by visiting FreeBipolarCourse.com.
|
 |
|
