With great emotions, great responsibilities. Here's what you shouldn't do if you're bipolar.
Have you ever felt so guilty that you didn't want to do anything anymore?
Have you ever felt so rubbish that you didn't deserve to live?
If you are bipolar, you have indeed already put yourself into one of these postures.
That was the case for me as well.
Living in a way that is harmful to myself and ending up not loving me anymore, losing my self-esteem, losing confidence and wanting to die.
In this article we will see how, by avoiding 15 risky behaviors, it is possible to radically change and regain the taste of your bipolar life.
These 15 points of vigilance are described by most psychiatrists and for many of them, are valid for people not affected by the disease.
I also personally changed my habits by going in this direction (that of not making these mistakes).
And guess what?
My life took a completely different turn.
I am not saying that I am happy and stable 24/7.
No
But now, I know how to identify my turns and thus reduce the duration and intensity of my phases, I have learned to communicate and open myself to the world and I have also learned to listen to myself and follow my intuition.
All these changes mean that today, I am able to be autonomous in the management of my daily life (finance, work, leisure, love etc...)
One thing that few people dare to say is that you have to accept the mistake and fall in order to recover better.
In life, the lower you fall, the higher you can climb.
And I'm not talking about the manic phase here. But simply taking control of the disease, responsibility and courage.
“All the same, all the same, requires a lot of effort and dedication. But the game is worth it because at the end of the day, a healthy, fulfilled, stable life.”
We sleep an average of 8 hours a day, which is 1/3 of our time sleeping.
Whether for a person with bipolar disorder or not, sleep is an essential element in the smooth running of the day, in the well-being of the person and for their health.
You, a person with bipolar disorder, I am convinced that your sleep is a or even THE black spot in your daily life.
You sleep too much, or too little. Your sleep is not restful or you wake up 15 times in the same night.
The horror.
And the nights go on and look the same.
Are you resigned and can't see the bottom of it?
As I understand you.
Even sleeping pills no longer work. And yet you have tried them all.
But solutions do exist. And the first steps are within your reach:
And if that's not enough, you can also consult a doctor who specializes in slumber that will help you understand your own sleep mechanism and give you solutions adapted to your situation.
We all know this song by Michel Sardou and we have surely all already sung it at the end of the evening, with a few glasses in our nose.
And what a pleasure frankly...
However, if you have bipolar disorder, if there is one thing you can't do, it's to drink too much alcohol.
I am not preaching complete abstinence, far from it.
However, over time, I've learned that moderation is one of my best assets.
Especially when it comes to alcohol.
Thus, drinking less alcohol allows:
So, on a daily basis, there is much more benefit from drinking less than the other way around.
In addition, we are all aware of the addictive tendency of people with bipolar disorder. Drinking in moderation thus limits the risk of addiction.
Concretely, this can be translated into the establishment of simple rules that are directly applicable on a daily basis:
You'll notice that it still leaves some margin. Because one important thing I've learned from experience is that depriving yourself of everything to the extreme rarely works. Worse, it creates frustration and worsens the initial situation.
We are all tempted, especially when we are young, to have fun and to follow our friends. Unfortunately, that's often the worst thing to do.
More specifically, I am talking about drugs, whether hard or soft.
Everyone knows the harmful effects of drugs. However, few know that having bipolar disorder can worsen the situation.
In short, nothing that could not be good and beneficial in the current situation.
If you are currently in a situation of dependence, there are addiction centers or addiction doctors who are there to unblock the situation.
The best way out is to get help and surround yourself with the right people.
So think about yourself create a healthy environment, whether at the relational or material level (apartment...). This will increase your chances of getting out of this bad situation.
The impulsiveness of bipolar people is legendary.
Whether in phase or not, we have all happened to break down and act impulsively.
Buying, breaking up or other behavior then make us feel bad a few days or even a few hours later. Often we only become aware of our impulsiveness much later, when it is just too late.
However, these mechanisms are not insurmountable and it is possible to overcome them if we implement a few habits in our daily lives.
For example, it is possible to establish purchasing rules in order to limit unnecessary large expenses. Thus, waiting a week for any purchase of more than 100 euros can be effective. In any case, if you really want to buy this product, you will still want it the following week.
But what to do if, precisely, the impulse is too strong? Stronger than the rules we put in place.
Well, it's true that's when it gets a bit complicated. And very often, you will have to cut back (as far as money is concerned) on part of your freedom.
For example, it is possible to put yourself under guardianship or even legal protection that will last a few months. The latter allows you to be reimbursed for purchases made during this period which, in general, will be implemented during a phase.
When it comes to behaviors other than buying, know that communication is one of the main keys to coping.
Indeed (and it is totally counterintuitive), communicating your feelings and desires to break up to your partner (for example) can defuse the situation.
However, it is not a question of doing it in any way.
First, make sure that your partner is receptive to the discussion: “Can we discuss”, “is there something important that I would like us to discuss” etc...
It is also important to choose a time when you are confident that you will have time to talk. Focus on moments when your partner seems relaxed and open to discussion.
The idea in this approach is to prevent rather than to cure.
A partner who can prove our trust by exposing our vulnerability will seize the opportunity to understand you and strengthen your relationships.
It is easy to tend to put illness in the background.
This would then consist in “forgetting” that the disease is present and acting as if it did not exist.
Our behavior will then be affected since we will not really pay attention to the basics of lifestyle.
Neglect of sleep, overwork (and therefore stress), abuse of stimulants (alcohol, coffee...) are then appropriate when moderation is necessary.
To put the disease in the background and pretend that it did not exist is to take the risk of experiencing new phases.
Worse, not being prepared for it, it is then tantamount to condemning yourself to a series of phases without having the power to do anything.
To put the disease back in its place, that is to say, on a daily basis in our lives, is to give ourselves the chance to be able to act on it.
Accepting the disease is very important here because it guarantees better recovery.
Do you think it is better for our body to eat organic vegetables, to reduce meat consumption and to give priority to fruit instead of eating pasta every day, Macdo and spread on a daily basis.
As you can see, what we give to our body determines how our body will return it to us.
Our body should be considered to be our most important asset to pay attention to.
Surely you know the fact that we consider The intestine as our second brain.
Well, it's then a matter of taking action and making sure to give it the quality fuel it deserves.
Eating well means giving yourself the opportunity to acquire the energy you need to have a good day and to live properly with the disease.
All means are good to promote stabilization.
How long do you think you can last without water?
Around 3 days!!!!
Our body is made up of approximately 60% water.
It is therefore a question of feeding it with this blue gold in order to maintain its proper functioning.
Neglecting hydration means neglecting your health.
So remember to drink regularly.
To do this, do not hesitate to put bottles of water everywhere in your home. And as soon as you think about it, have a drink.
Water is life, think about it
Moving is life.
Sometimes it's all too easy to get bogged down by the lack of movement and blame it on the disease.
It is not easy, bipolarity and especially depression is very hard to overcome.
However, one of the best ways to do this is to get moving.
It is as with back pain, we will always advise those who pay the price to walk as much as possible in parallel with good support.
Moving is to depression what walking is to back pain: the best way out of it.
And no need to do a triple marathon, just leaving the house, going around the neighborhood, at your own pace, is a first step.
Then start again the next day, then the next day. Gradually, go out a little longer, increase the pace of walking or start running if you feel like it.
Likewise, if you are stable, moving allows you to maintain yourself on a daily basis and to prevent possible phases.
Avoid extremes so as not to fall back into one or the other elsewhere.
Thus, regular but moderate activity will allow you to feel better on a daily basis and to avoid new phases.
We are in a society where asking for help when we need it is sometimes frowned upon.
So, people in need hold back from consulting because it is better seen to know how to manage yourself and not to spread your problems.
Unfortunately, with bipolarity, this option should be categorically forgotten.
Or else, you have to have a particular taste for psychiatric hospitals and the complexity of life.
Bipolarity is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment in most cases and therefore lifelong follow-up as well.
👉 To learn more about bipolar disorder
This follow-up is necessary because a certain variability of states can be observed with the disease.
Variability requiring regular monitoring between each month or every two months.
This follow-up makes it possible to take stock, to mention the difficulties encountered but also to refine the treatment and to become aware of positive developments as well.
The psychiatrist is of course the reference in terms of medical follow-up and it is strongly recommended to follow psychotherapy in parallel.
Thus, with these two trades, the follow-up is of high quality.
If your psychiatrist or psychotherapist is not right for you, don't hesitate to change them. You will only be better for it.
In the majority of cases, humans are not made to live alone.
The person with bipolar disorder, let alone.
To isolate yourself is to slowly kill yourself.
And I know that it can be particularly difficult to go out and meet new people when you have this condition.
However, all means are good to move forward in this direction.
Use social networks, your surroundings, your family, your friends, professionals.
If you don't know anyone, ask your psychiatrist and psychologist if they have a solution for you (association, support groups...)
Self-isolation is one of the best ways to get depressed.
On the other hand, seeking to share your experience around you allows you to value yourself and get out of the vicious circle.
Also, consider talking about things other than bipolarity because you are not just the disease.
You are a beautiful person who can love, play, and live, almost like everyone else.
When you have bipolar disorder, you tend to close in on yourself, instinctively.
The fear of the gaze and judgment of others is then omnipresent because finally, this disease is still unknown and very stigmatized.
But it is up to us, people affected by the disease, to show the rest of the world that we are normal. Sick, yes, but normal.
It is also up to us to assume who we are because no one will do it for us.
Closing in on yourself can, for a while, be beneficial, time to recharge your batteries. However, it should not become a lifestyle.
Communicate your emotions, your feelings, what you feel on a daily basis and don't be afraid to displease.
In any case, you should know that thanks to this disease, you have surely overcome a lot more than most people. And that makes you a very courageous person.
So ride that wave.
You are courageous and should be proud of yourself. Unconditionally.
Not following your intuitions is cutting yourself off from an important part of your being.
It may even mean cutting yourself off from THE most important part of your being.
Intuition exists for good reason and some people have managed to develop it to such an extent that their whole life is governed by it.
Without going to this extreme, it is important to follow your intuitions because they come from the heart, and from the depths of your guts.
Following your intuition is thus reconnecting with yourself and accepting your own supernatural power.
Keeping connected to yourself is very important.
However, sometimes you should be wary of your own intuitions.
Indeed, sometimes, they push towards a path that is not the right one. And while we can learn from mistakes, there are some that we will gladly do without.
Among the aversions, here is one that is particularly used, bipolar or not.
However, lying can be devastating and even lead to phases.
Who has never lied about their condition when asked, “How are you?” ”
However. Just imagine. We are all used to answering that yes, everything is fine. Because otherwise it would be poorly perceived and disturbing for the person opposite.
And if you stay true to yourself and admit that you are not doing well. What would happen?
In the worst case scenario, the person won't dig deeper and you'll know one you can't rely on.
But in the majority of cases, the person in front of you will give you a listening ear and kindness.
It is also not a question of trying to be complained but more about putting into words what you feel deep inside to free yourself from it.
Because yes, speech is liberating.
Lies lock you in, sincerity liberates.
In this article, we've looked at the 15 things you should definitely not do when you have bipolar disorder. Becoming aware of this is the first step.
Among them, the most important ones should be highlighted, namely:
All the same, all this requires a lot of effort and dedication. But the game is worth it because at the end of the day, a healthy, fulfilled, stable life.
