According to the National Institute on Mental Health, more than 14 million Americans are plagued by depression. Depression comes in many different forms; major depressive disorder,manic depression, dysthymic disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are all types of depression. Manic depression, also referred to as bipolar disorder is very common and affects more than 5 million Americans. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycles of mood changes, ranging from feeling extreme happiness and elation to feeling severely depressed and sometimes even suicidal. Understanding your symptoms can be one of the most powerful ways to cope with the bipolar disorder.
Step 1
Assess your changes in mood and the duration of the changes and write them down in a notebook. One of the key symptoms of bipolar disorder are mood changes. Keep track of when you notice a change and for how long you feel the change. If you take action and the change subsides, make a mental note and try it in the future. Slowly over time you may start to gain control over your mood swings. If your take action and the symptom doesn't subside, continue to monitor when the changes occur and share this information with your doctor or therapist.
Step 2
Ask your friends and family to form an agreement with you to help you observe your behavior. For some, their mood changes so quickly that they are not able to notice a difference. Ask your friends and family to monitor any changes in your mood. If you become manic and full of activity, (i.e. having a decreased need for sleep, being extremely talkative or are extremely distracted), ask them to "talk you down". If you're standing or pacing, they should ask you to sit. If you're talking incessantly or rambling, they should ask you to stop and breathe deeply. On the opposite end of the spectrum, mania is often succeeded by extreme feelings of depression and the need to withdraw. At least one family member or friend should communicate regularly with you. If the family member or friend hasn't heard from you in a reasonable amount of time, they should attempt to make contact with you in whatever way possible to ensure that you are okay and offer you support when you're feeling down.
Step 3
Have regular checkups and examinations by your primary care physician. Some behavior can be driven by physical illness; it is important for you to seek necessary treatment for physical issues to keep your bipolar symptoms at bay. You should also inform your primary care physician if you are taking any medication for bipolar disorder to avoid any negative reactions to standard medications he might prescribe.
Step 4
Share your challenges with your employer. Although you are generally not required to disclose your diagnosis to your employer, if you have a trusting relationship with them, it could be helpful to help them understand any potential changes in behavior. This understanding will allow them to support you and eliminate any misconceptions that you are being evasive, insubordinate or unstable when issues arise. If you work for an organization where you are required to disclose a mental illness or if your symptoms affect your ability to do your job, you should notify them immediately.
Step 5
Avoid alcohol and drugs. Using substances can significantly alter your brain chemistry by either bringing out dormant symptoms or exacerbating existing ones. If you are taking medications to control your symptoms, using substances with these medications could be lethal.
