How To Live Well When You Are Bipolar

1. 75

   frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

   How To Live Well When You Are Bipolar
   
   Be good to be educated with regard to this very common disorder. Those of us who don't suffer misunderstand the implications and impact it can have on the sufferers and their families.

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2. 57

   Jabalenoposted 14 years ago

   From someone who sufferes from BiPolar2 (Rapid Cycling), the best I can offer is to try to be understanding.  If you are the type with a short fuse, being with a BiPolar person may not be your best option.
   
   We're confusing and honestly, half the time we don't know what it is exactly that will set us off until it does. 
   
   Being understanding of this and, while not ignoring it, trying to work with it and learn to see what can trigger mood swings, hyper manic episodes and manic rages can help you learn to anticipate and even help defuse situations before they get out of hand.  Also being supportive of a BiPolar person despite the side effects of some of the meds used to treat it is a big thing.  Especially when those effects are more 'personal' (read sexual).
   
   Thanks for asking though, it's good to see that people willing to try to learn.

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3. 60

   MPG Narrativesposted 14 years ago

   Although I don't know about Bipolar I am in the process of writing about people who suffer OCPD and Aspergers and their struggles with relationships. The main focus of the article is 'understanding', which is exactly what Jabaleno has said.
   
   Understanding the person who has the disorder is the most important thing in helping them to understand it themselves. I think this applies to many mental disorders.

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4. 0

   jasper420posted 14 years ago

   take your medication make your appionments have knowlage on the disoder itself and devlop tools and coping skills needed to be well

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5. 45

   padmendraposted 14 years ago

   A person with bipolar disorder can  suddenly change from depressed to normal and vice versa.This kind of situation when faced by a person closed to the sufferer needs great amount of tolerance  and will power to deal the situation.  Repeated attempt of this kind can be beneficial to the person with bipolar disorder.

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6. 61

   proxybluexposted 14 years ago

   It takes a great deal of empathy and patience in order to cope with being around someone who is depressed.
   
   A celebrity (for the life of me I can't remember who) had the best ever description of depression: when you're depressed, the cure could be sitting on a table two feet away and you simply cannot will yourself up in order to go get it.
   
   For someone who has never dealt with depression, that may be next to impossible to comprehend. But that kind of complete hopelessness and lack of motivation is very real and very debilitating.
   
   Regularly taking the appropriate medication is key to being able to have any semblance of a normal life, however finding the right medication is often a difficult, time consuming ordeal.
   
   You're often a guinea pig in this situation.
   
   You have to take a prescription for several weeks to a month or more in order to determine whether or not it's going to work for you, and if it doesn't you're back to square one. Rinse and repeat.
   
   You can see why someone who is suffering from this disorder can easily and quickly become even more hopeless and frustrated than they already are, and even sometimes just give up.
   
   Professional counseling is not only a must for the depressed individual, but also strongly suggested for the family member(s) closley involved with the individual.

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7. 77

   schoolgirlforrealposted 14 years ago

   I've written several hubs on bipolar and mental health from PURE EXPERIENCE.  If that's what you want, go there.........you're welcome to learn from me.......this is why I do it.
   
   Best,
   SG

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8. 72

   Goodpalposted 14 years ago

   "Understanding" is perhaps what you need as mentioned by MPG Narratives. Here with "understanding" I mean understanding yourself and what is commonly called mood swings.
   
   I practice Vipassana meditation - it involves trying to see the impermanence of every experience. Every thought or feeling is temporary; it passes away sooner or later. As a bipolar you know that some time you are in "high" and some time in "low".
   
   How about looking at it this way: It is just a feeling (mood) without labeling it as high or low. See any mood as just a mood; it doesn't matter what. Even when you are feeling "high" develop understanding that it will pass sooner or later. Do the same when you are neutral or "low".
   
   I will even suggest that you drop the label "bipolar". As a matter of fact, everyone feels low or high occasionally; so what if the frequency of change is more with you.
   
   If my words make any sense to you, read a little more on vipassana meditation in this hub:
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Meditation-in-P … to-Freedom

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