Bipolar and Me
Have you, or someone close to you, been diagnosed with bipolar disorder?
If you are in this situation, you may be asking yourself a lot of questions, particularly regarding how bipolar disorder can relate to and affect your life. Here at Omaha Trauma Therapy, we have the answers you're looking for.
What is a Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is uniquely experienced by each individual who is affected by it. You may have heard the terms, Bipolar 1 or Bipolar 2. These terms classify the pattern types of symptoms being experienced. Whichever the classification of bipolar, the experience can be debilitating due to the effects of mood swings. These can range from extremely excited or hyper tendencies to utterly depressed and shut down sensations.
When someone with bipolar disorder is on the more hyperactive and elated end of this spectrum, they are said to be experiencing a hypomanic or a manic episode. Those who are on the more melancholic and depressed end of the spectrum are said to be experiencing bipolar depression. One of the hardest parts of bipolar can be the switching back and forth between mood states, sometimes rapidly or with little preparation time for the shift in emotions that will occur.
Unfortunately, both the depressive and manic sides of the disorder can leave one feeling frustrated and even disconnected from the world around them. A sense of loneliness or isolation can accompany bipolar depression symptoms, and hypomania or mania may even involve hallucinations. There is depression help available as well as help for mania, and bipolar disorder can be treated effectively.
The following is a list of experiences that can typically come with bipolar depression symptoms and manic disorders:
● Multiple depressive episodes or manic episodes
● Losing interest in things that used to excite you
● Feeling indecisive
● Difficulty sleeping, either sleeping too little or too much
● A loss or an influx of weight
● Inactivity or overactivity
● Feelings of overwhelming guilt
● Lacking impulse control
● Suicidal ideation/attempts
While the symptoms can feel oppressive, be chronic, and present a lifelong battle, there is hope and help for effective management. Tools, medications, and therapies are available that can help those living with bipolar disorder.
Ways to Manage Bipolar Disorder
Most importantly, if you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, it is important to seek out support, open up to others about how this disorder affects you, and ask for their care, patience, and understanding of what you are experiencing.
Tips for Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder
● Try to workout or participate in sports activities as physical exercise can help with mood regulation.
● Keep a steady, regular schedule.
● Plan out your daily routine and activities.
● Avoid sleeping too much to keep away from falling into a depressive slump.
● Track your moods in a daily journal. Note what your mood has been and whether it is low, average, or high. This will help you to potentially catch extremes before you find yourself in the midst of them without warning.
● Seek out a solid support network of friends, family, and medical and mental health professionals who specialize in the treatment of bipolar disorders.
If you are suffering from the effects of a depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, such as bipolar depression, burnout from manic symptoms, manic depression, and moodiness, Omaha Trauma Therapy is here to help! We offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Brainspotting therapy techniques among other skills that help us to customize your treatment to meet your individual needs. We want to provide you with a holistic approach to your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Contact us to get started.