Life with bipolar

• “Being misunderstood”
• “Having so much energy that you stress out your mind and your body”
• “Trying to catch up to your own mind”
• “You do not want the high of the mania to end; then after the high of the mania is over, the lows set in and reality becomes a problem”
• “Exhilarating. You finally feel like you’re normal, until the anger sets in”
• “An amazing feeling that leads to feeling horrible”
• Things are going great and it’s scary because you know it will not stay that way”
• “You have no inhibitions, and consequences don’t apply to what you do”
• “Difficult to tell if you can trust your own perception of reality”
• “You feel everything at once and then you are numb to the world”
• Being on a see-saw of human emotion”
• Flipping a switch in your mind”
• “The future quickly goes from bright to bleak”
• “Mania is speed. You must start and finish everything now – you can’t stop moving”
• “‘Normal’ people are annoying because you’ll never have that stability”
• “Being constantly in activities that take up time with hardly any results or satisfaction”
• “Productive, carefree, and then exhausting”
• “Busy brain, busy senses, busy libido”
• “Unending back and forth with yourself”
• “When the mania burns out, you’ve got nothing left in you”
• “Frightening to be so out of control and off-balance”

Bipolar disorders are real illnesses that involve extreme shifts in mood called mania and depression.

Mania changes

Thoughts

Causing:

• racing thoughts
• unrealistic beliefs about one’s abilities
• feeling invincible or “on top of the world”
• excessive optimism
• in severe cases, delusions and hallucinations

Behaviors

Causing:

• rapid speech
• restlessness
• extreme irritability
• less sleep
• impulsivity
• engagement in risky activities
• taking on more projects or activities than usual

Depression changes

Thoughts

Causing people to feel:

• inadequate (like they aren’t good enough)
• extremely sad
• guilty
• irritable
• lonely
• empty
• pessimistic (having a negative outlook)
• preoccupied with death or suicide
• unable to focus
• unmotivated

Behaviors

Causing:

• withdrawal from social activities
• decreased interest in sex
• slowed speech
• difficulty finishing (or even starting) tasks
• not keeping up with daily responsibilities

Learn from others who have bipolar disorder. Find a peer support group where people meet to share resources and provide support based on their histories and personal knowledge. You can find peer support groups through mental health organizations in your area, like your local MHA affiliate.

Be aware of your personal patterns. Is there something that you start or stop doing a few days before symptoms of mania or depression go into full effect? Once you identify your patterns, ask a friend or family member to help alert you when you start to show early signs.

Keep a mood journal. Write a little about what happened and what kind of mood you were in each day. By doing so, you’ll be better able to monitor changes, identify potential triggers, and keep track of what helps you to feel good.

Make a routine and stick to it as much as possible. Try to wake up, eat, and go to sleep at the same times every day to get your body operating at a steady rhythm. Don’t forget to block off time for things you enjoy doing!

Be careful when it comes to substances. Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine can interfere with sleep and intensify mania. Drinking alcohol can trigger mood changes, worsen depression, and interact with medications commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.

Embrace exercise. Physical activity is great for your mind and body. During times of mania, exercise is a positive way to use your extra energy and may help you to sleep better. During times of depression, exercise helps lift mood by releasing endorphins into your blood stream. No need to spend hours at the gym: a simple 15-minute walk can help.

Know when to seek professional help. There are things you can do to manage symptoms, but if you find that you’re having symptoms more often or that they are getting worse, doctors and therapists can help.

Add Omega-3 fatty acids to your routine. Omega-3s (found in fatty fish) have been shown to be effective in reducing mood changes in people with bipolar disorder. Omega-3s are also really good for your body in general!

If you think you may be showing signs of bipolar disorder, take our screen. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with your doctor or a loved one about your mental health.

Take bipolar disorder screen

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.