Getting Help & Helping Yourself

If you’re seeking help for bipolar disorder or depression, I have a few suggestions.

First, talk to your primary care physician. This may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people neglect to tell their PCP about emotional problems because they believe there’s nothing they can do. There are actually a few things they can do. A lot of family doctors can prescribe you different medications to manage your problems themselves, or they can recommend you to someone who may be better equipped to help you manage your issues, such as a psychiatrist or therapist.

Second, look for different mental health services in your area. For me, help was only a short drive to the next city over, and help may be closer to you than you think! Consider what you would want from these services, whether it be just to talk to someone, or to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which aims to change your thinking and behavior patterns so solving problems on your own will become easier, and you can start to feel better.

Third, try different medications and combinations of medications. If and when you are prescribed to medications, whether those medications are antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or any combination thereof, make sure what you’re taking works for you. What works for your friend or someone else you know might not work for you, and if what you’re taking isn’t working for you at all, tell your doctor. There are plenty of things you can take, and most doctors will be willing to work with you to find the most effective treatment. You can even request to change meds if you don’t like a particular side-effect of something you’re taking. I’ve changed meds twice now because of side-effects. Medications really are a matter of trail-and-error. You have to be patient and really keep track of how they affect you to see results.

Forth, make an effort in your physical life. I know it’s cliché, but exercising can really help you out, especially in battling bipolar disorder. Exercise allows you to run off excess energy when you’re manic, so you’ll be able to sleep easier when it comes time to go to bed at night. And keep a regular sleeping schedule; routine often helps people with bipolar disorder. Also, completing even a small exercise routine each day can give you a sense of accomplishment when you’re depressed, and helps bring your self-esteem out of the dumps.

Finally, watch what you eat. You don’t necessarily have to go on a diet, but you should cut back on caffeine and sugars, since these can ramp up your energy even more when you’re manic. I say cut back because quitting these things cold-turkey isn’t good for you either. It has to be a process. If you’re like me and drink soda all the time, gradually reduce your intake and drink other things instead. I, personally, prefer green tea and cranberry juice on ice. Watching what you eat is also important when you’re depressed. If you eat too much, well, there’s a myriad of things that could happen. You could end up feeling bad about yourself, feel sick from overeating, the list goes on. Or sometimes when you’re depressed, you might not eat enough. Watch for patterns in your eating habits when you’re depressed and adjust accordingly. Try to feed yourself the appropriate amount. If you know you’re overeating, cut back. If you’re not eating enough, make yourself eat at least three medium-sized meals a day to make sure you’re getting enough nourishment, which will help you feel better.

So that’s how to get help, where to get help, what to do once you get help, and a little bit on how to help yourself. Healing starts with you. You know yourself best, you know what you need to do, go out there and see what works for you and don’t give up! You can live better, even with bipolar, depression, or another mental illness.