Let’s talk about bipolar disorder and how it can affects your daily life. There is a primary symptom in having bipolar disorder; this is experiencing alternating extreme euphoria or mania in other terms and significant depression.
These alternating feelings experienced by a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder can fluctuate with differing intensity. More often than not, these feelings can go between peaks and can undergo troughs. Most people experience this kind of alternating emotions and sometimes misdiagnose themselves with bipolar disorder.
That is not the case, however, since a person clinically diagnosed with bipolar disorder can feel stressful and experience more problematic situations that could hinder them functioning properly in their daily lives. In some cases, hallucinations can occur dramatically.
With proper treatment and medication, people diagnosed with bipolar disorder can function adequately in society and can even go to work or school without any problems. However, there are cases where people with this disorder intentionally ignore or stop taking their medications fully.
On the upside of things, some studies show that people diagnosed with bipolar disorder can get advance creativity, greatly enhancing their potential such as in media and arts. However, having this disorder gives the patient mood swings, which dramatically affects their interest in their specific projects, and even their passions; leaving many projects started, but rarely finished.
With that said, there are home treatments that their loved ones can use to reduce their manic and depressive episodes and other symptoms. It can help the patient be more functional, and can fit more in the environment they are in.
Sleeping patterns
The sleeping patterns of a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder also change depending on the episode they are currently experiencing. In their manic episodes, a person can sleep very little due to severe excitement. Opposite to that, their depressive state makes them have longer sleep duration, more than their usual number of hours asleep.
It is essential to take note that missing several hours asleep or missing sleep entirely can very well trigger a mood swing in the patient; this means that the more the patient can manage their sleep, the more they can manage their emotions.
To manage the patient’s sleep more, the usual steps in having a pleasant and comfortable sleep can be used to ensure the patient’s good night’s sleep. These include a regular time of rest, avoiding alcohol, light meals before sleep, fewer gadgets, and a comfortable room.
Diet
Just like anyone, a patient with bipolar disorder needs his intake of a diet that consists of the right vitamins and nutrients to decrease the symptoms significantly. Studies show that people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are usually overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese can trigger a whole lot of other complications in the body; one of them is diabetes. It is mostly because people with this disorder engage in binge eating, which is more than the average person.
With a healthy diet, these further complications can significantly decrease and give the patient a healthier lifestyle and can also manage their episodes more. Obesity or becoming an overweight individual may be an effect of either their medication or the disorder itself.
Exercise
Exercising in moderation frequently can make the patient manage his episodes considerably, along with preventing further complications like cardiovascular diseases and obesity. There is little to no evidence regarding physical activity helping people with bipolar disorder. However, there are studies that physical activity still has the same effect on people with this disorder and regular people. It means that this kind of exercise can significantly enhance a person’s mood, which can help the patient during his low phase or depressive state.
Medication
Encouraging the patient with their medication helps them much with their disorder. Regular intake of their drugs requires the patient to have discipline and awareness. The control they acquire in taking their meds on time and with the right dosage can also help them in regards to managing their episodes. Medications like aripiprazole can help them with their diagnosis and are greatly encouraged by doctors, which can be bought with an aripiprazole coupon.
Takeaway
Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder can hinder a person’s functionality as an individual and as a member of society. Unfortunately, a lot of people have so many misconceptions regarding this disorder. Some people take this disorder lightly and even go so far as to misdiagnose themselves with this disorder.
Tending a patient with this disorder requires their loved ones a lot of their attention, as well as a great deal of their patience. With all things considered, bipolar disorder can be manageable with the right treatment and with the right people. Along with proper medication, everything will be alright.
Jason Smith did his degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.
