How can I manage bi-polar?

Question

My friend has got bi-polar and she is having difficulty controlling her mania any advice?

Answer 1

Firstly, you can't manage it for her. She's got to be the one to do that. So, question back to you, has she been diagnosed with bipolar, does she know what kind of bipolar she is, and second, is she aware that she's manic? When you're in the middle of a manic episode, it's really hard to pull back from the rush enough to recognize it. But you know, what goes up must come down, and the crash is going to suck.

Bipolar disorder is a tricky, complex condition that can show up in different ways. Some folks, like your friend, it seems, go through periods of mania or hypomania, and other tend towards the depressive side of the illness. Some people experience what is known as mixed states, where you are literally feeling everything at once.

The first step is a good, thorough diagnosis. If she's been "officially" diagnosed, she'll know if she's BPD I, II, III, or IV or however many flavors of the illness there are. This, along with whatever other symptoms and behavior she exhibits (or admits to in a clinical setting) will affect what medication she is given.

Don't get me wrong - she can try to smooth out the moods using a lot of other methods, too, such as maintaining a healthy diet, good sleeping patterns, exercise, stabilizing her routine, figuring out behavioral triggers, avoiding drug abuse, etc.

I did that for a while until I came to terms with the fact that for me, taking medication was absolutely worth it, in terms of my own health and the health and safety of the people I love. No question about it. (Which is not to say I don't work on the other factors as well.)

So my first suggestion is for her to find a psych doc she can trust. Go to the doctor and lay it all out on the table - the good, the bad and the ugly (mania can have a lot of strange, disturbing manifestations.) At this point the doctor may make some Rx recommendations, or may suggest behavioral therapy.

Don't settle for a primary care physician for this. (Any GP worth his/her salt would refer this out to a psychiatrist anyway.)

If she's uncomfortable with the idea of medication, please do let her know that it's not just lithium anymore. There's a whole slew of meds out there that are being used to treat bipolar, depending on how it presents.

Answer 2

I've been diagnosed for about 7 years now with bipolar, and medicine does not always do the trick. Your friend has to become aware of what triggers her manias, and to then take some sort of sedative such as klonopin with its onset. Even that will not always do. I find that not getting enough sleep can trigger manias, which in turn reduces the mount of sleep you can get and it is a bad cycle to be in. Rest is key for me.

Also, I have an obsessive mind that can think about certain philosophical / political issues incessantly for days and even weeks and months. Sometimes I can go so deep into myself that delusional thinking and psychosis can occur.

Recognition of what is real and what is not is important for your friend, and if you can recognize it, point it out to her very calmly, because she may get angry if you differ with what she is thinking.

Also, a manic person's thoughts often lack perspective - the thoughts have overbearing importance.

Anyway, just some thoughts from someone who understands.

Answer 3

I am assuming she isn't going to a doc if she is having difficulty controlling her mania. Because the Dr is suppose to prescribe drugs that will help control those things if the drugs don't work for her she should talk to the Dr about this it takes a long time for some people to get the right combo of meds. just be patient with her and hopefully she will be able to get thru this cycle.

Answer 4

Your friend needs to see a doctor. My husband will decide to go off his medication for bi polar every now and then - and the mania that follows is very, very difficult to live with. His medication has since changed for the better - He stays on the med. (abilify) and there's no problem.

Answer 5

Help her to control it! Does she go High or Low? It's pretty easy to spot when someone is getting high! Use of PRN medication can help relax someone in a heightend state. Check out the MDF website!!

Answer 6

Sounds like another newly invented medical disorder created in order to provide additional funding to the poor medical profession.

Mood swings are common to those who are going through hormonal changes - its part of life.

Answer 7

Support her and help her get through it, maybe encourage her to see a Psychologist or get some medicine from a family doctor.

Answer 8

Combination of the right psychiatrist & medication.

Answer 9

There is a lot of good info on this subject right here.

Answer 10

take medication