Bipolar Depression

how to live with bipolar depression

How To Look After Your Mental Health

1. Talk about your feelings. Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. ...
2. Keep active. ...
3. Eat well. ...
4. Drink sensibly. ...
5. Keep in touch. ...
6. Ask for help. ...
7. Take a break. ...
8. Do something you're good at.

Calming Down

Here are some helpful, actionable tips you can try the next time you need to calm down.

1. Breathe. ...
2. Admit that you're anxious or angry. ...
3. Challenge your thoughts. ...
4. Release the anxiety or anger. ...
5. Visualize yourself calm. ...
6. Think it through. ...
7. Listen to music. ...
8. Change your focus.

Symptoms, Signs, and Facts

If you are experiencing any of symptoms, please talk to your doctor.

some show signs of overwhelming anger and manic symptoms which were irritability mood swings. you may get mad when you’re sad which sometimes resulted in throwing things to made yourself feel better, racing thoughts, being distracted and zoning out often and often feeling extremely restless. this would last for about (a week)and would happen every (1-2 months).

Periods of depression constant highs and lows sometimes anxiety paranoia and major hypomanic episodes which consists of

loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in anything, significant weight loss or weight gain, sleeping too little or way too much depending on the depression level restlessness or slowed behavior

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt

Decreased ability to think or concentrate
and depending on the depression level sometimes idealization (Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide)

many people grow out of cyclothymia which turns into bipolar 1 and sometimes people even transition again into bipolar 2——————

probably a genetic link causing cyclothymia or it can come from trauma

Rapid cycling is a pattern of frequent, distinct episodes in bipolar disorder. In rapid cycling, a person with the disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania or depression in one year.

Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. Its unofficial name is “bipolar 3”. It has persistent or recurring changes to and from mild depression to hypomania. Normal moods do not last more than 8 weeks. The DSM-V notes that cyclothymic disorder does not have dramatic mood changes.

Mixed episodes are defined by symptoms of mania and depression that occur at the same time or in rapid sequence without recovery in between.. Mania with mixed features usually involves irritability, high energy, racing thoughts and speech, and overactivity or agitation.

When a person with bipolar disorder regularly exaggerates their stories, it may be that this is how they remember them. The tendency for rapid speech during a manic phase may also make a statement seem like a lie. An example of this is when the person goes on talking without reflecting.

Bipolar psychosis happens when a person experiences an episode of severe mania or depression, along with psychotic symptoms and hallucinations. The symptoms tend to match a person's mood. During a manic phase, they may believe they have special powers. This type of psychosis can lead to reckless or dangerous behavior.

As cyclothymia often makes emotional regulation more difficult for those who experience it, the condition may also present challenges in interpersonal relationships. Hypomanic periods may increase a person's likelihood to overreact to things that happen around them, which may increase tension within a relationship.

Cyclothymia can increase your chances of developing bipolar disorder (estimates vary widely from a 15% to 50% increased risk of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder if suffering from cyclothymia) and your highs and lows interfere with your daily life functions and relationships – so it's essential to seek treatment

having severe romantic relationship problems can leave you more at risk for developing worsening bipolar or cyclothymia

It's unfortunately common for people with obvious and often very serious bipolar disorder symptoms to have total lack of insight that they are ill, even when all evidence points to the illness.

Relationship

What you can do when you have bipolar in a relationship?

• Tell your partner about your disorder. Do this before you make a long-term commitment to that person. Describe what they can expect when you’re experiencing a mood shift. It’s also helpful to tell them what you usually do to manage your moods. This way, your partner won’t be surprised when you experience a mood episode. They may even be able to help you get through it.
• Stick with your treatment plan. Perhaps the best way to reduce relationship stress is to follow your treatment plan. This can help minimize your symptoms and reduce the severity of your shifts in mood. Discuss your treatment plan with your partner so they can help you keep on track.
• Keep an open line of communication. Tell your partner when you feel a mood shift occurring so they’re not alarmed by a sudden change in your demeanor. Also, be open to them when they tell you that they notice that your mood is “different.” Many times, others can see changes in our mood when we cannot.
• Be honest. If you’re having a severe episode and struggling with your symptoms, don’t hesitate to notify your partner and ask for help when you need it. For example, if you’re experiencing a depressive episode and don’t feel like leaving the house, explain this to your partner instead of making an excuse to stay home.

this site is dedicated to my best friends chylie and faith who both struggle with bipolar depression.