11 ways to cope with bipolar disorder

Strategies to help you manage bipolar disorder.

Thanks to Tristan J. Miller for helping me with this episode. Check out his awesome stuff:

11 Bipolar Depression Skills:
1. Stay sober.
2. Avoid gambling.
3. Find a therapist.
4. Understand the pattern of your bipolar disorder.
5. Get consistent sleep.
6. Know how your symptoms manifest.
7. Talk to your friends about your bipolar depression.
8. Get medication (if you need it).
9. Consume awesome stories.
10. Write.
11. Love.

Learn more:

Topics Discussed:
* Bipolar disorder help
* Manic depression
* Mania and hypomania
* Medication
* Bipolar disorder therapy
* Bipolar disorder medication
* Bipolar disorder coping skills
* Bipolar disorder self-help techniques and tools
* Mental health

Connect with Ali:

THE PSYCH SHOW! Making psychology fun and easy to understand. Produced, written, and edited by clinical psychologist Ali Mattu, Ph.D. All videos are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute clinical advice.

If you or someone you know needs help immediately, you should take one of the following actions:
- go to your nearest hospital emergency room

[drali]

Our top bipolar disorder tips:

1. Stay sober.
2. Avoid gambling.
3. Find a therapist.
4. Understand the pattern of your bipolar disorder.
5. Get consistent sleep.
6. Know how your symptoms manifest.
7. Talk to your friends about your bipolar depression.
8. Get medication (if you need it).
9. Consume awesome stories.
10. Write.
11. Love.

What are your favorite bipolar disorder tips?

[manicmexican]

"Number one- SOBRIETY!"
Me: ah shit.

[DantheDonut]

Staying sober, running regularly, creating art, and reading are things that keep me more grounded. Having plans for what to do if a severe depression or mania hits, and a list of people you can contact for help are other ideas.

[heatherwills]

Some of the things that's kept me functioning is knowing my limits and acknowledging when I need self care. For a very long time, I was really hard on myself that I couldn't "do all the the things everyone else was doing, " meaning I didn't feel like I could keep up with all of the activities everyone seemed to be able to do everyday. Now, I treat my disorder for what it is, a health issue, not a fault in my personality or me as a person. So now I take care of myself, like say someone that's diabetic. I get regular sleep, and I get more of it. Some people can function on 6 hours of sleep, I need 8-10, because it's all about removing stressers from the body. Eating right and regularly. Watching my caffeine intake. Exercising... okay I'm still working on that. I joke with people that I need to do all the things everyone should be doing, it's just I have some severe consequences if I don't.

This one is the hardest, but taking time for myself and learning to say no. This is similar to Tristan talking about meditating. I need time alone to do my own thing and recharge. I'm also an omnivert, so that might have something to do with it. But one of my major manic triggers is when I don't get my recharge time. Stick too many stressful events close together (even if they're good stress, like fun events), and I reach my threshold and explode. I get a small window before full meltdown, which is usually when I warn my other half to get me the hell out of whatever situation we're in-- it's like feeling a giant wave about to smash right over my head-- and then it's all over. I've learned I have about 3 days max I can handle Vegas before the stimuli becomes too much and I'm overloaded. lol.

Bipolars tend to be overgenerous by nature, so learning to say no when friends and loved ones wanted more of me then I could give was hard. Most of my friends are pretty good about accepting and not pushing when I say "I'm not feeling up to it, " but I do have those that will keep needling and need a hard reason (ex: "sorry, I have other plans/ need to work/ feeling sick/ etc) before they stop. Learning to not let myself be bullied into doing something I'm just not emotionally able to handle at that moment has been extremely important. Also, my other half has taken up the charge to be my backup when I need it. Having someone close that understands your triggers and your thresholds is super important, so being open and honest about your disorder and your needs with those close to you is a must.

I highly recommend getting a copy of 'The Bipolar Handbook' by Wes Burgess. Not only does it give the bipolar reasons behind and vocabulary to discuss their disorder, it's also something that can be shared with those close to them to help them understand what's going on and how they can help. A lot of times those close to people with mental health issues want to help, but they don't know how.

I could go on for a while. Pep talks when I don't feel motivated. Helping and connecting with others when I need to get out of my own head. Naps! Finding a vocation that works with my disorder (I'm an indie author), but bottom line is exactly what you both said. Love yourself. Believe you're worthy of love. Acknowledge that some days are going to be easier than others, and it's okay that "your best" changes from day to day. Be kind to yourself.

[DN-psbn]

I’m scared about my bipolar 1 disorder. I feel like I’m in the passenger seat and my life is flying by. I feel really overwhelmed rn. I can’t sleep. I’m new to the diagnosis but it’s something that runs in my family and I just want the people I love to be safe and happy around me.

[amanraj]

Things I do to cope with Bipolar Disorder
1. Not keeping the emotion personal. For ex: let's say I feel troubled because of someone or something, I end up speaking my mind about it.
2. Believe me Bipolar people are very creative. I write up a lot in insta and whatsapp stories. Very soon, I will be starting up a blog.
3. Meditation or Breathing control for minimum 30 minutes.
4. I follow medication prescribed by a very good Doctor. In 2017- 18 I used to consume 10 to 15 pills, all because of a pathetic practitioner. Now I am on 2 medicines. Very soon my doctor will be abrogating one more medicine.
5. Understanding that like me others too have some other flaws. So one should not be very sensitive or catchy. Let go off.

Best of luck! you too could cope with this Disorder.

[alexcollerone]

Bipolar depression for me is very dark. I get severe emotional pain which Dr. Shneidman would call psychache. His work is brilliant and his book the Suicidal Mind has helped me so much to realize how to deal with chronic suicidal thoughts. Sometimes I break out of them. But it is difficult. I write a blog to vent my feelings and it has helped tremendously. Music tends to get me out of funks. The worst part if my darkness is planning an attempt. It is my coping mechanism. I've been fortunate to wake up and not feel so low in the morning but night time is hard. Less people around to talk to that understands.

No idea if this makes sense but wanted to share my experience

[ponysmoke]

Thanks to everyone who’s shared their experiences. I’m really struggling with brain fog as part of my diagnosis. I just can’t think straight and I get really overwhelmed and feel I can’t cope. And then I get depressed because I feel I can’t solve my problems and everything seems too difficult. I guess I need to do the things that work with a depression. Exercise, eat modest amounts of Mediterranean-style food and sleep well. Living is hard but it would be so much harder if I hadn’t given up alcohol 8 years ago. For us souls with such super sensitive mental states alcohol and recreational drugs are guaranteed to make things worse.

[gypsymoth]

Please do a video for neurotypical folks who love someone with bipolar depression. It’s tough for him to tell me what helps- often because the discussion happens in a state of urgency. Love you both, thank you for the candid content 🤟

[zakkaller]

Journaling, being honest, listening to music, lifting/sports, keeping the mind, body, and soul together is the main thing for me

[brown_recidivist]

Sobriety was a huge step in dealing with my mood swings. I still get hypomanic here and there but I am at least aware of it.

[lonesomenae]

For me bipolar depression is the worst. I feel like I’m pushing everyone away because one moment I’m ok the next I don’t wanna live and I wish they could understand that I can’t control It I can only do my best to maintain it but, growing up in a black house hold if I were to tell my family the issues I face mentally they would call me crazy and maybe I am but again I can’t control it

[unleashingpotential-psycho]

Great tips! I think staying sober is one of the biggest things that a Bipolar person can do since they already have trouble with controlling our emotions, alcohol just lets them run rampant and this destroys their relationship with everyone around them

[kazaza]

I currently am having a mix of mania and depression. Ifeel so out of control, not sleeping, paranoid and hopeless but sometimes get energy and self-confidence boost. I remember going out I don't have a diagnosis and feeling everyone staring me, trying to stay still, having semi-delusions. I feel like this episode will last for a long time.and might end seriously. I have some sane moments, some not so sane. I don't want my family to know, cuz of abuse and fear of being a burden, but I need help.

[marliesk]

Thanks for all the great tips! Love your channel, and how you have incorporated your love for science-fiction in some of your videos!
I have a more specific tip for when someone experiences bipolar rage: Remove yourself temporary from social platforms, since every small thing sets you off and you might end up hurting someone through mean/snide comments and eventually end up hurting yourself. It's hard to implement, because you've got to have that insight, see it coming, and have another part of you that intervenes. What I do is comment I take a break and will come back in a few weeks or months.

[chelletoste]

Love the "wrap up!!" Thank you both for sharing!!

[ching-hangcheung]

Wow. Can I just say I am gobsmacked and really taken by your words. Thank you for posting this and especially the point about consuming awesome stories, loving yourself and how, like the weather, clouds won't be there forever. You guys rock so keep truckin.

[alexoh]

Two people in my life was recently diagnosed with bpd. Thanks for the information!

[quixzz]

My dad suffers from bipolar disorder and has recently gone into a manic state and as a result was hospitalized. I really wish he would follow this advice, but he claims that he doesn't need his meds and that weed is perfectly fine. And those two things are his BIG triggers. When he goes off his meds and starts doing drugs- boom its a recipe for disaster. But nobody can get through to him. I cant help him if he isn't willing to accept the fact that he needs help. It is so draining on me and my family to deal with him every time he gets like this. I love him, but I am tired and am getting to the point where I just wish he was not in my life.

[ThatgirlLondon.]

I’m completely numb and terrified of medication ! Trying meds put me in another world sometimes !