When youre first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, its normal to be confused, scared, and upset. You may be grieving, and thats okay. The pain may feel unbearable, but it will eventually fade. Though you may feel alone right now, you are never alone. There are people ready, and willing to help you. This illness may not curable, but it is manageable.
The first step towards feeling better, is to accept that you have a mental illness, and one that must be managed. Some people choose to deny they have a mental illness for their own various reasons, dont seek treatment, and never get better. The sooner you accept that you have bipolar disorder, the faster you can start treating it, and the sooner youll start feeling better.
The next best thing you can do for yourself, is to get educated. The more you know about bipolar disorder, the easier it is to manage. My suggestion is to find a self-help book specifically on bipolar disorder, and look at resources online. International Bipolar Foundation and National Alliance on Mental Illness are two great non-profit foundations that will have valuable information on this disorder. Your therapist and psychiatrist are there to answer any questions you may have. Ask them. Theyre there to watch you get better, not worse.
I want to be honest, and say that managing bipolar disorder can be difficult. At times you may feel defeated, find yourself discouraged, and want to stop treatment. Every time you feel that way, remind yourself that you have an organ that is not functioning properly, and that organ needs medication. Finding the right medication will save your life, even if it takes time to go through which ones work and dont work.
Lastly, never feel alone or doubt your capability to manage this. There are others that have bipolar disorder, including myself. If you want to read how I manage to live a stable, and healthy lifestyle, please feel free to visit my blog post 12 Steps For Maintaining A Healthy, Stable, And Happy Lifestyle.
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