Bipolar Management 101

I was diagnosed with bipolar II three weeks ago. Now that I know I have it, it's so much easier to understand! Here are 5 things I've learned that help manage my symptoms:

1. If you're feeling blue, wear red. Today I am wearing a blue shirt and fuchsia shorts and hot pink fuzzy socks (not leaving the house like this!). I was feeling kind of down, so I put on bright colors! It helps! About 50% of my closet is black. It's fashionable, slimming, and works for most events. It also, however, has the tendency to pull your mood down and make you sad. So if you're feeling blue, wear red. Metaphorically, of course, if your color isn't red. ;-)

2. Sticky note your mirror. Write one thing that you like about yourself every day on a sticky note. Put the sticky notes around the edge of your mirror. You'll see them every day and they will make you feel a little better! And don't be too cynical when you see them--your smile is beautiful, you are a good person. Don't use these to pull yourself down!

3. Set small goals and make them. If you're in a downward spiral, it's hard to get out. But if you set a small goal and make it, it starts helping. Then do it again. I'm talking small goals: pick up a few dirty clothes, unload the dishwasher, write a letter to a friend, make the bed, etc. Small goals that matter. These will improve your mood. Again, this is something that you will be able to use against yourself: "Unloading the dishwasher is nothing; why would that make me feel better? I'm so much better than that." No! Don't do that! Just unload the dishwasher and then tell me you don't feel better.

4. Do not reward yourself with food--you are not a dog. This is a hard one. We are obsessed with rewarding ourselves with dinner out or a special dessert or a double-triple-mocha-frappucino-latte "because I deserve it." Here's the thing: you are not a dog. Dogs get rewarded with treats. People don't. So don't treat yourself like a dog. Rewarding yourself like a dog will never make you feel better. Sure, it will while you're eating or sitting in the drive-thru waiting for your coffee or something, but 20 minutes later, you'll have nothing but a stomachache and a sugar crash to show for it--and your mood will take a giant dive, making the rest of your day horrible.

5. Keep your friends close. Seriously. You need them. You need to talk to them about the fact that you have bipolar and you will not always treat them the way they should be treated, but you know that and you're doing your best to seek treatment. If you just treat your friends like crap and you don't talk to them and find treatment, it's on you if they leave. You need your friends, so make sure you treat them like friends.

Stay strong!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi