By Stephen Propst
Columnist Stephen Propst shares some tips on how he has learned to manage his bipolar disorder.
It took many years before I finally confronted the reality of what recovery actually involves. If I could go back in time, I would change how I dealt with bipolar from the beginning. I would focus on managing mindset for the better.
While I can’t rewrite history, you can lean on my learning curve and get an earlier start on facing the facts. Based on what I know now, I would suggest doing the following from the get-go:
Get over it.
That sounds counter-intuitive because we shouldn’t reduce a real, biological illness to something that’s just in your head. However, acknowledging that you have bipolar—a genuine medical condition—is the start of getting well. I wasted a number of years before coming to grips with that reality.
Attending support groups is a great way to gain confidence and confront your challenge. Initially, I unnecessarily shied away from the idea of opening up in public. But doing so opens the door to gaining understanding and hope. Indeed, there is strength in numbers!
Get through it.
The first time I fell into a state of depression, I thought it would never end. The first time I experienced mania, my family and friends thought it would never end! But, everyone eventually learned that these episodes are part and parcel of bipolar. We discovered that we could survive by working together.
When it comes to dealing with depression, managing mania, and realizing recovery, knowledge is key. I wish I had initially spent more time educating myself and less time worrying myself to pieces.
Get around it.
I can’t count the obstacles I’ve faced in battling bipolar—trying to find the right medications, working through issues in therapy, convincing others I wasn’t “crazy,” trying to keep a job, and so forth. It has not been easy. But over time, I learned that you have to find creative ways of circumventing what are really perceived problems.
A major obstacle for many to get around is simply being able to afford treatment. For years, I went to a county mental health program where I could see a doctor and therapist on a sliding-fee basis. To help minimize the cost of medications, I applied for patient-assistance programs for which I was eligible. So, always look for alternative approaches.
Get with it.
In the gym, having a workout plan helps you reach your goal. On the road, using a map helps you reach your destination. Likewise, in working your way to wellness, utilizing a recovery plan is essential. I wish I had developed one from the start.
One really effective tool is the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) developed by Mary Ellen Copeland. You can learn more at mental health-recovery.com. I met Mary Ellen and decided to get with her program later in my recovery, but you can start right away.
Get to it.
I can’t count the times I’ve unnecessarily put my life on hold. Eventually, I realized that having bipolar did not have to consume me. I only wish that I had made the conscious decision to get to it earlier on.
Are you ready to get to it? Volunteering gets you out of the house and your mind off your troubles. And doing a good turn for others can turn your recovery in a positive direction.
Had I faced the facts and embraced these concepts from the start, I would have avoided years of debilitating downtime. Now, I can’t turn back the hands of time and do a mania makeover or a depression do-over. But you can make a constructive change in your recovery or support a loved one in doing the same—starting today!
Used by permission.