Bipolar disorder is a serious and debilitating mental health condition that affects both the mind and the body. The disorder is characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and ability to function. While it can strike anyone, it’s most common in those over the age of 24, and it becomes more severe with age. It’s estimated that bipolar disorder affects 2.8 million people in the United States every year.
People living with bipolar disorder can have a tough time navigating their lifestyle, as they can experience bouts of extreme moodiness that can affect their relationships as well as careers. Living with it can be extremely difficult for anyone, as you have to deal with mood swings, depression, and extreme anxiety, all at once. However, it doesn’t have to be. This is because, with the right combination of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and therapy, a person with bipolar disorder can overcome the condition and live a healthy, happy life. In case you’re living with this disorder, it’s important to educate yourself about a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain your overall health.
Tips for Living with Bipolar Disorder
Exercise
When people think of a healthy lifestyle, exercise tops the to-do list. Certainly, it is one of the best ways to feel better and manage any kind of problem and disorder. Instead of focusing on how much weight you’re losing, focus instead on how you feel after doing exercise. Be it a 20-minute walk, a session on the elliptical, or an intense workout, anything will help you feel energized, improve your mood, and relieve stress, ultimately working towards improving your disorder.
Eat well
Generally, people with bipolar disorder are overly sensitive to certain foods. They may not like the texture or taste of some food items, which is why it can be tricky to eat well. Sometimes even healthy foods, like vegetables, can also be a problem for people with the disorder. Those people should however take medications to include such healthy items in their diets, in order to follow a healthy lifestyle.
Limit
Caffeine, even in small amounts, can be addictive and harmful to your health. So, limit or cut out all caffeine-based products, including soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate. If you are already addicted to any of these items, cut down gradually, so you don’t experience headaches or other signs of caffeine withdrawal.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
People diagnosed with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk of developing substance use disorders, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Illicit drugs are a major problem that should be avoided, even if the street value of Hydrocodone and similar drugs is cheaper than prescription drugs. Many people struggle to afford prescription medication, which can lead to them finding cheaper, more dangerous alternatives. Though they are not healthy to be consumed by, it is all the worse for people diagnosed with the disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects how a person feels and acts. It is a mood disorder where the patient goes through phases of extreme highs and lows. He/She may have extreme shifts in their emotions from feeling happy and energetic one day to feeling sad and lethargic the next. It is certainly not easy to cope with this disorder, and whoever is diagnosed needs support from friends and family.
Apparently, it has many different causes and affects people differently-but some factors are common. For instance, most people who have bipolar disorder tend to struggle with self-medication. In other words, they turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of treatment. This unhealthy relationship fuels the disorder, making it more difficult for patients to manage their condition.
If you’re living with bipolar disorder, you probably have some challenges when it comes to maintaining a healthy, positive lifestyle. But with the right strategies in place, you can change the way you think and live a healthier and more fulfilling life.