Dec 19 2008
Taking care of bipolar business
Don’t you wish that while you’re dealing with manic depression itself you didn’t have to deal with all the other mess that rides along with it? Just dealing with the symptoms of the mental illness itself is more than enough. Then on top of that, a bunch of other stuff comes with it that has to be handled: scheduling scads of appointments, making sure you have all your medications at the right time, dealing with busy case managers, work problems because of it, disability, etc. All this would be a lot for a person without bipolar disorder, and can feel totally overwhelming when you’re barely creeping along with bipolar depression or sweeping around with mania.
So how can you handle it all?
1. Ask for help.
2. Ask for help.
3. Ask for help.
It sounds awfully simple, but it’s really important. Ask your spouse or parents or case manage or psychiatrist. Often if they can’t help you themselves, they can help point you in the direction of someone who can.
The other important bit is #4 - Help yourself. Make things easier on yourself by showing up for appointments, asking the doc for your prescriptions in time so you don’t run out, handling as much as you can as you can do it. And when you’re overwhelmed by it all, go back to #1 and ask for help.
Yes, everyone gets overwhelmed at times and needs help. Good point about people being happy to have been asked. Most seem to be just that way, I’ve seen.