How to Cope with a Bipolar Depression Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with bipolar depression can leave you with a myriad of questions. There are many ways to cope with your new status. No matter your stage of life at the time of diagnosis, the coping strategies are the same.

The first step is to learn what aspects of your behavior, thoughts and feelings are you and what aspects are symptoms of your illness. Once you have identified what is you and what is your bipolar depression you can identify behaviors you want to change, and you can set goals for yourself towards making those changes.

Knowing that bipolar depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain can relieve you of guilt. You can stop beating yourself up for being lethargic and bouncing off the walls by turns. You can stop thinking of yourself as a failure for starting a plethora of projects when you're hypomanic and then never finishing them because you went into a depressive cycle.

Accepting that bipolar depression/disorder is long-term, chronic condition can be a daunting task. However, knowing it is treatable can be a great comfort. Finding a treatment regimen that works for you is the first stage of that acceptance. You need to be open and honest about your medications, how they affect you and whether are not you can deal with any side effects of those. Keeping a chart of the effects of medication on your moods is a useful tool in aiding your doctor to find the most appropriate drug or combination of drugs for you. NEVER stop taking a medication without talking it over first with your doctor.

Your family and friends can be helpful in helping you cope with your diagnosis and in your treatment. Educate them about your bipolar depression/disorder so they can assist you in recognizing symptoms and monitoring behaviors. They can also give you positive feedback when they see you progressing towards your goals.

Establishing and maintaining a regular schedule and healthy lifestyle is an important component of your coping strategy. You will feel better when you get sleep on a regular basis, eat healthy and regularly and avoid self medicating with alcohol and illegal substances.