The Unbalance of Bipolar Disorder

Living with bipolar disorder isn't easy, and sometimes I wonder why I even keep trying to live a so-called "normal" life. To live with bipolar disorder is to live in an entirely different way than the majority of the population. You see, I was diagnosed bipolar about 8 years ago. The way I live my life has changed dramatically since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

It's extremely difficult to explain bipolar disorder to those who don't have it. Most people can't fathom what it's like to live with bipolar disorder, and can't even imagine the ups and downs that a person with bipolar disorder deals with. It's extremely difficult to find the right combination of medication that will actually help bipolar disorder; some medications can actually make the mood swings, depression and mania worse than not taking them does.

In the years since I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I've spent a lot of time trying to understand it and trying to figure out how to live with bipolar disorder. What I've discovered is living with bipolar disorder isn't as easy as mental health professionals will claim it is. I've learned that medications won't "fix" anything, and again, most people can't even begin to understand the mood swings, mania or depression.

Discovering a balance when treating bipolar disorder and trying to live with it can be difficult for some, and downright impossible for others. There has to be a balance of healthy living, medications, counseling or therapy, and having a support system in the form of family and friends. Feeling "unbalanced" or "off" can cause bipolar symptoms to become worse, and just the stress of feeling out of balance will cause the mood swings to get worse.

If you're dealing with bipolar disorder, it's important to let your close family members, significant others, and friends know about your diagnosis. With that in mind, be cautious about sharing your bipolar diagnosis with people you don't know well, such as family members or friends who won't be supportive, etc.

The reason for this is simple and I had to learn this the hard way! Many people truly do not understand that bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance. Many think that a person with bipolar disorder should be able to "control themselves" or just "snap out of it." The lack of understanding by peers and family members can really be devastating for a person with bipolar.

While dealing with mania, depression or other mood swings, try to have patience with yourself. Try to communicate with your support system, your partner, etc and make sure they understand what you are going through. If you find family members, your partner, or friends are not able or willing to be supportive, try to find a support group, group therapy or other form of support system.

Bipolar disorder doesn't mean that a person is "insane" or that they are incapable of dealing with things on a day to day basis. There's nothing worse than people assuming I am going to just fly off the handle at any random moment, simply because they know I am living with bipolar disorder. And normal emotional reactions are okay, they don't mean I haven't taken my medication or that I'm having a severe mood swing.

While frustrating to live with, bipolar disorder can be managed. Slowly, one step at a time, I'm learning how to manage my bipolar disorder, instead of it managing me. And if I can do it, then anyone else can too. I'll have my good days and bad days, there will be moments when I won't see a light at the end of a dark tunnel or I will end up not sleeping for a few days due to mania. But thankfully, with medication and counseling, those moments are getting farther apart.

If I can share anything with others who are living with bipolar disorder, I'd like to share hope. There is always hope. Remembering that can mean the difference between barely surviving with bipolar disorder and actually living life regardless of bipolar disorder.