10 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

People who are successfully treating and living with their bipolar blend universal strategies — like medication and lifestyle habits — with tailored approaches. Discover 10 key practices that make a difference.

Defining Success With Bipolar Disorder

Each of us must decide for ourselves what a successful life looks like, depending on our goals, values, and individual circumstances. Coping with common life stressors can prove difficult, and managing a chronic health condition like bipolar disorder can add additional challenges. But it can also offer surprising benefits, such as having a unique perspective, increased self-awareness, and greater empathy.

Some individuals with bipolar see a link between their diagnosis and their high achievement — sometimes as a result of hypomania’s enhanced energy and creativity levels and sometimes because of the degree of focus and self-management required to address symptoms and prevent or cope with mood swings.

Of course, early diagnosis and equitable access to treatment play an important role in personal success and achievement. And variations in mood, energy, distractibility, and other cognitive functions affected by bipolar are connected to our ability to navigate daily responsibilities and relationships, both of which are closely tied to overall success. Here’s what works well for some who find success while living with bipolar.

1. They’ve Created Their Own Treatment Plan

People who navigate their bipolar disorder successfully have put together personalized treatment plans — with the assistance of their healthcare providers and support circles — that meet their specific needs. This approach often includes trying out different strategies to find what works best. For many, medication is key, providing the stability and control over symptoms that are crucial for handling the disorder.

Some may also find that making targeted changes to their daily habits and lifestyle brings additional benefits. For others, therapy offers the mental and emotional support they need, complementing other parts of their treatment plan. The heart of this method is making sure everything is tailored to the individual, which highlights how vital a personalized strategy is for effectively managing bipolar disorder.

2. They Have Good Sleep Habits

A key strategy for many in successfully managing bipolar symptoms is to prioritize establishing healthy sleep habits, recognizing that sleep disturbances can significantly affect their mood and potentially trigger episodes. They strive for a consistent routine, focusing on regular bedtimes and wake-up times and creating a calming bedtime ritual. They’re committed to strategies, including relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing, and making their sleep environment conducive to rest. They consistently apply practical steps such as minimizing exposure to blue light from screens, ensuring the bedroom is a quiet, dark, and cool sanctuary, and avoiding stimulants such as large meals, caffeine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

For people living with bipolar, sleep is found to be a significant cause of stress. We know that sleep problems don’t just affect mood, they can also be the cause. Their dedication to improving sleep hygiene is crucial for mitigating stress and mood disruptions and enhancing overall mood stability.

3. They Rally a Supportive Team

People managing their bipolar successfully prioritize building and maintaining a strong support network, understanding that assistance and understanding from others are key to managing their illness. They recognize that a supportive team can encompass a wide range of individuals, from family and friends to healthcare professionals and peer support groups. This diverse network provides a comprehensive foundation of support, catering to different aspects of their well-being.

In deepening these connections, individuals actively participate in open and meaningful exchanges, discussing their experiences and obstacles while welcoming guidance and perspectives from their network. Such ongoing interaction reinforces their bonds, building a foundation of empathy and understanding. This approach ensures their support circle is not only aware but also genuinely attuned to their personal needs and condition. At the foundation, successful individuals are not afraid to ask for help.

4. They Know Their Triggers and Have a Plan

Individuals who manage their bipolar disorder effectively are well-versed in identifying their triggers and have a strategic plan in place to address them. They’re aware that certain stressors, such as work-related pressures, sleep disturbances, and significant life changes, can make them more susceptible to episodes of depression or mania. By understanding these triggers, they can take steps to prevent minor symptoms from escalating into more severe mood episodes.

These successful individuals often develop their management plans collaboratively with their spouse, family, or support network, ensuring a comprehensive approach to their well-being. They’re skilled at recognizing the early signs of depression or mania and have predetermined actions to take in response. This proactive approach is crucial in managing their condition, allowing them to maintain stability by addressing potential issues before they develop into larger challenges.

5. They Have a Healthy Diet and Exercise Regularly

For a significant number, the path to managing bipolar successfully includes understanding the importance of complementing their medication treatment with a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet and regular physical activity — even when it’s challenging. Recognizing the role of nutrition in mood stability, they prioritize a diet rich in healthy fats, lower in carbohydrates, and free from processed foods. This dietary approach is informed by research indicating that people with bipolar disorder are more susceptible to specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies, underscoring the necessity of a nutrient-dense diet.

Emphasizing whole foods, these individuals ensure their meals are packed with essential nutrients that support overall well-being and mood regulation. Alongside dietary habits, incorporating regular exercise into their routine further enhances their ability to maintain mood stability.

6. They Stick to a Daily Routine

Engaging in personalized routines is pivotal for many in managing bipolar disorder effectively. These routines are especially crucial for maintaining medication adherence, regular exercise, balanced diet, and consistent sleep schedules. The importance of consistency is well-understood; much like daily tooth brushing becomes second nature, these practices can also evolve into habits that require minimal effort. This approach is vital because it moves beyond reliance on willpower to seamlessly integrate these practices into daily life, thereby enhancing overall well-being and stability.

When mood episodes or symptoms pose challenges, an established routine provides a reliable framework. It’s easier to revert to a familiar set of activities than to create new habits under stress. This approach helps navigate through periods of disruption and aids in a smoother transition back to mood stability. The strategy underscores the importance of routine in managing bipolar, offering a sense of control during times of uncertainty.

7. They Pay Attention to Their Thoughts

Individuals effectively managing bipolar disorder are mindful of the interconnected cycle of depression, anxiety, and negative thinking that often accompanies the condition. They dedicate effort to disentangle themselves from this detrimental loop. Recognizing the impact of negative thought patterns like catastrophic thinking, pessimism, and harmful self-talk, they actively work towards adopting a more positive and pragmatic perspective in various situations.

By understanding the power of mindset and learning strategies to pivot away from negativity, these individuals can significantly influence their emotional well-being. This shift not only helps in reducing the intensity and frequency of depressive and anxious episodes but also fosters a more resilient and adaptive approach to life’s challenges.

8. They Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is a strategy embraced by many who live well with bipolar. Meditation, in particular, has been found to enhance one’s ability to handle work-related stress, organize tasks, and maintain focus under pressure. Research over the last decade has consistently highlighted the broad health benefits of mindfulness meditation, including significant improvements in various health and wellness outcomes.

Studies have begun to unravel the neurological basis for these benefits, revealing that meditation can lower levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory marker associated with stress, thereby indicating its potential to reduce stress-related inflammation.

Additionally, some individuals find value in incorporating movement-based mindfulness practices, such as yoga, swimming, or walking, into their routines. These activities not only foster physical health but also support mental and emotional well-being by offering a meditative experience that combines the benefits of movement with mindfulness.

9. They Are Grateful

Incorporating gratitude into their daily lives is a strategy many people with bipolar disorder find beneficial, aligning with research that highlights gratitude’s strong link to better well-being. Engaging in gratitude practices is known to positively affect mood, improve relationships, uplift one’s outlook, and boost overall happiness. These benefits play a crucial role in guarding against anxiety and depression.

One practical approach, supported by psychological studies, is keeping a gratitude journal. By regularly noting down things they’re thankful for, individuals can foster a more positive mental state. This method helps shift focus from the challenges posed by bipolar disorder to the positive aspects of life, promoting a sense of well-being. Such a practice not only assists in managing emotions but also builds resilience, making it an effective component of managing bipolar more holistically.

10. They Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal is a common practice among those who manage their bipolar disorder effectively. This habit can encompass tracking mood fluctuations, dietary habits, physical activity, or even moments of gratitude. The act of recording these details, whether through writing or typing, helps solidify these observations in memory. Beyond its therapeutic effects, journaling offers a meditative quality, focusing thoughts and reducing mental clutter. It also provides valuable insights, enabling individuals to identify patterns in their symptoms, triggers, and the effectiveness of different treatment strategies, thereby contributing to a more informed and personalized approach to managing their condition.

UPDATED: Originally posted April 27, 2022

The post 10 Habits of Highly Successful People With Bipolar Disorder appeared first on bpHope.com.

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