When you are first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it can be very hard to accept and even understand it. Sometimes the diagnosis comes after being hospitalized and that can be very traumatizing. Many people live with this condition and have very productive lives. Taking your medication religiously is crucial. Medication accompanied by psychotherapy gets the best results. The following are signs that you have your bipolar disorder under control.
IMPROVEMENT OF SYMPTOMS
When you take your medication exactly as it is prescribed, you will start seeing your symptoms decrease in intensity as well as frequency. You will have less depressive and manic episodes and that will improve your overall quality of life.
TAKE LESS DAYS OFF
Whether it be school or work, you take less days off. You can easily fall behind at work or school when you experience manic or depressive episodes. Once your bipolar is well-managed, you will not need to use as many sick leave days. The right treatment will allow you to be more productive.
PREVENT COMPLICATIONS
You will have decreased risks of developing complications, such as developing a substance abuse problem, having financial and legal issues, as well as suicidal thoughts. These complications can disrupt your life immensely and they can all be avoided with adequate treatment and support.
GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
One of the advantages of managing bipolar disorder well is being able to communicate better with people around you. Relationships whilst during manic or depressive periods can be badly affected. You can mend the relationships and help people around you to gain a better understanding of the disorder.
LESS STRESS
You might feel extremely uncertain when you are not sure when the next manic or depressive episode will happen. When bipolar disorder is unmanaged, an episode can happen at any given time. Not only can this be stressful for you, but it can also cause stress to everyone around you. When you comply with your treatment plan, you will have fewer stressful days and experience more days where you feel in control.
The aim is to live a life that is as unaffected by your diagnosis as possible. You can have better control of the outcomes by sticking to your treatment plan and participating in psychotherapy sessions.
Written by Dr Ruusa Shivute | Health Window
Reference: Anderson IM, Haddad PM, Scott J. Bipolar disorder. BMJ. 2012 Dec 27;345:e8508
