Lifestyle is a powerful tool to heal and manage different types of health concerns, including bipolar disorder management. Extreme mood fluctuations, from depressed lows to manic or hypomanic highs, are a hallmark of this mental health condition. Get expert advice and support from the best psychiatrist doctor in Siliguri, Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee.
To control bipolar disorder symptoms and foster general well-being, even medicine and therapy are the mainstays of treatment, lifestyle plays a vital role. People with bipolar illness can enhance their quality of life and overcome the frequency and severity of mood episodes by implementing good lifestyle habits into their everyday routines.
The following six lifestyle tips can help you manage bipolar illness as best you can:
1.Maintaining a Regular Schedule
In order to effectively manage bipolar illness, stability is key, and to maintain that, loved ones should assist as well. The mood and energy levels are influenced by the internal clock, which one can well manage with the aid of a regular daily routine (guided by an expert, such as a psychiatrist). Make an effort to:
- Even on the weekends, get up and bed at the same hour every day.
- Consume meals on a regular basis and maintain the same time.
- Establish regular schedules for working, exercising, and unwinding.
Mood episodes can result from normal disruptions, particularly in sleep (late-night sleep). You may maintain a more balanced attitude by keeping things organized.
2.Not Skipping Regular Exercise
One of the most effective mood stabilizers, whether for bipolar disorder, is physical activity. It promotes quality sleep, good blood circulation, lowers stress, generates endorphins, and increases brain clarity in general.
We all must know that regular exercise doesn't have to be strenuous, so don’t push yourself. Consistency is very important, and to sustain these practices, include what you like. Things that can help:
- Walking for 30 minutes, five days a week.
- Stretching or yoga can help you relax and become more flexible.
- For pleasure and diversity, try dancing, swimming, or cycling.
3.Making Sleep Hygiene a Priority
Bipolar episodes can be triggered by sleep problems, like insomnia. While sadness might increase the desire for sleep, mania can lower sleep timing and interrupt it. Maintaining proper sleep hygiene might help avoid mood swings, and here are some useful tips:
- Establish a relaxing sleep ritual, such as meditation or reading before sleep.
- Do not use screens for at least an hour before bedtime.
- Limit your intake of heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine, particularly in the evening.
- Make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable.
It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional, like a general physician or psychiatrist, if you continue to have insomnia or unusual sleep patterns, because getting enough sleep is crucial.
4.Getting Expert Help to Get Rid of Alcohol Use
Drug abuse can cause mood swings, interact with prescription drugs, and raise your chances of recurrence of a mood episode. Some people self-medicate by using drugs or alcohol, which can make symptoms worse suddenly or over time. Get help from psychologists since sobriety is necessary for sustained emotional stability.
5.Building a Support System
Withdrawal from loved ones or meeting up with friends (isolation) can activate the depressive episodes of bipolar disorder. Be in the company of those who:
- Recognize your condition and keep from passing judgment.
- Promote adherence to therapy and good behaviors with expert help.
- Talk to your loved ones if you feel low.
Apart from interpersonal connections, think about participating in an online or in-person bipolar disorder support group (run by doctors or experts). Receive personalized bipolar disorder treatment from the best psychiatrist doctor in Siliguri or near you.
6.Managing Stress
Both manic and depressive episodes have been linked to being triggered by long-term stress; therefore, stress management is essential. Among the practical ways, you can try:
- Being present makes people feel less impulsive and anxious.
- Under expert supervision, combat unfavorable thought habits.
- Get talk therapy when advised by your psychiatrist.
- Include meditation, deep breathing, and yoga in your lifestyle.
- Don't take on more than you can handle; be vocal about things you don’t like.
It's not necessary to implement change everything at once, and improvements do not come overnight. Managing bipolar disorder needs perseverance, tolerance, and support. It’s a long-term commitment to your wellness. Get in touch with one of the top psychiatrists in Siliguri City for optimal outcomes.
