Bipolar Disorder - Address Mood Instability
Bipolar disorder — sometimes called manic-depressive disorder — is associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts in the other direction, you may feel euphoric and full of energy. Mood shifts may occur only a few times a year, or as often as several times a day. In some cases, bipolar disorder causes symptoms of depression and mania at the same time. Bipolar disorder is the struggle for feeling stable and finding the ability to act stable.
Although bipolar disorder is a disruptive, long-term condition, you can keep your moods in check by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder can be controlled with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy). It is also important to create a supportive system around you as well for long term management of bipolar disorder.
Self Help Resources for Bipolar Disorder
The following self-help materials are useful for managing Bipolar Disorder (in order of popularity). More resources will be added often.
- False Assumptions about People with Mental Health Disorders
- The Relationship I Want: Changing Dysfunctional Patterns in Relationships
- Changing Dysfunctional Systems and Behaviors in our Lives
- How to Assess and Improve Relationships
- Change Your Thinking and Improve Your Responses
- Improving Relationships Through New Responses to Old Problems
- Thought Record 7 Worksheet with Instructions
- STOPP 5 Worksheet with Instructions
- Old System New System Worksheet with Instructions
- Minimum Level of Functioning Worksheet with Instructions
- Formulation Worksheet with Instructions
- Five Aspects Evaluation Tool with Instructions
- Daily Exposure Practice Form with Instructions
- Critical Voice Thought Record Worksheet with Instructions
- Activating, Beliefs, Consequences Worksheet with Instructions