Bipolar Disorder For Dummies
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The overall treatment plan that a person with bipolar disorder should follow to achieve and maintain mood stability is fairly straightforward. Follow this treatment plan:

  • Take your medications as prescribed, even when you're feeling well, and consult your doctor before making any medication changes.

  • Establish routines that ensure a regular sleep-wake schedule. Lack of quality sleep is related to mood instability and is often a warning sign of an impending mood episode.

  • Ingest healthy stuff and avoid the bad stuff, including alcohol and marijuana, which may interfere with medications and/or disrupt mood regulation.

  • Exercise. Even a relaxing 30-minute walk or 1 to 5 minutes of intensive exercise a few times a week can help health and mood.

  • Monitor your moods and seek help sooner rather than later. Early intervention can prevent major mood meltdowns.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Candida Fink, MD is a psychiatrist, board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, who specializes in working with people of all ages?and their loved ones?to manage bipolar disorder. Joe Kraynak is a professional writer who deals with bipolar in his family.

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