Relationships and family life are likely to feel the strain. Sometimes social workers and the police may become involved. People living with or caring for someone with bipolar disorder can have a tough time.ĭuring episodes of illness, the personalities of people with bipolar disorder may change, and they may become abusive or even violent. Living with or caring for someone with bipolar disorder Care and support: money, work and benefits.GOV.UK: Personal Independent Payment (PIP).GOV.UK: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).This includes people with bipolar disorder.Ī range of benefits is available to you if you cannot work as a result of bipolar disorder.įind out more about the benefits you may be able to get: If you're employed, you may be able to work shorter hours or in a more flexible way, particularly if job pressure triggers your symptoms.Įmployers must make reasonable adjustments to make the employment of people with disabilities possible. It's important to avoid too much stress, including work-related stress. Read more about alcohol misuse and drug addiction. Others may have separate but related problems of alcohol and drug misuse, which may need to be treated separately.Īvoiding alcohol and illegal drugs is an important part of recovery from episodes of manic or depressive symptoms, and can help you gain stability. Some people with bipolar disorder find they can stop misusing alcohol and drugs once they're using effective treatment. Some people with bipolar disorder use alcohol or illegal drugs to try to ease their distress.īoth have well-known harmful physical and social effects, and are not a substitute for treatment and good healthcare. They can also help with practical problems, such as helping to find housing and work. Staff often visit you at home and liaise with other services, such as your GP or social services. These deliver intensive treatment and rehabilitation in the community, providing rapid help in a crisis. You can visit every day or as often as you need. These are an alternative to inpatient care in a hospital. These are specialist mental health teams that can deal with crises that occur outside normal office hours. Crisis servicesĬrisis services allow you to be treated at home, instead of in hospital, for a sudden episode. Your GP may be able to refer you directly to an early intervention team. These provide early identification and treatment if you have the first symptoms of psychosis. They offer assessment, treatment and social care. These provide the main part of local specialist mental health services. Some are accessed through referral from your GP, others through your local authority. You may be involved with many different services during treatment for bipolar disorder. Talking therapies are useful for managing bipolar disorder, particularly during periods of stability. Some useful charities, support groups and associations include: These organisations also provide online support in forums and blogs. This enables you to share helpful ideas and helps you realise you're not alone in feeling the way you do. Many organisations run self-help groups that can put you in touch with other people with the condition. Other people find it easier to turn to charities and support groups. Some people with bipolar disorder find it easy to talk to family and friends about their condition and its effects. Self-management programmes aim to help you take an active part in your own recovery so you're not controlled by your illness.Ĭourses like those on the Self Management UK website for mild to moderate mental health conditions may be helpful if you feel distressed and uncertain about bipolar disorder. This will include recording your weight, checking your blood pressure and having any appropriate blood tests.įind out more about annual health checks for people with severe mental health conditions Use self-management programmes You should have a check-up at least once a year to monitor your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Read more information about managing your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising are an important way of limiting that risk. Some treatments also increase the risk of developing diabetes, or worsen the illness in people that already have it. It may also give you something to focus on and provide a routine, which is important for many people.Ī healthy diet, combined with exercise, may also help limit weight gain, which is a common side effect of medical treatments for bipolar disorder. Stay active and eat wellĮating well and keeping fit can help reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder, particularly the depressive symptoms. Although it's usually a long-term condition, effective treatments for bipolar disorder , combined with self-help techniques, can limit its impact on your everyday life.
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