If you are a person suffering from bipolar disorder (or what used to be called manic depression) you already know that the extreme mood swings and the emotional highs and lows can completely derail your day and your life, if not handled with self-care and compassion.
If you haven’t been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but recognize some of the following symptoms in yourself, these tips can help, but it is important to seek help from a licensed professional for diagnosis and next steps.
Some common effects of bipolar mood swings include sleep deprivation or insomnia, anger and irritability, inability to think clearly, leading to detrimental impacts to work, relationships and health.
Educating yourself about how bipolar disorder can manifest in your symptoms, and how your behavior can change based on the manic and depressive episodes can help you recognize and identify such behaviors in yourself. Educating yourself is the first step you can take towards helping yourself.
Each person experiences their bipolar symptoms differently. Keeping a daily journal of your moods, feelings, emotions and thoughts is a great way to track your symptoms so that you can recognize patterns of behavior and the triggers that may be causing them. Doing this can help you prevent or manage your symptoms before or during an episode.
Your therapist may be able to provide you some guidance on coping skills that can work specifically for your condition, and in addition, you can experiment and add to the toolkit of activities, so that you can implement them when you need them. Creating this toolkit for yourself ensures that you have a planned way to manage your symptoms as they occur.
Despite all your coping skills, there are times that an episode may get out of control, and in times of crisis, it is important to have an emergency plan to fall back on. Your emergency plan may include people to contact, medication information, a list of hotline numbers, or any other alternatives that you think can help you in such a situation.
Isolation and lack of social connection can often lead to depressive or manic episodes, so it is important to create a support system of family, friends, therapists and counselors who have your best interests in mind, and have the ability to help you prevent or work through the emotions and mood swings you may encounter on a daily basis.
If you recognize yourself in one or more of the above, take the first step of reaching out for help. Taking that first step can be a huge relief to unburden yourself of your issues and be able to receive help that you didn’t know you needed. Call us to see how we can help.
Get help Now! Text us at 949-749-3026 or Call us at 866-415-6313
Start at John Wayne Airport, 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707.
Head southeast for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork and follow signs for Rental Car Return. Continue for 0.7 miles.
Use the left lane to turn slightly left onto N Airport Way. Continue for 0.2 miles.
Use the left lane to turn slightly left to stay on N Airport Way and proceed for 0.1 miles.
Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto MacArthur Blvd. Drive for approximately 0.5 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto the I-405 N ramp towards Long Beach. This will be a 0.2-mile drive.
Merge onto I-405 N and travel for about 2.9 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for approximately 0.2 miles.
Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Euclid St N and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
Start at Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Head west on World Way toward Vicksburg Ave. Continue for 0.2 miles.
Use the 2nd from the right lane to turn slightly right onto S Sepulveda Blvd (signs for I-105). Drive for about 0.4 miles.
Use the right lane to take the I-105 E ramp. Merge onto I-105 E. Continue for approximately 17 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to merge onto I-605 S towards Long Beach. Drive for about 2.2 miles.
Take the exit onto I-405 S toward Long Beach. Continue on I-405 S for approximately 18.5 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Euclid Street S, and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
Start at San Diego International Airport, 3225 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.
Head east on N Harbor Dr toward McCain Rd. Drive for about 0.7 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto W Grape St. Continue for 1.5 miles.
Use the left 2 lanes to take the Interstate 5 N ramp. Merge onto I-5 N. Travel on I-5 N for approximately 76 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 92B for CA-73 N toward Long Beach. Continue onto CA-73 N (Note: This is a toll road). Drive for about 16.8 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 18A to merge onto I-405 N toward Long Beach. Continue on I-405 N for approximately 6.5 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Euclid Street S, and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
Start at Riverside Municipal Airport, 6951 Flight Rd, Riverside, CA 92504.
Head southwest on Flight Rd. Continue for 0.3 miles.
Turn left onto Arlington Ave and drive for about 1.5 miles.
Use the right lane to take the ramp onto CA-91 W. Merge onto CA-91 W. Travel on CA-91 W for approximately 20.5 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 34B to merge onto I-15 S toward San Diego. Drive for about 4.7 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 96 to merge onto CA-91 W toward Beach Cities. Continue on CA-91 W for approximately 8.7 miles.
Merge onto CA-55 S via the ramp to Newport Beach. Travel on CA-55 S for about 14.3 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 5B to merge onto I-405 N toward Long Beach. Drive for 4.2 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Euclid Street S, and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.