Meeting the Challenge of Bipolar Disorder:
Self Help Strategies That Work!
by Association
for Natural Psychology,
Gabrielle Woods, PhD (Editor),
Laura Pipoly, PC EdD (Foreward)
Description
Self help for
bipolar disorder can result in positive gains. Your moods involving mania and
depression can be positively affected through Positive Lifestyle Changes. By
developing an array of coping skills, and making gradual, incremental changes
in your lifestyle, you will find that mood swings are less dramatic, and mood
stability can be attained.
There are a
multitude of factors that affect our mental health. Mental health treatment
based on the medical model, usually involving psychiatric labeling and the
prescribing of strong pharmaceutical drugs, sometimes with a little therapy, is
based on a faulty foundation, and is not the panacea that it is proclaimed to
be.
Whether or not you
subscribe to the views of mainstream psychiatry, if you or a loved one has been
diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or displays the symptoms of bipolar disorder,
there is much you can do to overcome its symptoms.
Educate yourself on
the many avenues of psychological recovery. Don't be satisfied with the medical
model interpretation of psychiatric disorders. You have everything to gain by
giving due attention to self help when addressing symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Remission and recovery is within reach for most who suffer with bipolar
disorder.
Additionally,
prevention in mental health prevention is an important aspect of psychology
that is often overlooked. A healthy lifestyle based on practical wisdom for
good physical and mental health should be a part of both formal education and
self-education.
The model presented
in this book is based on actual experiences of bipolar disorder remission.
In addition to a
consideration of the subject in the introduction of this book, the following
topics are developed. Each section is researched and contains a recommended
reading section.
A Foundation for
Change, Growth and Progress
One: Identify and
Correct Individual Target Symptoms and Triggers
Two: Education and
Self-Education Put You in Control
Three: Self
Determination as an Aid Towards Personal Responsibility and Recovery
Four: Journaling is
a Stabilizing Multi-Dimensional Self-Help Tool
Five: Cognitive
Behavior Therapy (CBT) as Self Help (and/or CBT with a Therapist)
Balance
Six: Seek Balance in
Your Thoughts and Activities, Along with Structure in Your Routine
Seven: Self Monitor
Shifts in Mood and Behavior to Prevent Relapse
Eight: Control
Overspending Binges and Get Control of Your Finances
Nine: Take Time
Daily for Relaxation
Ten: Determine What
Causes Stress and Endeavor to Correct It, Handle It and Modify It
Eleven: Read for
Therapy, Information and as a Positive Life Habit
Twelve: Write for Self Expression as a Stabilizing Therapy
Nutrition and
Physical Needs
Thirteen: Pursue a Healthy Diet, Give Adequate Attention to Nutrition
Fourteen: Avoid Alcohol and Other Mood-Altering and Mind Altering
Substances
Fifteen: Eliminate Caffeine and Cigarette Smoking
Sixteen: Regular Exercise as an Important Element of Mental Health,
which Contributes to Feelings of Self-Worth and Stabilization
Seventeen: Order and Personal Hygiene Facilitate Better Mental Health
Visual and Sensory
Elements of Mental Process
Eighteen: Create Art - A Side-Effect-Free Natural Mood Stabilizer
Nineteen: Avoid Overstimulation
Twenty: Consider Unplugging
Twenty-One: Engage in Positive, Pro-Active Activities Rather than
Indulging in Media Violence
Twenty-two: Avoid Pornography, Overcome Pornography Addiction and
Hypersexuality
Twenty-three: Music can Positively or Negatively Influence Mental Health
and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Twenty-four: Neurofeeback Can Effectively Reduce Symptoms
Interpersonal Relationships and Support
Twenty-Five: Build a Support System of Concerned Friends and/or family
and Extended Family
Twenty-Six: Towards Self-Disclosure: Take Down Psychological Defences
Twenty-seven: Build Your Support Team with a Coach
Twenty-eight: Get Control of Anger: Adaptive Behaviors and Responses
Towards Anger Management
Spirituality, Values
and Principles and Life Philosophies
Twenty-nine: Be Honest - A Force for Healing and Good Mental Health
Thirty: Seek Spiritual Growth as an Avenue Towards Recovery
Thirty-one: Avoid Negative Spiritual Views and Maintain a Healthy
Balance in Your Spirituality
Thirty-two: Develop Life Principles and Philosophies that Facilitate
Good Mental Health
Thirty-three: Improve Self-Esteem - Ideas Worth Considering
Excerpt
...bipolar disorder should not be considered to be a life sentence, and
it certainly is not a death sentence. The mathematical adage, "the whole
is greater than the sum of its parts" proves to be true with the label
"bipolar disorder".
While some in the mental health field have painted a gloomy, even
negative view of recovery from bipolar disorder, statistics indicate that not
only is recovery and remission possible, but that hundreds of thousands have
recovered from bipolar disorder and its symptoms for good. While current
statistics might indicate that for the majority who are diagnosed with bipolar
disorder, it is considered to be a lifetime condition, part of the problem may
be in the way the disorder is dealt with or treated by the mainstream psychiatric
community in the first place.
With heavy emphasis on pharmaceutical treatment, which is often not
effective as a long-term cure, and where relapse rates are high, even with
properly administered psychiatric drugs, adequate consideration of pursuing Positive
Lifestyle Changes, in addition to support from family, peers and professionals,
can result in a much higher rate of recovery, where remission is likely
possible and even probable.
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From the Author
There is much that you can do to overcome symptoms associated with
bipolar disorder. Good mental health is hard work. You need to be educated on
what causes bipolar disorder and what you can do to address individual
symptoms. Because a large percentage of cases of bipolar disorder are not
severe, with simple lifestyle changes, many can help themselves through self
help efforts. Educating yourself on bipolar disorder and self help methods is
the key. This book helps demystify bipolar disorder and provides you with
resources that help put you in control.
While it is often stated that bipolar disorder is a lifetime condition,
this isn't always the case, and for a significant percentage of those diagnosed
with bipolar disorder, recovery and remission can be achieved.
This book provides additional resources to help you reach your goal of
recovery and remission. You can win in making gradual progress towards
overcoming the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
(This book is not designed to replace professional psychological or
medical assistance when necessary, but complements it).
About the Author
The Association for
Youth, Children and Natural Psychology (AYCNP) is a New Jersey
non-profit association operating as a 501 c(3) in the educational and
psychology fields. It is rooted in public school education. It was started by a
science teacher and doctor of educational leadership, both in Newark, NJ.
The AYCNP and its literature is non-religious and non-political. It is
not supported or endorsed by any religious organization, nor are the ideas
expressed in its publications rooted in any particular religious ideology. The
literature of the AYCNP is eclectic in that it draws on a wide variety of
resources for its information. The AYCNP has no political agenda but is
strictly educationally oriented. The focus of Overcoming ADHD Without
Medication and similar ideas on mental health is in practicality. Anyone can
improve their mental health on any of a number of fronts through attention to
practical measures, lifestyle changes and by developing coping skills.
Individual founders of the AYCNP are members of the Society for Teacher's
of Psychology and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
The AYCNP uses some of its funds towards charitable contributions
directly to the Newark, NJ community to support the social, educational and
artistic development of youth and children in Newark, and on a wider platform.
The AYCNP is a Member in good standing with National Council of
Nonprofits and the Center for Non-Profits of NJ and operates as a 501 c(3)
corporation. It provides materials and book donations to children and youth, as
well as materials donations to public schools, public libraries, and to
organizations involved with development of printed material on mental health
issues.
The AYCNP website is Health
on the Internet(HON) certified, Geneva, Switzerland, which is accredited by the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Laura Pipoly is a National Board Certified
Counselor and is part of the teaching faculty of the University of Phoenix. In
addition to teaching she has also worked as a school counselor, case manager,
psychotherapist, behavior specialist, and mobile therapist. Laura has presented
at the national level at the American Counseling Association and at the state
level at the All-Ohio Counselor's Conference. Most recently, Laura was a
co-presenter at the Northeast Ohio Regional Drug Summit.
Gabrielle Wood, Ph.D. is a research
psychologist and consultant. She is a member of the International Leadership
Association, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the
American Psychological Association. She has ten years experience conducting
multi-method research and leading numerous research studies. She is a former
lecturer at Christopher Newport University teaching leadership, self- analysis
methods, and values exploration. She has also taught Social Psychology, among
other courses, at George Mason University. Dr. Wood was a Research Fellow for
the Research Fellowship Consortium in Alexandria, Virginia.
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