One of The Top Ways How To Improve Bipolar Disorder

I would like to speak with you about one of the top ways to improve how you manage your bipolar disorder – one that does not involve medication. I believe medication needs to be a part of an overall treatment plan to help improve your quality of life. However, there are other ways to help get you better as well.

Improve With Organization

Organizing the space around you is a simple – yet highly effective – way to get your head in the right place. Simply go through all the piles in your house and put them in the “to get rid of pile” or “to keep pile.” Most people tend to keep more than they really need. So, ask yourself, “Will I miss this in six months if I get rid of it now?” The whole point of this exercise is to organize your environment so that you keep your mind organized. 

It makes a world of a difference if you have things neatly filed away, or put in totes around you. Personally, I feel so much better when I know where everything is at. I utilize totes that are stackable and see-through. This allows me easy access to the contents in case I forget where something is at.

Sometimes it is easier to tackle organizing one separate area at a time. If it has been a while since you have gone through your stuff, you may want to divide it up into one area per evening. For example, tackle a bedroom closet tonight. Then, move onto the bedroom.

When going through your stuff, divide it into piles labeled:  “to keep”, “to donate” and “get rid of.”

The whole idea is to de-stress and reduce the impact your environment has on your bipolar disorder. So, if you start to get more agitated as you tackle the various messes, take a break and come back later. Think of the process as a marathon and not a sprint – just like how you manage bipolar disorder.

Environmental Extremes Impact Bipolar Disorder

Those of us living with bipolar disorder are more sensitive to environmental extremes, and normal environmental factors, as compared to a neurotypical individual.

That is why it is so important to organize your surroundings. It can reduce stress, decrease irritation, and increase your overall quality of living. Keeping things organized, clean, and simple can literally change your outlook on life. 

Improve With Cleaning

Once you are done organizing, you can tackle cleaning. If you have a loved one nearby, you can help one another. While one is organizing, the other can clean the place. That way, you are sharing in the responsibility and making your place easier to live in.

Last Thoughts

I am a firm believer that we need to take action in order to manage our bipolar disorder. Taking action by focusing on the things we can control is extremely empowering and freeing. It almost feels like I am taking off the shackles of my bipolar disorder when I am actively working to improve my quality of life.

Decreasing the clutter in my place has always been so liberating to me. I probably tend to learn more towards the side of minimalism and get rid of as much as I can. It is important I pay attention to this line of thinking because when I am manic, I tend to get rid of everything.