Quality of Life When You Have Bipolar Disorder
When you live with a mental illness like bipolar disorder, your ability to function can take a big hit. This is especially true if you are newly diagnosed or have not found the right combination of medication yet. When your ability to function decreases, your quality of life will ultimately suffer.
Bipolar disorder directly impacts not only your mood but also your energy level and activity level. These can fluctuate as much as the waves of the sea. Trying to find balance amidst the chaos can seem unfeasible, but it is doable and within reason.
Increase Your Quality of Life with a Treatment Plan
Without proper treatment, bipolar disorder can take over every aspect of your life. It is almost like you are stuck in “fight or flight” mode. Going through a mood episode – such as mania or depression – survival is the number one priority. So is safety.
When you create a treatment plan, and work with your doctor to treat your bipolar disorder, you will eventually switch from survival mode into a more manageable state of functionality. Now, you will not just focus on surviving, but you will learn to cope day-to-day. When this happens, the question of your quality of life comes up.
The dictionary defines quality of life as “The standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group.”
Take into Account Medication Management
Medication management is one of the components of the medical model of treatment. Unfortunately, many psychotropic medications have unsavory side effects. Some of these side effects are easier to deal with than others.
You need to ask yourself, “Do the positive benefits of the medication in question outweigh the negative side effects?” This question can also be asked for the various treatment modalities you are considering, along with the other aspects of your treatment plan.
Standard of Care
What can you accept, and what can you not, when it comes to your quality of life?
Again, when it comes to your safety and that of others, stabilization is the emergent focus and goal. When this goal is reached, then you can look at the long-term question of quality of care.
Each person has developed their own personal set of standards and values that they live by. Your environment, personal drive, and belief system all contribute to your moral code, standards, and values.
Knowingly or unknowingly, you create a set of standards for your family, work, finances, health, and all other dimensions of your life. As an individual, you decide what constitutes a high or low standard for each area of your life. This goes for your quality of life, as well.
Bipolar disorder can dictate a large portion of your standards. This is especially true if you are in the midst of an actual mood episode, such as mania or depression. However, you have more control of your bipolar disorder than you realize. Preparation is the main focus of your treatment plan, and this gives you direct control of the things you can.
Medication is the initial primary defense against your battle with bipolar disorder. This being said, the cocktail of meds that you are taking can improve, or diminish, your overall quality of life.
Make sure you decide what you will allow as acceptable when it comes to the side effects of medication. Your doctor should obviously have a large amount of input, since they are the prescriber, but make sure you advocate for yourself, too.
If you do not like a particular side effect of a medication, voice your concerns! It took me 10 years to find an acceptable cocktail of medication, and I continually monitor it today – along with my doctor.
An Example From My Own Quality of Life
When I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder back in 1999, one of the first medications my doctor started me on was Lithium. I immediately gained weight, felt lethargic, and had a tremor, and my thyroid began to function poorly. At that particular time, I decided the benefits of Lithium did not outweigh the negative side effects. So my doctor discontinued the Lithium and started me on another medication.
Years later, my doctor put me back on Lithium. As I previously experienced, I gained weight and felt lethargic, and my doctor added another medication to stabilize my thyroid. At that time, I no longer had a tremor, and Lithium improved my stability. Plus, I felt its positive mood-stabilizing and anti-manic effects.
Remember, each person can react differently to the same medication. Not only that, but medication can abruptly stop working after you have been on it for a while. Lastly, based on my example, you can try the same medication at different times in your life and react differently each time.
Last Thoughts
Living with bipolar disorder, the standard I accept for my quality of life is different from that of someone who does not have a severe mental illness.
Standards are different between individuals and can change depending on circumstances. You need to decide what you can and cannot accept living with bipolar disorder.
Once you accept you have bipolar disorder, you need to grieve the loss of your healthy self. Your life will more than likely change trajectory because living with a chronic illness demands a different set of standards and expectations.
Some of the things you did pre-diagnosis you may not be able to do now. I am not saying this is the easiest thing to accept. Rather, it takes consistent hard work to navigate the new paradigm of life you are now living in. Be patient – it takes time.
Nowadays, doctors are more aware of their patient’s quality of life. They can provide numerous resources to help you on your journey. If you need other ideas, check out my book, This War Within My Mind.
