Bipolar Disorder and Self Care

What does self care mean to you? For normal people it means regular hygiene, eating balanced meals, getting a good night's sleep, etc.

But if you've experienced the severe lows of bipolar depression, self care can be tremendously difficult if not impossible to maintain. It can be so bad that nothing seems to matter. Ask yourself these questions and see what the answers are.


1. When is the last time I bathed?
2. When is the last time I brushed my teeth?
3. When is the last time I ate a full day of nutritious, balanced meals?
4. When is the last time I got 7-9 hrs of sleep (no more, no less!)?
5. When is the last time I went to a place that had people (grocery store, gas station, etc.)?
6. When is the last time I went to a social event with people (movie, dinner with loved one, etc.)?

There are no right or wrong answers here, but these questions might help you evaluate where you are in terms of depression, especially if you have bipolar disorder.

With bipolar, mood swings can take place anywhere from several times a year to several times a day (rapid cycling). But many of us find ourselves in broader strokes, experiencing major depression for months and then, perhaps, a manic episode that lasts days, weeks, or months (I've never personally had a manic episode last that long).  We'll talk about mania on another blog post.

So, evaluating the questions above, you can get some insight on your condition. Let's face it, we all know what the answers to those questions *should* be. If you can't remember "the last time" you did two or more of the above, then you're probably depressed. If you can't remember "the last time" for four or more, I'd say your majorly depressed. Of course, I'm no shrink. Not a doctor. Seek help from your personal medical professional. There. Didn't want to get into any gray area and get in trouble. This IS NOT medical advice. This is just my own personal musings on my condition. I'm sharing so that perhaps it will help someone evaluate themselves and seek help if needed.

So, where am I at right now with these questions? Let's just say I'm up there. Way up there.

I'm perfectly physically able to do all of those things. It's the mind that controls the motivation and, seemingly, the ability to do them.

My next appt with my medication manager (don't you just love the VA?) is on February 20th. We'll see what happens then. Hopefully he'll up my Abilify, because at the moment it doesn't seem to be doing jack shit.

Until next time, keep doing what you're doing. Unless it's wrong. Then don't. lol