Five Tips for Coping With Mania

5. Have an emergency plan. Write down the names and numbers of your doctor, your psychiatrist, therapist, spouse, kids, or anyone else who may have a stake in your wellness. Start from scratch, and cover the most basic to the most far-fetched scenario. For example, if you do “this", that’s OK, but if you do “that", seek medical attention. Remember, if you’re psychotic, you may not recognize the need for medical care, so others may have to act on your behalf. If 911 has to be called, make sure any officers sent are CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) trained. Specify which hospital. Specify what doctors should be called. Make sure everyone involved knows what meds you are taking, when, and in what dosage. Specify what meds you do NOT want administered. Spell it all out, and update it from time to time. Pull it out a couple times a year and review it again. Have your spouse or family review it and ask questions. The odds are at some point in your life you will need this, so don’t put off creating it for too long.

How about others? Any suggestions you may have for living through a mania? Leave a comment and let us know.