Steps to Wellness

Take the bull by the horns

Step one would have to be admitting that you are having a problem. You’re not the first nor will you be the last in having to do this. How can you do anything about what’s going on with you, if you can’t acknowledge that it is present. Don’t mix up acknowledging you’re having a problem with diagnosing what it is…leave that up to a trained professional.

Step two is being and taking on the responsibility of your wellness. Don’t leave it up to others to run your program. This includes making doctor appointments, taking your medications and day to day care of yourself. You need to be proactive in getting yourself back into the game we call life.

Step three is taking back control over your life and the direction you want it to go. For some of us depending on where we are, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a major undertaking. Start small with some short term goals and work your way toward achieving the things out of life you really want. Being bipolar is not a death sentence.

Step four is setting up and getting into a routine to give some normalness in your life. This includes going to bed at a set time within half an hour of taking your meds. Sleep is very important in controlling the side effects of the illness. If your having issues with sleep of not getting at least five hours, its time to talk with your psychiatrist of adding something to help.

Plan your day out in advance and follow it as closely as possible. In life we have to deal with things not going accordingly to plan, so just have an understanding that it’s not the end of the world when this happens.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when we try and look at everything that needs to be taken care of or done to get back to where we should be. My suggestion is to break it up, take on small tasks that lead to where it is you want to be. Don’t try and solve everything all at once…no one can do it and it will just lead to disappointment and a negative impact on getting you well again.

Step five is making apologies and amends for what has taken place in the past with family and friends. Most will understand and if after you make your apologies the person still holds resentment…you need to move on. I am not saying that this person doesn’t have good reason to harbor them; I’m saying it’s not going to do you any good to continue to apologize over and over to this person.

The truth is most will accept your apology but you can’t blame them for being pessimistic of your words because that’s all they are at this point. You have to show them that you are being responsible, doing everything possible to keep yourself well and earn your way back. Actions speak louder than words.

Step six is to ask for help and be open and honest about what’s going on with you. Most of us feel alone with the illness because most of the people around us can’t comprehend what we are feeling because they have never experienced it. Your psychiatrist sees it everyday and if you are honest with them, they can adjust your medications accordingly. Expect a few medication changes until the right concoction is found. After a period of time it may have to be readjusted and that’s ok.