Please share some do's and dont's for patients with bipolar disorder.

Don't: Do have to take suicidal thoughts seriously.

Taking: Don't: take a credit card with you outside if you are feeling manic.

Create: Create a good network of people who can intervene when you use an agreed, cry for help, word: "fire".

Share: Share condition & symptoms with a trusted friend so they can help identify if you are becoming manic.

Medications: Medications can drastically improve symptoms. Work with your doc to find right combination for you.

Mild: Mild bipolar symptoms present 2 years with no relief is cyclothymia. Tell doc as treated a little diff.

Self: Self injury is common. Seek a support network outlet in case thoughts of injuring yourself develop.

Safety: Safety first with bipolar. Being safe and base actions on consequences.

Do: Do continue your optimal treatment even if you feel "normal" & have regular follow-up with a good doc!

Many: Many famous people are dealing w/ bipolar disorder, accept your condition & manage it successfully!

Be: Be honest with yourself & learn how to handle frustration without jumping on your horses!

BIPOLAR: Bipolar disorder can be greatly improved with high doses of Cytomel (liothyronine) (25-100 mcg/day).

HAVE: Have your thyroid carefully evaluated. Many reports suggest treatment with Cytomel (liothyronine) is very helpful.

Appropriate: Appropriate medication and regular counseling. Good family support will also help.

Do: Do not stop medication without doctors advice even if you feel alright.

Maintain: Maintain regular schedule for meals, hobbies, social interaction and sleep.

Mood: Mood stabilizers don't eliminate emotion, rather they decrease the intensity of highs and lows.

With: With treatment, many people lead fulfilling lives, have a family, work, and high quality of life.

Take: Take your meds. Call your doctor when you are feeling off. Have a support system & use it.

Follow: Follow your dr's advice. Exercise, humor, sleep & meditation is good for your mind, body & soul!

Try: Try to remember that bipolar disorder is best managed by staying on medications that work for you.

Depakote: Depakote can double the level of lamictal. Pregnancy may decrease the level of Lamictal up to 50%

Don't: Don't : stop meds abruptly; use drugs; change sleep cycle. Do's: educate family about bipolar disorder.

Take: Take meds regularly. Avoid drugs/alcohol/sleepless nights. Plan to minimize damage during an episode.

Regular: Regular sleep pattern, avoid alcohol and drugs, compliance with medication and cognitive therapy.

1): 1) get 7-8 hours of sleep every night and; 2) abstain from all mood altering drugs.

The: The core treatment for bipolar disorder is a mood stabilizer and cognitive/supportive therapy.

Recognizie: Recognize and treat early signs of mania or depression to prevent major fluctuations in function.

GET: Get friends to tell you when you go up or down. Then see your doctor.

Keep: Keep a regular schedule and a consistent good night's sleep (7-8 hours).

Requires: Requires lifelong treatment even when you feel better.

Make: Make sure you keep a set schedule and have a good night's rest!

It's: It's not uncommon for people with bipolar disorder to "medicate" with alcohol. Don't.

Enjoy: Enjoy each and every day of your life. Tomorrow may be up or down!

Create: Create a 'crisis card' with the names of providers and people you trust for when symptoms return.

While: While in remission, work on sleep routine and building up awareness of your symptoms.

Do: Do not adjust your medication doses yourself.

Always: Always take your meds per your doctor's recommendation.

Treatment: Treatment is lifelong, even if the patient feels better.

Once: Once stabilized, relapse prevention is critical. Do not stop your medications because u feel better.

Rec:: Focus more on memories and beliefs (especially hidden ones) than on brain function altering drugs.

Many: Many "natural" treatments on the internet are misleading. Please discuss with your psychiatrist.

Erratic: Erratic behavior is symptom of the illness. Don't take it personally.

If: If you can't care for yourself, you can't care for another.

A: A common myth is that the medical treatment for bipolar disorder is worse than the disorder.

"Beware: "beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." benjamin franklin.

Substances: Using substances may distract, but they will worsen depression & bipolar disorder.

Strive: Strive for stability and friends who will tell you when you're going high or dipping low.

Drinking: Drinking alcohol if you have bipolar disorder is like throwing gasoline on flames.

Take: Take your meds, stay in therapy, get your spouse involved treatment even when you feel better.

Make: Make sure your diagnosis is correct. Bipolar is the current "thing". May be other problem with moods.

Follow: Follow doc's recommendations for having labs checked routinely to make sure no problems from meds.

Don't: Don't compare your treatment to someone else's - you are an individual and have treatment for you!

Take: Take your medications faithfully. Do not stop treatment because now you feel fine.

Bipolar: Bipolar disorder is best managed with a combination of mood stabilizers and psycho-education.

Put: Put to paper your poetic expressions to let loved ones know how you feel about them.

“After: “after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” n.Mandela.

BPD: Involve the people who live with you in your therapy. They know you best and can help your doctor.

Maintaining: Maintaining good and strict sleep hygiene can work wonders.

Regulate: Regulate sleep wake cycle, diet, stress control, and identify the precipitants of symptoms.

Diet,: Diet, exercise, good sleep, mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, ect.

Good: Good sleep, good stress control, positive relationships, meditation, medication compliance, therapy.

“Courage: “courage consists in the power of self-recovery.” ralph waldo emerson.

This: This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. Ralph w emerson.

Bipolar: Bipolar disorder requires lifelong treatment, even during periods when you feel better.

Don't: Don't use alcohol and street drugs to treat your bipolar disorder. See your doctor for help.

An: An effective maintenance treatment plan includes medication and psychotherapy

There: There are many new meds approved for bipolar disorder, but the old standards may be best.

Keep: Keep regular sleep hours, exercise, avoids drugs, alcohol and caffeine, and take your meds regularly.

Stay: Stay on medication even when you don't think you need them. Bipolar does not disappear.

Go: Go to sleep the same time every night and get up the same time every day.Do not mess with this.

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is the most ignored treatment for bipolar disorder.

Family: Family support is very important.

Reduce: Reduce stress, maintain stability, don't stop meds by yourself, get friends to tell you when you dip.

Rigid: Rigid schedule, ensuring sleep and a high dose of omega 3 fatty acids and a multivitamin-psych eval!

Medication: Medication compliance is important to prevent relapse.

Mood: Mood stabilizers, antipsychotics; electro convulsive therapy can all be used with success.

People: Myth: people with bipolar disorder cannot be successful in careers or life goals.

Bipolar: Bipolar disorder is a real medical illness. Treatments are effective and safe.

See: See your psychiatrist regularly for honest, frequent feedback. Be completely honest with him or her.

Do: Do take your medications exactly as prescribed. Don't stop them on your own!

Newer: Newer treatments for bipolar disorder are safe and effective.

For: For bipolar disorder, take your medications daily even when you are feeling fine.

DO: Do tell your doctor or someone you trust if you have suicidal thoughts.

DO: Do try to keep to a routine sleep schedule.

DO: Do call your doctor if you feel that you’re getting more energetic or can’t relax, or your family me.

DO: Do call your doctor if you notice a decreased need for sleep or have trouble sleeping.

DON’T: Don’t use alcohol or other drugs, such as antihistamines or drugs containing high amounts of caffein.

DON’T: Don’t make any major decisions during a mood swing.

DON’T: Don’t stop your medicine or change your dose because you feel better, unless your doctor tells you.

DON’T: Don’t change your diet or salt intake while you are taking lithium.

DO: Do try to keep to a routine sleep schedule.

Have: Have a friend or loved one help you by watching you so you will know when you start to change early.

Don't: Don't give up hope. There are lots of people with bipolar that lead interesting productive lives.

Medication: Medication is a must. Consistent psychotherapy can work wonders. Get support. Stay connected.

Let: Let all your doctors know about your condition. Sometime allergy medications can trigger mania.

Latuda (lurasidone): Latuda (lurasidone) is now approved for bipolar depression either alone or with Depakote and lithium.

Don't: Don't mess with your sleep times. Same time to bed and same time to rise every day to prevent mania.

“Unless: “unless commitment is made, there are only promises ; hopes; but no plans.” peter f. Drucker.

“Plans: “plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” peter drucker.

be: Be careful flying across multiple time zones as the shift can trigger mania. Have an action plan.

Prayer: Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand. ― hippocrates.

Ignore: Medications are keystone of treatment. Therapy may help, but without medications.

Ignore: Be careful with credit cards. Many patients with mania rack up a lot of debt.

Ignore: Do ask lots of questions and understand all your medications but don't forget to take them!

Ignore: Learn your signs for swings befor they get out of control.

Ignore: Develop accountability with a close friend or family member to help you befor you get out of control.

Ignore: It is myth that the more fat you eat the fatter you are.

Set: Set up a close network of friends that can come to your aide if you say a specific word, "fire".

Ignore: Normal sleep cycle interruption can cause rapid decompensation.Get your sleep, nightly.

Ignore: Cognitive therapy- is helpful. Its important to be aware of negative thoughts and to dispel them.

Ignore: Do's: set a regular daytime schedule and make a good sleep schedule a priority.

Ignore: Pay attention to how you sleep. Making sure you sleep well can keep your mood more stable.

Ignore: Take your medicine as prescribed. Keep your appointments with your doctor. Avoid the use of alcohol.

Ignore: Manage sleep & stress, take meds regularly, Exercise, call MD if insomnia > 2days, prod life possibl.

Ignore: Establish regular sleep patterns: go to sleep and get up at about the same time every day.

Ignore: Be open about bipolar disorder. This removes the shame and mystery that surrounds it.

Ignore: The more you participate in all aspects of treatment, your chances for long-term recovery increase.

Ignore: Working night shifts or changing time zones rapidly (as in air travel) can precipitate manic episode.

Ignore: Be sure to take 3000mg/d(adult dose) of essential fatty acids(fish oil).