| In this article, I'd like to go over the main four | | | | for their "body clock." |
| triggers, and I'd like to do it a little differently. I want | | | | 2.Poor nutrition - |
| you to see these triggers from both points of view - | | | | SURVIVOR: When our bodies don't get the nutrients |
| from both the survivor and the supporter's views. | | | | they need or when we substitute sugar and caffeine |
| Just to review, in general, a trigger is something | | | | for vitamins and minerals, we can cause physiological |
| external which can set in motion an oncoming bipolar | | | | problems. Work on eating a balanced diet. Avoid |
| episode. Everyone has different triggers. For some | | | | caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. Another reason to take |
| people, it might be excess stress. For others, it might | | | | these steps is that they can prevent you from |
| be frustration at work or a major disappointment. For | | | | developing other health problems, such as heart |
| some people who are highly susceptible, even a | | | | disease or Diabetes, which can further complicate the |
| seemingly "wrong word" can cause them to go into a | | | | treatment of your Bipolar Disorder. |
| bipolar episode. | | | | SUPPORTER: You can help your loved one by |
| The person who has Bipolar Disorder should try to | | | | cooking meals that are nutritious and healthy. |
| determine what those triggers might be for them, | | | | Encourage them to stick to a balanced diet. You |
| and go over these triggers with their supporter, so | | | | should be able to get samples of a healthy diet from |
| both of you are aware of these triggers. "Knowledge | | | | your loved one's doctor, or from the Internet. You |
| is power," so the saying goes, and having this | | | | can also make sure that they drink only |
| knowledge beforehand can help both of you to avoid | | | | decaffeinated coffee. Try to limit snacks around the |
| an episode before it begins. | | | | house, and if you do have snacks, limit them to |
| Once you identify some key triggers, you can both | | | | sugar-free ones. |
| work on handling those triggers more effectively so | | | | 3.Stress - |
| they will "lose their power," being less likely to disrupt | | | | SURVIVOR: Some stress in our lives is good, because |
| the stability of the disorder that you both have | | | | it drives us to work hard and to better ourselves. |
| worked so hard to attain. | | | | Most of us, however, have too much stress in our |
| Even if you (the survivor) are on medication now and | | | | lives. Stress is one of the number one triggers to |
| it is keeping you stable, you should still both identify | | | | bipolar episodes; therefore, you need to take action |
| bipolar episode triggers and watch for indications of | | | | to reduce the stress in your life. Your therapist can |
| new bipolar episodes because, unfortunately, | | | | help you identify areas of stress and can give you |
| sometimes even a medication that has worked for | | | | suggestions for stress reduction. Relaxation tapes |
| years may stop working properly. As I always | | | | CD's can help. Regular exercise can also help you deal |
| advise, if this does happen, contact your psychiatrist | | | | with stress. |
| immediately for his/her advice, so that you don't go | | | | SUPPORTER: You can help your loved one by |
| into a bipolar episode. | | | | reducing the stress in their life. For example, by |
| A list of triggers should be a list of those things from | | | | taking steps to reduce their exposure to bad news |
| past episodes that you've both noticed which signal | | | | such as calls from collection agencies or medical bills. |
| when things are becoming more serious for the | | | | By screening their calls and mail, you can help shield |
| person who has Bipolar Disorder. For example, when | | | | them from unneeded, negative stress. You can also |
| my mom refused to leave her room (isolated), this | | | | help them decrease their stress by encouraging them |
| should have told me and my family to take action | | | | to exercise, or even going to exercise classes with |
| then. If we had known that her desire for complete | | | | them. |
| isolation meant that her Bipolar Disorder was getting | | | | 4. Isolation - |
| much worse, we would have taken action sooner. | | | | SURVIVOR: Many people with Bipolar Disorder try to |
| One of the best ways you can prevent future | | | | shut themselves away from everyone. Feelings of |
| episodes - besides simply staying on the bipolar | | | | loneliness and despair can trigger episodes, so you |
| medication and following the doctor's treatment plan - | | | | should fight against that desire to become a hermit. |
| is to avoid triggers. Since everyone is different, | | | | Instead, join Support Groups, become active in your |
| everyone has different triggers. However, there are | | | | spiritual community, or spend time regularly with your |
| some that are most common and which you can | | | | friends and family members. Keeping a Journal may |
| begin avoiding now that will help both you (and your | | | | help you to get your thoughts and feelings out into |
| supporter who is helping you) to maintain long-term | | | | the open, if you feel you can't share these with |
| stability of your Bipolar Disorder. | | | | anyone else. |
| 1.Sleep irregularities - | | | | SUPPORTER: Try to keep the lines of communication |
| SURVIVOR: Sleeping too little or too much are not | | | | open with your loved one, so they will talk to you |
| only signs of an episode, they can also trigger them. | | | | about their feelings of despair and loneliness, before |
| You should get 8-9 hours of sleep a night, even if it | | | | they begin to isolate. If you see them start to |
| means adjusting your schedule in order to give you | | | | isolate, encourage them to spend more time with |
| enough time. | | | | their friends and family members, church, Support |
| SUPPORTER: Help your loved one to maintain good | | | | Group, etc. If they do isolate, encourage them to |
| sleep habits. Make sure they go to bed at a | | | | write their feelings out in a Journal. |
| reasonable hour and that they get a full night's sleep, | | | | These are only four possible episode triggers. |
| not waking up during the night. This is very important | | | | |