Coping With Mental Illness

We've Only Just Begun-By The Carpenters

How to deal with depression, bipolar disorder, schizphrenia, and other neurobiological disorders

1. Study your own illness, become an expert on whatever meurobiological disorder you are dealing with. Learn all about it and its treatment. Read books, attend lectures, talk to your doctor and/or therapist, and consider joining a support group, or chapter of the Alliance for the mentally Ill.

2. Maintain a regular pattern of activity. Don't be frenetic or drive yourself impossibly hard.

3. Don't abuse alcohol or street drugs.

4. Be careful about your use of caffeine and OTC drugs for colds. allergies, or pain.

5. Call your doctor if you have: suicidal or violent feelings, changes in mood, sleep, or energy, changes in medication side effects.

6. Keep a mood chart: Indicate the date, what meds you're taking, what side effects you're experiencing, count your mood on a scale of 1-10. One being terribly depressed, 10 being euphoric.

7. Find your way to deal with stress. Learn what people, places and things cause stress to escalate. Avoid them whenever possible.

Source: Alliance for the Mentally Ill

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