Month: September 2021

In Canada, life takes on a more serious tone in September. This is the month that children go back to school after their two-month summer holiday, students of post secondary institutions return to classes and many people’s jobs get busier after our brief warm summer months. This transition can cause a considerable amount of stress for everyone. High levels of stress are not good for people with bipolar disorder.

 My bipolar disorder is highly sensitive to stress. Elevated stress levels played a significant roll in my first and subsequent full blown manic episodes and all my severe depressive episodes. If I am not mindful of the amount of stress I have in my life the consequences can be devastating. Every acute episode I have had has resulted in a loss of employment, relationships, and all my money. There are many things you cannot control when you have bipolar disorder but if you can decrease your stress level this can help lower the likelihood of acute episodes and help manage chronic symptoms.

The first thing to consider is to take an objective view of your bipolar disorder to figure out how much activity you can do. Bipolar disorder is not like a broken leg where the symptoms and treatment are the same for everyone. Everyone’s bipolar disorder is different. Some people can be so reactive to stress that employment would cause them to have a severe manic episode that could include psychosis or depressive episodes that have the possibility of death by suicide. Reflecting on the events that led to previous episodes can give you a sense of what you are capable of doing.

Regardless of whether you are working or not, stress needs to be managed. In Canada, since many activities start in September it is often the time of year we choose to make commitments. It is important to keep in mind the limitations of your illness when you agree to add an activity to your life. It is easy to agree to do more than you are capable of doing when your symptoms are in remission.

There are other wellness practices that can help reduce stress. Mindfulness, a life practice that grounds people in the present moment through activities like meditation and yoga can make a dramatic change in stress levels. Any form of exercise, peer support groups and incorporating recreational opportunities or volunteer work into your routine are all excellent ways to reduce stress.

Despite our best efforts, life will surprise us and we will end up having to deal with intense moments of stress. The best we can do to mitigate the damage these events cause on our lives is create a healthy routine and use as many tools as possible to decrease our stress level. This will not guarantee that we will not become acutely ill, but it gives us a better chance of maintaining wellness.