Everyone who has bipolar disorder has to do their best to limit the amount of stress they have in their life. My bipolar disorder reacts severely to stress. If I have a high level of stress in my life I will be stuck in a depressive episode for a lengthy period of time. If my stress level is extremely high I can have a full blown manic episode.
Pets can be great for reducing stress. When I feel overwhelmed if I put my feet up and wrap a blanket around my legs my cat, Bella, will hop into my lap and purr as she kneads my thigh. The purring is soothing. When she has decided she has done enough kneading she curls up into a little ball and falls asleep on my lap. The warmth of her tiny body and the rhythmic expansion of her chest from her little lungs put me in a state of peace.
When I come home Bella comes to greet me at the door. After smelling my hand to make sure it really is me she headbutts my hand and purrs as she brushes up against my leg. If I am having a bad day these affectionate greetings can give me a bit more energy.
Having a cat as opposed to another type of animal is perfect for me. She is independent. She knows when to eat, when to use her litter box and if I spend a little less time with her she doesn’t care. In fact, I am pretty sure she enjoys spending a lot of time alone.
When my mood is low meeting people can be hard because I don’t have the energy to socialize. I feel like I am not a lot of fun to be around and conversation is difficult because my concentration is poor. Even when I am not well I still feel a connection to Bella. She does not care that I am not a good conversationalist at times nor does she mind that I do not have a lot of energy to put into our interactions.
Bella seems to be aware of where my wellness is at. For example, there are times I am watching TV and I notice that Bella is sitting on the floor in front of me and staring at me. It’s like she is saying, “Man, you are a mess. What’s wrong with you?” When she stares at me like this I think about my routine. I ask myself if I am sleeping enough, exercising, maintaining a structured lifestyle and eating ok. Invariably, when she does this I am neglecting at least one aspect of my wellness plan so Bella’s reminders that I need to take better care of myself are helpful.
When I see my psychiatrist, the first thing she asks me is, “How’s Bella?” If Bella has been less affectionate and staring at me a lot she knows I am not ok. When I am in a healthy state Bella follows me everywhere and she always wants to sit on my lap. My psychiatrist says that Bella’s behavior is a good barometer of my health. There is a possibility that the real reason my psychiatrist asks about Bella is because she loves cats.
There are times during depressive episodes where people with bipolar disorder can begin to lose hope because they start to believe their life is not going to get better. This is partially because of the devastation that having bipolar disorder can do to your life and partially because having negative thoughts is a symptom of having a depressive episode. When you have a pet that loves you and needs you everyday it can serve as a needed daily reminder that your existence has significance.
Having a pet may not be a fit for everyone. It is a huge responsibility. Some people may not be well enough to have a pet or maybe they just don’t like animals. Gifting someone a pet in the hope they snap out of a depressive episode would not be appropriate. I adopted Bella during a lengthy period of wellness in my life.
Having Bella in my life has helped me stay well. Whether my life and health is good or bad her behavior does not change. She has helped me get through one of the most horrendous periods of my life and she has brought me joy during the good times. She is a very powerful little creature whose main strengths are being adorable and being happy to be with me.
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