Maintaining a long-term relationship or marriage when one partner has bipolar disorder may be a challenge, yet many couples successfully make it work. freestocks.org / Unsplash Navigating a relationship or marriage when one partner has bipolar disorder presents unique challenges. This brain-based disorder can introduce unpredictability and tension, making it essential for both partners to cultivate a deep understanding of the disorder’s dynamics. Despite the higher rate of break-ups in such relationships, many couples defy the odds by implementing the right strategies. Effective communication ..read more

Anxiety disorder is common among those with bipolar. Although the combination of the two can be complicated, there are treatments that can benefit both conditions. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) A certain amount of anxiety is a normal part of life; we often find ourselves worrying about our family, job, and pretty much anything else that matters to us. Yet for those who live with bipolar disorder, more than 50 percent also have some form of clinically diagnosable anxiety disorder. What Are Anxiety Disorders? Anxiety comes in several forms, or diagnosed types. Unlike occasional anxi ..read more

When you live with bipolar disorder, summer sunshine is welcomed after a dark winter, but watch out for a manic episode. Getty Images I Seem to Get Manic Every Summer — Why? The coming of spring and summer reenergizes all the senses. The warm sun, the beauty of nature, the smell of flowers, the sound of a soft breeze through the willows — it is all so stimulating and so wonderful! The sun seems brighter, being higher in the sky, and there is more of it. Personally, I love spring. I feel more energy, and I love waking up to the sound of birds outside my window. Everything is more colorful and e ..read more

During bipolar mood episodes, cultivating a sense of hope may feel impossible or pointless — at first. Yet science supports building the habit of pursuing brighter possibilities Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) Our thinking around the concept of hope can indicate a mood episode and change the course of one. Bipolar depression is associated with several symptoms, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness is often listed among them. And mania’s characteristic grandiosity or sense of invincibility can, to some extent, be considered an “overabundance” of hope. How Does Hope Fit In? But how ca ..read more

Though often overshadowed by mania’s intensity, bipolar depression is more pervasive and often misdiagnosed. Coping skills can help keep hope alive. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) When he’s feeling low and the couch is the only place he wants to be, Jim B. might choose to work on his motorcycle or take a walk with his wife, children, or dogs. Distracting himself with tasks that require physical movement has been a critical tool for dealing with bipolar depression. “I can’t emphasize too much that it’s a difficult thing to do,” Jim says of resisting the pervasive lethargy, “but I can ..read more

Getting enough sleep is vital for mood stability when you have bipolar disorder. Here are my tips on getting much-needed shut-eye. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) Do you have something in life you’d like to leave behind, but life events continue to trigger a return to that horrible place? My senior year in college is burned in my memory like a memorial alongside a road where a tragic accident occurred. During that year, I had my first battle with bipolar depression, which lasted nine months, followed by three months of full-blown mania. Unfortunately, as so often happens, years of su ..read more

Accepting a diagnosis of bipolar can come easily, as you finally identify the root cause behind your experiences; or it might take a while to gradually come to terms with this lifelong condition. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model)Fearing the Unexpected, a Diagnosis of Bipolar At age 29, Julie C. seemed to be at an enviable place in life. She had good friends. She had come out as a lesbian and was comfortable with her sexuality. And she had a fulfilling job that took her to far-off places: She was coordinator of a Toronto-based foundation. That life began to slip away from her in 2007, w ..read more

Wellness is not defined simply by ‘the absence of illness or stress.’ So here’s how to move in a positive direction toward a fulfilling life. Getty ImagesDimensions of Wellness With bipolar or any other brain-based health disorder, recognizing signs of illness is important. So, too, is being able to recognize what it looks like to be well. After all, being free of symptoms is just part of a holistic approach to mood stability. According to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), true wellness is not merely the absence of symptoms or stress. Instead, a fulfill ..read more

The quest for the right bipolar medication is complex, often requiring patience through trial and error, yet it’s a crucial step toward stabilizing symptoms and enhancing overall well-being. Getty Images Many people with bipolar disorder have a love-hate relationship with their meds. They can work great to stabilize symptoms (which is why one of the first things your doctor will do after you’re diagnosed is to prescribe medication), but they can also, in some cases, cause intolerable side effects. That’s why finding that magic mood-stabilizing cocktail can take a lot of trial and error. And f ..read more

An antipsychotic approved by the FDA in 2009 to treat schizophrenia has now been greenlighted for use in bipolar 1 disorder. Getty Images The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved iloperidone (Fanapt) for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar 1 disorder in adults. Initially approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of schizophrenia, iloperidone is an atypical second-generation antipsychotic. The most recent approval came after a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in Janu ..read more