If you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, a mental health condition that can cause episodes of mania and depression, you may be able to reduce symptoms by making some lifestyle changes.
“Your daily habits are important in managing your bipolar disorder,” says Joshua Berman, MD, Psychiatrist at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center.
Healthy habits won’t “cure” bipolar disorder, but they can help support your mood and energy. This may improve your overall mental health. Some habits may even help reduce symptoms.
Healthy habits for bipolar 1 disorder
The following tips can help you get the most out of your treatment for bipolar 1, according to Berman:
1. Stay active
Adding regular exercise to your routine may prevent or improve mild depressive episodes. Regular physical activity may improve mood, energy levels, and brain function.
2. Build a social network
If you’re experiencing episodes of depression, it’s important to seek social support and avoid isolation to help improve your mood. Loneliness and isolation have been linked to an increased risk of depression, so it’s helpful to stay connected with friends, family, and other loved ones.
3. Meditate
Regularly doing meditation and mindfulness exercises including yoga, tai chi, and breathwork may help you relieve stress and improve your mood.
4. Take medications as prescribed
Everyone may miss a dose of medication every once in a while, but the more consistent you are with your medication, the better you may feel. Make a habit of taking your medication, and try using a calendar, a pill dispenser, or setting a reminder on your phone.
5. Build a strong relationship with your healthcare team
When you maintain regular contact with your healthcare team, it may be easier to let them know if something goes wrong or if you need to make any changes in your treatment plan.
Managing bipolar 1 disorder is a learning curve, explains Berman. “The sooner you accelerate that learning curve, probably the better the course of your illness is going to be,” he says.
Joshua Berman, MD, is a Psychiatrist and Associate Professor Of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2024). Lifestyle to support mental health.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Taking medicine at home — create a routine.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Cariprazine.
National Institutes of Health. (2022). Emotional wellness toolkit.
Smith, M., et al. (2024). Bipolar help: Living with bipolar disorder.
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