Get Help to Cope with Bipolar Disorder
By Marcia Purse, About.com Guide
- What Everyone Should Know
- What Family and Friends Should Know
- Weight Control
- Workplace Issues
- Disability Assistance (United States)
- To Tell or Not to Tell?
- Advocacy - Help When You Need It
- Other Legal and Financial Issues
- Finding Support
- Support from Animals
- Learning from Others' Experiences
- Dealing With a Bipolar Child
What Everyone Should Know
Having an understanding of bipolar disorder is critical to everyone who has to deal with the illness. Here are resources that will give you a good grounding.
- What Is Bipolar Disorder?
- Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
- Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder
- Treating Bipolar Disorder
- Definitions of Terms Related to Bipolar Disorder
- How to Recognize a Manic or Hypomanic Episode
- How to Recognize a Depressive Episode
- When to Call the Psychiatrist
What Family and Friends Should Know
If you have a friend, a loved one, a co-worker, or anyone else in your life who is manic-depressive, these resources are for you. And if you have bipolar disorder, you can point the people who care about you to these topics to help them help you and to cope with their own needs that come from living with someone who is bipolar.
Weight Control
Because losing weight is so important to so many people with bipolar disorder, we have gathered support resources and information that will help you as you work toward you weight loss goals.
- Resources for Weight Loss
- Weight Loss and Healthy Living in Our Forum
- Weight Gain - A Real Problem for Bipolar People
- Diet Tips for Weight Loss
- Nutrition and Healthy Cooking Tips
- Exercise Tips for Weight Loss
- Walking Tips for Weight Loss
- Motivational and Support Tips for Weight Loss
Workplace Issues
Most people with bipolar disorder, when it is being properly treated, can hold down a job, but it isn't always easy. These articles and stories will assist you in dealing with the issues that can arise in the workplace.
- Making Ends Meet
- Bipolar Disorder and Work
- BP & the Americans With Disabilities Act - Coverage Under the ADA
- Bipolar Disorder & the ADA - Reasonable Accommodations & Claims
Disability Assistance (United States)
People who are unable to work due to their bipolar disorder may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These articles will help you decide if it’s worth your while to apply and take you through the process, as well as letting you know what to expect along the way.
- I Can't Hold a Job! What Do I Do?
- What is Disability?
- Do I Qualify for Disability?
- Is Bipolar Disorder a Qualified Condition?
- How Do I Start My Application?
- What Information and Paperwork Do I Need?
- What Happens with My Application?
- How Long Will It Take to Get Benefits?
- What Benefits Will I Get?
- Who Can Help Me?
To Tell or Not to Tell?
One of the hardest questions people with bipolar disorder have to answer is whether or not they are going to tell others about it - most often, their bosses, co-workers and friends. Here some members of our community share their insights and experiences, and we offer some tips to make it easier to tell once you decide to do so.
- Telling Your Friends About Bipolar Disorder
- A Kindergarten Teacher's Story
- How to Explain Bipolar Disorder to Others
Advocacy - Help When You Need It
Advocacy is the work of organizations or individuals to protect the legal, civil, and human rights of people with disabilities such as bipolar disorder (manic depression). An advocate serves as an intercessor, speaking on someone else's behalf to ensure against discrimination and loss of rights. These are resources relating to advocacy organizations.
Other Legal and Financial Issues
Here you will find tax tips, medication assistance programs, and help for other legal and financial issues.
- Money-Saving Tips for the Cost-Conscious Patient
- Tips for Controlling Your Spending
- Helpful Tax Tips
- Medications and DUI - The Laws DO Apply
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Finding Support
Support is often a critical need for people with bipolar disorder, and we offer peer-to-peer support on this website. And there are also many other avenues of support available, both online and off.
- About Bipolar Disorder Forums
- Bipolar Disorder Newsletters
- Suicide Crisis Resources
- US Mental Health Organizations
- International Mental Health Organizations
Support from Animals
Cats and dogs? Yes - they can help you, too. Here is information about service dogs and a first-person article about therapeutic cats.
Learning from Others' Experiences
Sometimes the best way to learn more about bipolar disorder - whether you or someone you know is the patient - is by reading what other people have experienced. You can learn a lot about yourself - and about coping - from hearing what others have been through and what they have done. We also offer some self-help books and books about bipolar disorder by experts, both general and specific aspects.
- Other Online Journals
- Personal Stories of Bipolar Disorder
- Speaking From Experience With Bipolar Disorder
Dealing With a Bipolar Child
Children with bipolar disorder experience many of the same symptoms as adults, but some symptoms are different. These children are usually bright and creative but have less ability to understand their illness and fewer coping resources. Parents and teachers alike can learn from the articles below.
