mental-health-advice Answer:
Hi there,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling and unable to get medication! Medication is usually the preferred treatment for bipolar disorder, but fortunately there are some other things you can try to do to manage it without using medication.
First, if it all possible, I would recommend seeing a therapist. If you’re unable to afford one, there are some therapists who will offer free services or use a sliding scale. A sliding scale is when the therapist takes your financial situation into consideration when coming up with a fee for you for their services. Another option for if money is a problem is, if you’re in school, your school may have a therapist that you can see for free or at a reduced price (usually at colleges). I think it would be a good idea to try having a therapist because they would be able to give you more information about coping skills and other ways to manage your symptoms without medication.
Second, with bipolar disorder, it can be helpful to educate the people around you so they know what symptoms to look for. For example, since many people with bipolar tend to spend a lot of money while they are in a manic or hypomanic episode, so it’s a good idea for people around them to know the signs of mania so they can help make sure the person doesn’t make any financial decisions that they will regret once they come out of the manic/hypomanic episode. Another example is that if you tend to get suicidal when in a depressive episode, you can let your loved ones know what the signs are for that so they can get you the help you need. This is why you may consider educating the people around you (parents, friends, other family, etc.) on your symptoms and what they can do to help you when they notice those symptoms. There was a post I saw on tumblr many months ago with a manual someone constructed that they keep on them with this exact information in it, which may be something for you to consider. You can check out the template of their manual here if you’re interested.
Third, you can try keeping track of your triggers or early signs that you are becoming manic/hypomanic or depressed so you xen try getting ahead of your symptoms. For instance, some people with bipolar know that caffeine, lack of sleep, alcohol or drug use, etc. are triggers for their mood shifts, so they try to avoid those things and therefore avoid those mood swings. Similarly, you might consider watching if you have any signs before a mood swing. For instance, some people notice that they have an increased sex drive or they need less sleep right before they go into a manic episode. It can help to track these symptoms so you can plan ahead if you begin to notice your signs, such by letting your parents Ann’s friends know that you’re starting to notice your usual signs.
These are only a few suggestions, but know that there are more ways to help manage your symptoms. Everyone is different, so you ultimately just have to find what works for you. Please take care of yourself and let us know if there’s anything we can do to help!
-Samantha
