Six steps to managing bipolar disorder

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Here is a brief summary of the six steps that are explained in detail in Madeleine Kelly's book Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding.

Step 1 Telling the difference between illness and a bad day

Your dog dies and you are sad. Your housemate "accuses" you of being depressed. How can you prove it's just a bad day?

Step 2 Listing bipolar triggers

If you know what triggers bipolar for you, you can make plans to avoid them.

triggers

Step 3 Using Mood, Activity and Thinking to identify signposts.

This follows fundamental research into manic depressive illness / bipolar disorder. The program uses a little-known medical fact to show how you can identify concrete, specific and reliable indicators of becoming unwell. We show you how to tell between "Early Warnings" and "Major Alerts."

Step 4 Creating Brakes and Safety Nets

The idea is to prevent episodes even hatching in the first place. The program guides you to figure out "brakes" that will work for you. However, in case your brakes fail, you need "Safety Nets" to catch you when you tumble off the roller-coaster. Safety Nets are there to protect against some of the worst consequences, for example excessive spending, behavior that could lead to loss of job, or suicide attempts.

This step acknowledges that you may not be able to stop all future episodes, but you will have better control of your bipolar disorder if you stop it from ruining everything!

Step 5 Working out strategies for staying well

This step draws your work together to create a long term guide that can be modified as time goes on. It will usually include other people.

sky's the limit

Step 6 Letting time do its work.

It's important to acknowledge that it takes time to do this work, yet it is the best investment you can make in yourself.

In Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding we show how you can get control of bipolar disorder, and ride the roller-coaster expertly with with a family member, friend or mental health worker.

Buy your copy now.

Last modified: 27 January 2008

This page was written and published by Madeleine Kelly, a bipolar sufferer who underwent undergraduate medical training (University of Melbourne) and who is the author of Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding.

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to Publisher at TwoTreesMedia dot com.

This site and the book Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding, the 2nd edition of Life on a Roller-coaster - living well with depression and manic depression contain the opinions and ideas of the author, Madeleine Kelly. The site and the book are intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed. The book is sold with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of professional services in the book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in the book or this site or drawing inferences therefrom. The author and publisher disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book or site.

Two Trees Media — the Bipolar Experts