\u201cI am, without a doubt, the most stable I\u2019ve been thus far,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cLife isn\u2019t perfect. I still have good and bad days, but it\u2019s much more manageable than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that is thanks to treatment. Kraft is committed to managing her bipolar disorder. She made a promise to her husband, their kids, and to herself to stay well and be the best wife and mom she can be. \u201cThey deserve nothing less.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bipolar II disorder can be a devastating illness. However, when it\u2019s accurately diagnosed, \u201cit can be safely and effectively treated and well-managed over the individual\u2019s lifetime,\u201d said Michael Pipich, MS, LMFT, a psychotherapist who specializes in mood disorders in Denver, Colo., and author of\u00a0Owning Bipolar: How Patients and Families Can Take Control of Bipolar Disorder<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n The foundation of effective treatment is mood-stabilizing medication. Kraft noted that her medication helps to \u201cshave off the \u2018highs\u2019 and bring up my \u2018lows.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Shaley Hoogendoorn<\/a>, a speaker, vlogger and mental health advocate, described her medication as \u201clife changing,\u201d after her doctors found the right combination for her. \u201cThe medicine has been amazing especially for the depression. I have little to no symptoms in the winter.\u201d The medication has muted Hoogendoorn\u2019s hypomania and helps her to sleep.<\/p>\n What\u2019s also been life changing for Hoogendoorn<\/a> is her \u201camazing support system of family and friends that understand and are able to help me when I need it. \u201c<\/p>\n For Kraft<\/a>, in addition to medication, recognizing the early warning signs has been critical in helping her manage and minimize the ups and downs. \u201cWhen I have a \u2018down\u2019 day, I can rationalize it, try to get to the root cause, and eliminate triggers and stressors that would make me continue to spiral downward.\u201d<\/p>\n Her family\u2019s love and support are especially pivotal during the darker times. Today, they have a deeper understanding of what Kraft is going through. \u201cMy diagnosis gave my struggles and chaos a name and a reason (not an excuse!). Finally knowing what we were actually dealing with helped us all to move forward, educate ourselves and take control.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s also been tremendously helpful is attending a peer therapy group and giving herself permission to set boundaries and take it easy\u2014whether that\u2019s having groceries delivered, taking a guilt-free nap, or declining an opportunity.<\/p>\n When she became ill in high school, Lisa Rumpel<\/a>, a writer, speaker and mental health advocate, became involved with the Early Psychosis Intervention Program, which was invaluable. \u201cI was able to go on volunteer trips, join a peer support group and become a peer support buddy myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Reading Mental Health through Will Training<\/em> by Dr. Abraham Low and attending Recovery International Meetings have had a significant influence on Rumpel\u2019s recovery. \u201cIt gave me tools to help manage stress, work on my emotional health and to be mindful of the present moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Rumpel also attends therapy, exercises, meditates and makes sure to get 8 hours of sleep every night. She reads, sings, plays the ukulele, and takes salsa, Zumba, flamenco and ballet classes. She finds it helpful to listen to podcasts, too, including: \u201cThe Place We Find Ourselves,\u201d \u201cJen Gotch is OK\u2026Sometimes,\u201d and \u201cLive Inspired with John O\u2019Leary,\u201d which have provided inspiration and great insights.<\/p>\n Rumpel\u2019s family and friends\u2014\u201cencouragers, helpers, challengers, and motivators\u201d\u2014have been essential. \u201cLike a sick tree in a forest receiving nutrients from the trees around it, the gift of wellness has been nourished through the help of my kind community.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Rumpel and Hoogendoorn stressed the importance of their faiths. \u201c[M]y church community and my faith has kept me alive and hopeful,\u201d Hoogendoorn said. \u201cMy faith gave me the hope to keep going. I find daily prayer to fill me with inner peace and feel grounded,\u201d Rumpel said.<\/p>\n \u201cBipolar II is like riding a roller coaster,\u201d Rumpel said. \u201cSometimes, it feels like I am out of control and with the help of medication, therapy, loving individuals, etc., I don\u2019t feel alone and can accept that I am going for a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople so desperately need proof that it\u2019s possible to successfully manage bipolar disorder,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but it\u2019s absolutely possible\u2026Yes, there can be a vibrant and beautiful future on the other side of a bipolar diagnosis, and others need to read it, see it and believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the first three decades of Julie Kraft\u2019s life, every day was a struggle. \u201cFrom the minute I woke up to the moment my head hit the pillow each night, my mind would spin with worries and fears\u2014most of them irrational\u2014about the past, present and the future,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cI <\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n
Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger<\/a> November 7, 2018<\/p>\n