by Shauna Castorena

Created on: April 25, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

I am a 28 year old mother of 3, an entrepreneur, a housewife and a volunteer. I also successfully manage my bipolar disorder. With a family history of manic swings and deep depression, I have seen people very close to me suffer from, and get taken over by bipolar disorder, so when I started recognizing my own severe mood swings I knew I needed help.

I began with just a conversation with my family doctor. Because I had recently had my younger twins, she classified my mood swings as a simple case of postpartum depression, and prescribed antidepressant medication accordingly. I felt that was an incorrect diagnosis (since the symptoms began long before I became pregnant), but trusting in my doctor, I went along with the medication for about 6 months. The result was that my downswings became fewer and farther between, however my manic periods began to run my life. I would find myself having severe manic episodes once or twice a week, and they were quickly becoming aggressive. I felt completely out of control.

At that point I knew that antidepressants were not the solution to my problem. I went through a bipolar screening with my doctor who enrolled me in a detailed therapy program. This consisted of a change in my medication, group therapy, and one on one sessions. At first the medication was frustrating. It brought me down from my mania, but then left me feeling lethargic. Luckily the medication was only short-term. Through the group therapy and private counseling I was taught valuable bipolar disorder management techniques that allowed me to wean off the medication and still maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some of the more important lessons learned were:

-Develop a routine: A predictable steady routine in the home or workplace helps keep you on an even keel. Exercise and a healthy diet need to be part of this routine as your health and energy level are major factors in your moods.
- Know your triggers: Keep a journal of some kind and make a note of your mood swings, and any major events that led up to them. Soon you will most likely recognize a pattern which makes it easier to predict what will cause your mood swings to occur.
- Practice redirection: Not all mood swings are bad, they are just mental states that are not being used to your advantage. Now burn out my manic swings to accomplish high amounts of spring cleaning, or large amounts of exercise such as running. During down swings I tend to do a lot of introspective writing or projects that require patience and a slow hand.

My number one, best bipolar disorder management technique however, has been communication. Communication with my doctor and communication with my family. I do still have some depressive and manic episodes which self-management techniques only dampen, and at these moments family support and open communication are what gets me through.

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