Why It’s Important To Take Care of Yourself First

5 Ways to do better starting today.

We’ve all heard the advice. When your airplane starts to have trouble, put on your oxygen mask first, then help others. If you can’t breathe, you’re of no value to anyone else.

Caring for yourself with bipolar disorder can feel like an airplane in trouble. Your world may feel topsy-turvy and it may be hard to breathe, but you must never give up. Put on your oxygen mask and keep fighting.

It’s not always easy to take care of yourself when you have a mental illness. In fact, it can often feel downright impossible. But it’s important to remember that you are your own best ally in this fight. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will do it for you.

I’m going to admit, I don’t always do a great job of taking care of myself. When work gets busy or there’s too much going on in my personal life, my mental health can suffer. I’m encouraging you to do better.

Why Take Care of You

You know taking care of yourself is important, but for some people, it’s hard to do. This is especially true if you have a mental illness. However, there are many ways you can take better care of yourself. We’ll discuss a few of them in this post.

You need to take care of yourself because it’s the only way to get better. If you don’t take care of your mental health, it will only get worse. There’s no way around it. You have to put in the work to improve. This means taking care of yourself both mentally and physically.

It’s also important to take care of yourself because you deserve it. You are worth being cared for. This isn’t always easy to believe, but it’s true. No one else can care for you the way you can care for yourself.

Start Today!

Mental Illness Challenges

Mental illness can be incredibly challenging, both physically and emotionally. It can often feel like you’re up against unbeatable odds, and it’s easy to become discouraged. But it’s important to remember that you are not alone. There are many people who understand what you’re going through, and there are ways to manage your illness.

Bipolar disorder throws many obstacles in your path. Days of depression can hold you captive in bed, while manic days may make it hard to think or focus. Both ends of the spectrum make it challenging to care for your mental health, so you have to work at it every day, especially on the good days.

It’s important to find a treatment plan that works for you. This may involve medication, therapy, or a combination of both. It’s also important to find healthy coping mechanisms and to develop a support system. These things can make a huge difference in your ability to manage your disorder.

How To Take Care of Yourself

There are many ways to take better care of yourself when you have bipolar disorder. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Make sure you get enough sleep. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, and make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Sleep is your best weapon for fighting mania, and a consistent sleep routine will help keep you stable.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid sugary or processed foods, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. You should also avoid alcohol or have it in extreme moderation.
3. Exercise regularly. Exercise can help improve moods and reduce stress levels. Low-impact exercises like walking or swimming are often best for people with bipolar because they are less likely to cause a manic episode.
4. Spend time with supportive people. Spend time with friends and family who make you feel good about yourself, and avoid negative people who bring you down.
5. Seek professional help if necessary. If you find that you’re struggling to manage your bipolar disorder on your own, seek professional help from a therapist or doctor.

Never Give Up

It can be tough to manage bipolar disorder, but it’s possible. If I can teach you only one thing, it’s that you can live a full life with mental illness. A bipolar diagnosis doesn’t end all your hopes and dreams.

Many are finding the strength to fight their mental illness through the Speaking Bipolar Positivity Club. At the Back-Stage Pass and VIP levels, members have access to the Bipolar Disorder Mastery Course.

With new lessons posted each month, this course will help you understand bipolar and learn to thrive with it. In addition, Back-Stage and VIP members also receive weekday positivity emails to help them keep a a healthy mindset.

If you feel like your plane is going down, reach for your oxygen mask and put it on. Follow the steps above and remember that you have to care for yourself first. This isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity. When you’re unwell, you are of no value to anyone else, so take care of you.

Until next time, keep fighting.