Practicing an Ounce of Prevention

Maintaining car´s health with regular oil changes and the occasional tune-up helps keep it running trouble free for thousands of miles. Maintaining your physical health reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other major illnesses. Maintaining your mental health delivers similar benefits; yet, even after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, people often ignore medical orders and continue to roll the dice in a game they are almost certain to lose.

Don´t gamble with your mental health. After you´ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, establish a preventive maintenance plan to ward off relapse and minimize the damage of unavoidable mood episodes. Take the following actions:
· Accept your diagnosis.
· Take your medicine as prescribed.
· Monitor your moods for early warning signs, and consult your doctor at the first sign of trouble.
· Identify and eliminate your stressors.
· Build a strong support network

Source: Bipolar Disorder, candida Fink, MD, Joe Kraynak