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| Wellness after Hospitalization |
Know your treatment. Before leaving the hospital, be sure you have a written list of what medications to take, what dosage, and when to take them. Get to know if there are any foods, medications or activities you need to avoid while taking your medication, and write these things down. Track your medications and moods.
Learn everything about your illness. Discuss with your doctor new treatments you might want to have. Get to know what to expect from treatments and how you know if your treatment is working. Ask another doctor for a second opinion, if you think you could be doing better.
Take one step at a time. You might not feel better instantly. Allow yourself to slowly, little by little get back to your routine. Give yourself praise for doing small things like getting out of bed, dressing or having a meal.
Give preference the things you need to do and focus on one thing at a time. Write things down or ask friends and family to help you to keep from becoming overwhelmed.
Fix limits. Do not forget about relaxation. If you feel stressed or tired, you can say no or cancel plans. Set aside time to care for yourself and rest, meditate, take a long bath, listen to music, or do something else that is just for you.
Have confidence in yourself. Know that you can get well. If you were manic, you may not feel as good as you felt before. But you will have a more firm and safe mood, which will help you be more productive over the long term.
Stick with your treatment. Go to your health care appointments, therapy and support groups. It may need time for medication to take effect, so be patient. At first you may have some side effects. If they last for more than two weeks, discuss with your doctor changing your medication, your dosage, or the time you take your medication. Never change or stop taking your medication without first speaking with your doctor.
Recognize your symptoms and triggers. Feeling very sad, despairing, or irritable can be symptoms of your illness. If you feel very angry, your mind starts to race, or you begin to think about hurting yourself, call someone who can help. Have a list of your triggers and warning signs, along with a list of people you can call for help.
Give relationships time to cure. Your family and friends may not know how to act around you at first. There may also be hurt feelings or apologies that need to be made because of things you may have done while in mania or depression. Demonstrate that you want to get well by sticking with your treatment.
Take it easy at work. Explain to your boss and colleges that you have been ill and you need to take things slowly. You don’t have to discuss your depression or bipolar disorder. If someone asks questions, courteously but firmly tell them you don’t want to speak about it. Do your best at work. Try not to take on too much.
Get support from people who have had similar experiences and are feeling better.
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