World Bipolar Day, 2023

World Bipolar Day, 2023

Dear Friends,

I am sharing here my experience with Bipolar Disorder for the benefit of all people like me. I am a Senior man of 62 years, living a normal life having this disorder.

It was the year 1979 that I came to know that I am suffering this disorder. It happened so that I observed great swings in mood of ups and downs. It was the year when I appeared for my 12th class exams and fortunately even with this condition I did very good in exams and was placed 6th in the University. I got admission in NIT, a very prestigious Engineering College. But, my academic performance for the next 5 years was very poor as my Bipolar Disorder was more and more disturbing.

Unfortunately, I did the biggest mistake of not taking medical help and kept on suffering.

It was the year 1984 I went to a doctor for the first time in my life for this. Along with medicine, I was also asked to take Psychotherapy. Both medicines and Psychotherapy were of great help.

That was the time when I realized that to handle this problem I must educate myself more and more about my disorder. I started gathering information on it. Soon, I developed the skill to identify my ups & downs and took medical help as soon as possible, whenever needed.

Next 10 years, various doctors handled my problem episode-wise. Whenever; up or down phase, it was handled accordingly with medicine.

At that time, there were lesser number of medicines available to handle this problem. but, fortunately now there are many medicines to handle this situation.

It was the year 1994, I was put on Lithium. This medicine suits limited number of people and I was one such lucky person. This medicine stabilized my mood considerably. Although minor fluctuations kept on happening and they happen even today.

In 2006 I was shifted to much better and safer medicine Sodium Valproate Acid. It further improved the situation.

I got married in 1998. My wife became my greatest strength. She accepted me as I am and took great care of me whenever I was in trouble. Today I have a son and a daughter. Both are Computer Engineer and well settled and healthy.

I can assure all those suffering from this problem that it can be handled and one can live a normal life.

I would like to state few things which worked for me:

• To handle this problem, family support is a must. I was fortunate in this regard.

• Understand, identify your problem and educate yourself more and more.

• If needed, take the help of a doctor as soon as possible.

• Never skip the medicine.

• If Doctor suggests, do take the help of Psychotherapist. Religiously, do it.

• You shall get emotional support and your Doctor shall get detailed feedback for medicinal regulation.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol.

• Never miss vigorous morning workout and walking because during down phase, morning hours are too hard.

• If you are in business or self-employed, always have a backup team.

• If your Wife/Husband can become your backup, it is best.

• I am, myself, self-employed. I have created a system making my employees as backup. I am doing a fairly-good 4 Crore of turnover.

• Never allow yourself to believe that you have a disorder and feel bad about it. Like any other manageable disorder, it is another manageable disorder. So long as you are taking medicine, you shall be ok.

• I have been taking the medicines for last 39 years. These medicines are harmless.

• Never discuss about your problem with anyone, apart from few essentials. If at all you have to talk, never give the name of the disorder.

• Never take a major decision when you are in state of up or down.