Natural_Medicine_Magazine_Issue_145_July_2017

Yvette Hess,anartist,spendshertimecreating
original paintings and writing biographies. She
studied full-time and was a single parent struggling
fi nancially. ‘I took on part-time work. I was
also a student leader of a number of organisations
andIjustcouldn'tstoptakingonnew
projects,’ she says.
Yvette would jump from relationship to relationship.
She drove recklessly – everything in
her life was fast. ‘Somehow I managed to juggle
it all. Butsoon,afterboutsoflowenergy,
constant negative thinking would overwhelm
me. I would skip classes and switch my phone
off for days,’ she confesses.
She says: “The bad days can be difficult to get
through, especially when I can't read or write.
When I'm well,Icantrustmyselftodoanything.’
Yvette explains: ‘It took so long to accept my
illness. I cannot do it alone; it is one of the biggest
lessonsI'velearnt.Ineedsupportfrom
my family and friends to achieve my goals. I
need regular sessions with my psychologist
and psychiatrist.Iamill,justlikesomeonewith
diabetes or cancer. It is important to remember
there's always help. There's always hope.’
CONCLUSION
Running in circles around the severe mood
shifts can leaveapersonsufferingfrombipolar
disorder exhausted.Whethertheywanttopull
their hair out or whether they want to hide in
a dark closet, they must manage their illness.
They have no choice but to gather their weapons
and fi ght their moods.
SADAG's tips on self-help
for bipolar disorder
Keepamooddiary:It can help track your moods and things
that happen to affect your mood.
Don't use alcohol and drugs: It may be tempting to use alcohol
and drugs to cope with your illness, but this almost always makes
matters worse.
Other medicine: Any other over-the-counter medications, such
as for colds, allergies and pain, can interfere with your mood and
prescribed medicines for bipolar disorder. It is best to discuss
other medications with your psychiatrist before you decide to
take them.
Exercise: Take care not to be over-active or push yourself too
hard. Maintain a regular pattern of activity.
Sleep: Maintain a routine here. Go to bed every night at the
same time and wake up at the same time every morning. If your
sleep patterns are disturbed, it can affect your mood.
Try to avoid too much stress.
Find out if there are any support groups in your area. Contact
SADAG on 0800 567 567 or 011-262-6396. Sharing fears,
worries and feelings with other people who are in the same
position can help hugely.
SADAG'S fast facts and
statistics on bipolar disorder
62.9% of those in the bipolar spectrum have an anxiety disorder.
The average age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25 years.
When one patient is affected, the risk to a child is 15 to 30%.
69% of patients with bipolar disorder reported an initial
misdiagnosis.
30% of individuals with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide
during their lives.
Psychiatric care and medication reduce the risk of suicide to less
than 3%.
JULY 2017 | 047
JULY is
Mental Illness
Awareness
Month