Lets talk social media!

Hey guys! So I just got done with my social media class and it was definitely an interesting experience. Through out the class I learned a lot about myself, my condition, and social media. Well enough about that lets move on to the interesting stuff!

Did you guys know social media has been linked to causing more depression? ADHD? ADD? and other mental illnesses?A study from Ottawa Public Health, the city of Ottawa’s agency for health information, programs and services, shows that teens who use social media sites for about 2 or more hours a day are more likely to suffer from mental illness, psychological distress and some suicidal thoughts. CRAZY HU?? Well sadly its true!

But its not all bad, social media has also helped in bringing awareness to mental illnesses, and helped many teens voice their concerns, ideas, and get help through it! Companies such as BuzzFeed are doing their best to bring awareness to mental illness by having events such as Mental Health Week, posting videos in regards to it, and letting their viral fame be used for the purpose of letting others know they arent alone.

So I guess the opinion in regards to social media and mental illness depends on whose reading this.What do you guys think about this study showing that mental illness is linked to social media?

Holidays and Bipolar?

Hi guys! I know some of you are still laying in bed from that food coma that thanksgiving seems to put us in, or exhausted from all the black Friday shopping! The stress of November is gone for most of you but for people with bipolar disorder it’s still probably lingering in the air, just like the smell of fresh Christmas trees.The holidays are not the easiest for people with bipolar disorder sadly. The stress of making the perfect meal, or finding that special gift, even meeting new people can trigger an episode! So I’m going to give you some tips on how to survive the holidays, and also give you some helpful links that will provide further information!

• Black Friday sales are super stressful and being around a lot of people can bring upon some  not so desired moods, my tip is to shop online. Shopping online takes away the stress from having to wait in long lines, or witnessing some very unwanted things at Walmart at 4am on black Friday.
• Don’t worry about creating the “perfect meal”, you do your best and people will love it.
• Keep occupied, look up DIY videos and let your creativity take away any stress or bad moods.
• DONT OVERSPEND or OVERTHINK too much. Make a list, check it twice, and stick to it.
• Try to surround yourself with people you love, and that won’t cause you any stress.
• Lastly if you still feel an episode about to come on, call your doctor. Don’t hesitate just because you have company coming over, your health is always number one.

So those are my personal tips for surviving the holidays! I know I used all of them this Thanksgiving. Trust me, shopping online is number one on my list for a reason. Anyways here are also some very helpful links with some more info on how to survive the Holidays!

This is an amazing site, with plenty of info and great tips!

A helpful guide to survive

Holiday Survival 101

The ups & downs of treatment

Being bipolar has never been an easy thing for me, nor for anyone I have met that has it. It has its ups and definitely has its downs, but did you know some treatment might help with those downs?

So when you first find out you have Bipolar Disorder the first thing the doctor usually does is put you on some type of medication to see if it helps stabilize you.
This is called the “Trial & Error” period. During this horrible period, you either realize the treatment is actually meant for your good, or you just want the agony off all the side effects to go away. If the medicine is not right for you or your type of Bipolar Disorder, you could actually have a lot of Bipolar episodes get triggered, as well as having your depression and some suicidal behavior increase. So im going to help you in figuring out if the medicine you are taking is not right for you.

• If out of nowhere you start feeling more depressed than usual, and its becoming a constant thing, after you have taken the medicine for a month or two. Talk to your doctor this is not normal, and can increase.
• If you start feeling weird symptoms like “static vision”, “brain zaps”, getting more irritated than normal, black outs, irrational thinking. These are not good things, they can harm you.

I have personally been affected by medicine, and trust me its not fun. I talked to my doctor and he helped me find the medicine that was right for me and my type of Bipolar. My new treatment has worked wonders on me, and I live a normal life thanks to it.

Treatment is not a negative thing, it is a positive. Like any other thing it has its downs, but it mostly has positive things come out of it. Taking medicine to help cure your type of Bipolar Disorder is a great way in helping you have a stable life. Talking to a therapist, doctor, or a psychiatrist about your concerns, or getting answers to your bottled up questions, is always relieving and gives you more information in regards to where you are in your treatment. Remember your happiness matters, and treatment will help you in your fight against Bipolar disorder.

How to deal with stress at work when you are bipolar.

Stress and the work place have gone hand in hand for decades! Everyone around the world knows what its like to be stressed at one point during a busy shift at work or just by one single customer complain. What if though you added a mood disorder in the mix like Bipolar Disorder? How much more would that multiply your stress?

When I first found out I was Bipolar I didn’t want to really acknowledge it so when I got my first job and we were having a grand opening event I crumbled under
pressure. I was sent into a manic episode instantly, and I had to get hospitalized. That moment I realized that maybe I should take my mood disorder more seriously especially if my work environment was going to be so hectic, and I was going to be constantly stressed out. As I read up
on my Bipolar Disorder I realized that stressful environments should be avoided especially if around big crowds constantly, but with the economy these days and the limited jobs many people like myself don’t have that option. So I read some great tips on how to deal with stress at work if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

• Always remember it is going to be okay.
• Learn breathing exercises or better yet get a habit that gets your mind off stress instantly, I tap my finger tips in song motion and purposely mess up to distract myself from the stress as I try to fix the song rhythm.
• You don’t have to tell anyone at work or your boss but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND telling your boss or someone in case your stress is to much to handle. Majority of the time you will be allowed to take an extra break or possibly go home to rest.
• Make sure to not push yourself to hard or rush things. Take your time.
• Really think about any decision you make carefully since we do tend to act or make decisions impulsively.
• Call your therapist if all else fails, and always keep your in case of an emergency mood stabilizers or anxiety medicine in your bag for that purpose.

For more helpful information check out this website, its full of great information. Bipolar Disorder at Work

Are you bipolar and looking for a job?

When I was a young girl all I ever wanted to do was travel the world and find a job that I would love. Growing up that dream slowly started fading away when I found out I was Bipolar. At the time I thought because I was diagnosed Bipolar that it meant that I was crazy, and that no job would want me to work for them because no one explained to me what it really was. When I started college I decided to finally stop pretending that I was “normal” and research what I had. Looking up Bipolar articles and information is a very hard thing to do, especially when you can relate to everything the person in the article is talking about. After much research about symptoms, and daily things people can go through I finally looked up what jobs bipolar people can take. The variety was shocking to me, there were so many jobs a person with this sort of condition could take without it affecting the condition more or their work. Slowly I started to realize that maybe I could travel the world through a career that would allow me so and would also work well with my condition and that was International Business and Marketing.

When I was researching I realized that maybe all the information im finding in regards to finding a job with bipolar disorder could be helpful to others. Many people think because they have a mental condition that they are limited to the pleasures and opportunities in life, but they are wrong. The world is a very open place, and times have changed and more people are willing to work with you even with certain conditions so you can achieve your dreams. Of course their are some things that any person with Bipolar must know before going into a job.

Here im going to list things you should know:

1. Always let the person who is going to hire you know that you do suffer from a mental condition. You are not obligated to by law, but by letting them know they can work around your condition, give you extra sick days, and be more understanding in regards to certain situations.
2. We work better as individuals.
3. Calm environments are better, working in a hectic environment isnt healthy, for anyone.
4. Do not let your Bipolar disorder become your excuse, you can do anything you set your mind too.

Now I only gave a very brief summary of things we should consider before applying for a job but this blog explains further if you would like more information. Here is the Link 8 career success strategies for bipolar disorder.

Another thing I learned during this research process is that people with bipolar disorder work best when they have their own businesses, that is one of the reasons I chose Int. Business and marketing. This blog also gives you some ideas on why. Finding work that works when you’re bipolar.

Lastly don’t ever think you are not capable of doing anything because you are bipolar. The world has changed and now people are willing to work with you to make sure you can become successful but no one can help unless you help yourself first. Here is a link to a website that really can help you in figuring out how you can help yourself over come some of the obstacles we have because of our condition. Not only will this site help you learn more about your condition but it will help you understand it so when you apply for a job you are ready to take on the world. Help Guide