Living with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder can mean starting, switching and stopping meds. If you don’t do it right, you can suffer side effects, some of them serious.

Many psych drugs must be started at a low dosage and gradually built up to the optimum dosage and discontinued in reverse. Otherwise, your illness could worsen or you could have side effects that may include dizziness, flu-like symptoms, nausea, hallucinations, blurred vision, irritability, tingling or “shocking” sensations and insomnia; even a life-threatening rash. Some drugs can cause more problems than others when not “titrated” correctly.

It’s important to work with you doctor when you start or stop a medication. Playing pharmaceutical roulette can be dangerous.

Have you ever had problems starting, switching or stopping medications?

Also read: Why I don’t want to take my meds.

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This is a look at the words used to describe people who are living with a psychiatric disorder and the words we use to describe ourselves. We’re comfortable with some of them; others are like fingernails on a chalkboard. But identifying words are often necessary, for instance in: A support group for… and their friends and family members. It’s necessary to identify who the support group is for.
Here are some examples:

I am a…

• person diagnosed with [bipolar disorder].
• survivor of [bipolar disorder]
• person with mental illness.
• victim of [depression].
• person with a behavioral disorder.
• person with a psychiatric disorder.
• consumer.
• person who lives with [an anxiety disorder].
• person who suffers from [depression].

How do you feel about these words and phrases?

Read more about language and some responses to them.

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A good night’s sleep can improve mood, enhance brain power, increase energy and help to maintain a healthy body. But our mood or our meds (such as some mood stabilizers) can sometimes keep us awake.

If you suffer from insomnia, sleep aids can help, but they’re not the only solution. You can make changes in your behavior and environment that can help you get to sleep and stay asleep.

Try some of these tips:

• Keep a regular sleep-wake cycle. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Dim the lights an hour or two before bedtime. Your body is cued to dusk.
• Increase your exposure to morning sunshine or very bright lights in the morning to reset your body clock.
• Sleep in a dark, quiet room with a comfortable temperature (60-65 degrees is optimum.)
• Eat a light bedtime snack combining carbs with just a little protein, such as peanut butter on a piece of toast.

Read Imagine yourself calm

What helps you sleep?

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People with bipolar disorder who are taking medications are more likely to get well faster and stay well longer if they’re also receiving intensive psychotherapy, according to a federal study.

The study compared patients who received nine months of one of the following types of intensive therapy treatments:

• Family-focused therapy,
• Cognitive behavioral therapy,
• Something called “Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy”

with patients who received a three-session, psychoeducational program.

More of those in the long-term programs got better, got better faster and stayed better longer than those who received the short-term therapy. Family-focused therapy was slightly more effective than the others.

Read: Family therapy helps heal the whole family

How has psychotherapy helped you?

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Depression can make people feel isolated and alone and they withdraw from family and friends. They may feel hopeless at times, finding it difficult to do things they once enjoyed. You can provide encouragement.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Accept the fact that the person has a legitimate illness.
• Ask the person how you can help.
• Don’t get stuck in talking about the past – stay in the present.
• Invite him or her for walks, to the movies and other activities.
• Point out small signs of progress: “I see you’re working in your garden again.”

What have you found has been helpful to someone close to you?

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Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. We’re hard-wired for it: When faced with a threat, our hormones rev up our nervous system to prepare for physical action. Our heart rate and breathing accelerate, our muscles tense and our senses are sharpened. But we don’t face many predators these days and too much anxiety can hurt us. When we can’t get our mind off our worries, it’s time to take steps to de-stress. Try these:

• Drop your shoulders, breathe deeply and count to 10.
• Focus on what’s happening now, rather than on what might happen.
• Do something physical.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine which can both increase anxiety.

Read: What’s anxiety, what’s an anxiety disorder?

What works for you when you need to relax?

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