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Bipolar disorder is not just mood swings; it is much more than that. Busting the myths around bipolar disorder!! Myth No. 1: Having bipolar disorder is just about being moody. Fact: Mood swings are part of bipolar disorder, but bipolar disorder also includes severe manic and depressive episodes. The highs and lows that people with bipolar disorder experience are much more severe than regular mood swings, and it affects the person’s behaviour, thinking, sleep patterns, and even eating habits. Myth No. 2: Kids do not have bipolar disorder. Fact: Only adults are not likely to have bipolar disorder; children and teens can also have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder (BD) is less common in children than in adults, but studies show that about 4% of people under the age of 18, including children as young as 5, have bipolar disorder. Myth No. 3: There is no way to treat bipolar disorder. Fact: Bipolar disorder can be treated, and with proper treatment, people can live healthy lives. Treatment for bipolar disorder typically involves a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Myth No. 4: Everyone experiences bipolar disorder the same way. Fact: Bipolar disorder shows up in different ways in different people. Some people experience manic episodes for too long, and some people experience depressive episodes for too long. Some people experience the highs and lows separately, and some people experience both kinds of episodes altogether. Myth No. 5: People with bipolar disorder are violent. Fact: People who do not receive treatment may possess aggressive and violent behaviour, but not everyone with bipolar disorder is violent. So this is a myth that everyone with bipolar disorder is dangerous. Myth No. 6: Alcohol and drug abuse cause bipolar disorder. Fact: Alcohol and drug abuse does worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder, but it does not cause bipolar disorder. People who are dealing with addiction along with bipolar find it harder to receive treatment and cope with bipolar disorder. In a nutshell, bipolar disorder is a lot more complicated and messier than mood swings. Despite being hard to handle, treatment options are available for bipolar disorder that can help a person live a healthy life with bipolar disorder. To get the right kind of help, we need to stop spreading myths and pay attention to the facts. If someone around you is dealing with bipolar disorder, then make sure to let them know about all the misconceptions. #bipolardisorder #myths #facts

How to overcome savior complex?? For people with a Savior complex, it is a great deal to fix others’s problems even if they have to sacrifice their needs and desire to help others. Savior complex is a psychological state that can be caused by a variety of reasons. Childhood experiences where a child had to take on adult responsibilities very early in life are one of the reasons for developing a savior complex. Having low self-esteem and viewing “helping people” as one of the ways to get validation is another reason for the Savior Complex. Having savior tendencies can lead to emotional exhaustion, strained relationships, and mental health issues like self-doubt and social anxiety. Fortunately, overcoming the Savior complex is possible. Here are a few things that can help you deal with the Savior complex: 1. Listen before you act. 2. Offer help when requested. 3. Make peace with the fact that other’s problems are not your responsibility. 4. Look for other areas apart from helping people that bring love and peace to you. 5. Talk to a therapist to deal with the core issues. Before you start using all these tips, it is crucial to acknowledge your savior complex so that you can recognize how it can harm your well-being. Once you realize that it is not good for your well-being, it will be easy to take steps that can help you break the pattern. You must realize that there is a lot of difference between a helpful person and a savior. Make sure to become the former one. #saviorcomplex #savior #sacrifice #help

Do you often wake up with feelings of stress and worry and experience mind-racing thoughts first thing you wake up? If yes, then you might be dealing with morning anxiety!! Morning anxiety is not a medical term but refers to the feeling of waking up with anxious thoughts. Most of the time, morning anxiety is related to the thoughts or worries you experience before going to bed at night. Some of the most common signs of morning anxiety are: -Feeling restless when you wake up in the morning. -Experiencing rapid breathing, tight chest, and racing heart. -Finding your mind going blank. -Intense distress and worry. The worry and nervousness that you experience in the morning can be related to your work, finances, relationships, health, or family. If you wake up feeling anxious in the morning, then there are a few self-help strategies that can help you deal with it. Here are those strategies: 1. Make sure to follow a healthy sleeping schedule and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. 2. Try to organize or plan your day the night before to avoid morning anxiety. 3. Avoid taking stimulants like coffee and sugar first thing in the morning, as they make anxiety worse. 4. Do not use your phone or social media first thing in the morning. 5. Try to start your day with mindfulness exercises. 6. Use positive affirmations in the morning to deal with anxious thoughts. Morning anxiety can be tackled with self-help techniques, but there is nothing wrong with seeking professional help if you are finding it hard to cope with the anxious thoughts. If your morning anxiety is persistent and seems like a serious issue, then you must seek help. Remember, no one deserves to start their day feeling anxious. #anxiety #morninganxiety #stress #worry

What is vicarious trauma? When you witness something depressing, distressing, and downright traumatic in someone else’s life and start absorbing their pain, then you cross the boundaries of being empathetic, and it starts to affect your mental well-being negatively. This process of getting affected by someone else’s traumatic experience is called vicarious trauma. Anyone who is deeply engaged in someone else’s pain and trauma or comes in direct and repetitive contact with the trauma survivors is at risk of experiencing vicarious trauma like people working in in victim services, law enforcement, mental health services, or emergency medical services. Signs of vicarious trauma -Being overly involved with the person who has been through trauma as if the events happened with you. -Feeling persistent feelings of sadness and anger due to the person's victimization. -Finding it difficult to regulate your emotions. -Becoming detached from other things in life and things that you used to enjoy.  Here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of vicarious trauma: 1. Always pay attention to how you are feeling while engaging with trauma survivors and people who have gone through a difficult time. 2. If you think engaging with them affects you emotionally, then prioritize self-care and relying on your loved ones for support. 3. Make sure you have an interest outside work and you have a work-life balance. 4. Take care of your physical and mental well-being. By learning how to regulate your emotions and how to stick to boundaries of empathy, you can cope with vicarious trauma and can also avoid experiencing it. However, if you think that vicarious trauma has been severely affecting your mental and physical health, then make sure to ask for help and reach out to your loved ones for support. Remember that your experience is valid, and you deserve to heal. #vicarioustrauma #trauma #traumasurvivors

Going through an existential crisis can be overwhelming. There can be feelings of loneliness and fear. And you may experience a sudden loss of identity leading to feelings of helplessness. Here are a few tips that can help you deal with this rollercoaster of emotions: 1. Try to be present in the moment. Sometimes existential crisis makes you wind up in the loop of past regrets and future uncertainty, but being in the present moment can save you from that worry. You can practice mindfulness exercises to be in the present moment. 2. Journal your thoughts and feelings to make sense of what you are feeling. Writing in a journal can help you track your thoughts and free up your mind. You can also try writing down any solutions to negative thoughts. 3. Practice gratitude and find joy in the smallest things. Try to make a list of things that you are grateful for and thank the universe for all the big and small blessings. 4. Make peace with the fact that everything is not in your control. Realizing this can be a freeing experience. 5. Reach out to your support network and rely on loved ones. Express how you have been feeling and ask for help and support. For some people, existential crises can be the source of constant fear and anxiety, and this can create mental health issues and aggravate the existing mental health issues. However, with awareness of effective tips and techniques and the right kind of support, anyone can cope with an existential crisis and even benefit from it. #existentialcrisis #crisis #life #stress

What is high-functioning depression?? High-functioning depression is a term used to describe people who experience depression while still being able to maintain a relatively stable life and fulfil their responsibilities. This means if someone is going through high-functioning depression, then it becomes quite hard to identify the signs and symptoms and to provide help. High-functioning depression is not an official clinical diagnosis, and some professionals believe that "high-functioning depression" comes from a lack of clarity around persistent depressive disorder. Despite not being an official diagnosis, high-functioning depression helps in describing those cases of depression where people live with symptoms of depression while managing to keep up a relatively stable life. However, we need to clarify the misconception that even if someone is suffering from high-functioning depression, that does not make their symptoms less serious. People with any kind of depression need to ask for help, and they deserve it. Here are a few common symptoms of high-functioning depression: -Having a persistent feeling of sadness -Doing activities slowly and talking slowly. -Withdrawing from people around you. -Having negative thoughts about yourself. The symptoms of high-functioning depression might not be too severe, and people with this kind of depression may appear to be high-functioning, but we need to keep in mind that all depression deserves treatment. Someone is masking, and hiding the symptoms well does not mean they do not need help. They need help and should be provided with the help and care they deserve. #depression #highfunctioningdepression #mentalhealth

How to nurture adult friendships?? With our busy schedules, limited proximity, and changing social circle, it gets hard to build and nurture friendships in adulthood. And the lack of meaningful friendships significantly affects our mental well-being. Becoming an adult has always been a difficult and prolonged process, filled with uncertainty and setbacks, and not having strong friendships and meaningful connections in that phase makes it worse. Without friends, you may get lost and lonely in the vast unknown of the outside world. But is there anything you can do to not go through this? Well, the dynamics of a friendship are not totally in your control, as the other person participates as much as you do. But there are still a few ways that can help you build and nurture friendships better. If friendships in adulthood are a bit of a struggle for you, then the tips given below can be of huge help. Here is how you can nurture adult friendships: 1. First and foremost, treat your friends as you would love to be treated. 2. Make commitments to reach out to your friends and give them time. Make the effort and stick to your words. 3. Lead your friendships with joy and loyalty. Be a good listener and try to be there when they need you the most. 4. Celebrate your friends' wins and achievements, whether it's a new home, a new job, or a small milestone. Be the first one to clap. 5. Share how you feel and ask for help when needed. 6. Try new things together and catch up on things you both find interesting. 7. Express how much they mean to you through random mail, unplanned gifts and letters, and surprise meetings. While these things can help you maintain and nurture friendships as adults, in the bigger picture it is all about effort and prioritizing the friendships. If you are not able to prioritize your friendship, then make sure to at least give your friends a heads up about the non-availability. True friends will always understand. Also, notice the difference you feel when you prioritize your friendships and when you neglect them. The joy and happiness you feel through your friends can help you better in making the effort to nurture them. #friendships #adulthood #adulting #life

Are you struggling with a lack of patience?? Being patient involves self-control, emotional regulation, and the ability to take a long-term view. Having the skill of patience is highly crucial for your personal and professional growth and development. It also plays a huge role in building healthy relationships and carrying out healthy communication. Apart from that, patience is also linked to improved mental health. Patience is important for your mental health as it helps you better cope with stressful situations and negative emotions. It helps you learn to control your emotional responses and accept that things may not always go as expected, and helps you make better decisions. Someone who lacks patience is more likely to find it hard to tackle mental health issues as compared to those who are highly patient and know how to handle stressful situations with calm and composure. In a nutshell, being patient benefits your mental and physical well-being in multiple ways. Here are a few things you can do to develop the skill of patience: 1. Accept those things that are not in your control. 2. Try to adopt an approach where you reframe things instead of being impatient. 3. Slow down in how you react to things. 4. Improve your listening skills. 5. Practice mindfulness and gratitude. If you have been struggling with impatience, then try to use these tips to cultivate patience. Even if you develop patience, there will still be some moments when you will feel impatient. Try to use healthy coping mechanisms like deep breathing, healthy distractions, and grounding techniques in those moments. Remember, there are many ways to tackle impatience. #patience #skills #quality #habits

Hit by an existential crisis? The existential crisis involves anxious thoughts and uneasy feelings regarding the meaning of your life and the point of your existence. While being in the existential crisis phase, you may begin to question yourself about your freedom, sense of identity, existence, and purpose. People can experience existential crises at any point in life at any age, but this kind of crisis is often triggered by significant life changes. Some of the life changes that can lead to existential crises include: -Experiencing a loved one’s death. -Going through a personal relationship change -Having a career change Bottled-up emotions and dissatisfaction with yourself can also lead you to experience an existential crisis. To be honest, going through an existential crisis is not always a bad thing as it allows you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your life. However, for some people, existential crises do take a negative turn when they are unable to answer these questions, which only makes them feel sad and disappointed. Here are some common signs of existential crisis that can help you identify it: 1. Constantly being worried about what you are doing with your life, and is there even a point in doing all of the things you are doing? 2. Feeling unmotivated and unable to focus on your day-to-day tasks. 3. Experiencing the symptoms of anxiety like worrying, panic, restlessness, and irritation. 4. Experiencing lack of energy and sleep-related issues. 5. Decrease in social activity and increased social isolation. If you or someone else around you is experiencing these signs, then don’t get trapped in the loop of the unlimited questioning. Try to find the answers that you are capable of finding, and if you are not able to look for the answers, don’t be worried. Simply reach out to your loved ones and prioritize self-love and self-care to try to reconnect with your life’s purpose. If you think it is turning into something serious, like a mental health or physical health issue, then make sure to reach out to a healthcare professional. #existentialcrisis #adulthood #crisis #midlifecrisis

Breadcrumbing in relationship: Signs you are settling for less!! Breadcrumbing in relationships involves behaviour patterns through which someone gives another person just enough attention to keep them interested but without any intention of committing to a relationship. Breadcrumbing can happen in any relationship, but it is most common in romantic relationships. Someone who engages in breadcrumbing has no real interest in developing a consistent, meaningful relationship with their partner, but they still intermittently feed them small doses of attention in various forms. There is no one specific reason for breadcrumbing. People often engage in breadcrumbing to seek attention. Insecurity and a desire for power or dominance are also the reasons behind breadcrumbing. The victim of breadcrumbing often gets emotionally affected by this manipulative tactic. The moment they realize that all of it was just a facade and an act, it usually gets too late as feelings become too strong to destroy. It can be hard to identify breadcrumbing due to the frequent attention the breadcrumber provides, but there are still a few signs that can help you identify breadcrumbing early in a relationship scenario. Here are those signs: 1. Making vague statements to avoid providing commitment. 2. Inconsistent communication patterns. 3. Avoiding serious and emotional conversations. 4. Providing reassurance only when you are about to lose interest. 5. Their actions don’t align with their words. 6. They are always mysteriously busy. If you witness these warning signs of breadcrumbing then make sure to call them out. Call them out on what they are doing and how they are confusing you. Pointing it out to them can help you prove that you are aware of what is happening and that you are not gullible to manipulative tactics. This will help you to avoid falling into the trap of a toxic and unhealthy relationship. Calling them out sooner can help you figure out if you really want to be connected to them or not, and this will affect the kind of relationship you form with them. #breadcrumbing #relationships #couples #love #manipulation