Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings. It is inevitable that you or your loved one will go into a manic episode at some time; therefore you must have a plan in place.
Here is an example of a manic episode safety plan that you can place on your refrigerator or other place where it can be easily seen:
Bipolar Manic Episode Safety Plan
• STAY SAFE (even you have to) -stay in your safety zone. If you are at home, you can not go on a spending spree!
• Do not be alone if at all possible (be around someone who is aware of the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder and can help you control them).
• Be accountable to someone – such as your supporter – who will know you are in an episode, will make sure you take your medication, and will sit and listen to you, especially since one of the biggest symptoms of a manic episode is that you will talk so much!
• If you can not find someone to talk to, there are chat rooms on the Internet where others experiencing bipolar manic episodes will understand how you are feeling.
• Make sure you take your medication and on schedule, and that you keep appointments with your doctor, psychiatrist and therapist.
• Do not make any major decisions or even any minor ones (if you can help it).
• Control your spending! The best way to do this is to have your supporter hold the charge cards and to be in control of the checking account.
• You may not be sleeping very much, but this is one of the symptoms of a bipolar manic episode. There are things you can do about this – talk to your psychiatrist, therapist, or doctor about it. It may be just a temporary problem because of the mania, and you may be able to get a temporary medication to help you get some sleep.
• Take care of your personal needs (grooming, eating, exercising, sleeping, etc.).
• HALT (never get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired).
• Although this may be difficult when you are feeling manic, try to do what you would normally enjoy (read, watch television / movies, go to your Support Group, etc.)
• Do what you can to slow yourself down (take a bath, read, listen to soothing music, walk, garden, do yoga, meditate, journal, etc.).
• Remember the deceptive nature of your thoughts and feelings during a manic episode and that they will tend to be higher than normal in nature.
• Do not follow through with any grandiose plans that you will tend to have during a manic episode, especially those that you feel come from "special insight" you have gotten during your mania.
• Do not take action on any impulsive thoughts you may have towards risk-taking behaviors.
• Keep in mind that this is only a temporary situation, and do not do anything that has permanent consequences.
• Tell yourself that "This too Shall pass," "I've been here before and have gotten through it," and any other positive thoughts you can use to replace your negative thoughts.
• You may have paranoid thoughts that others are out to "get" you. These are not real, and are only the result of your bipolar manic episode.
• Remember that: PARANOID THOUGHTS ARE ONLY TEMPORARY WHEN YOU ARE IN A BIPOLAR MANIC EPISODE.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:
SUICIDE HOTLINE: 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-442-HOPE
Psychiatrist:
Therapist:
Doctor:
(Etc.)
