HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
There are many things you can do to help yourself if you have bipolar disorder.
Talk to trusted friends and whānau (family) about your bipolar disorder. This can help them understand and be there for you when you need them.
Talk to your general practice team about your symptoms and how you're feeling.
Try to stay active to improve both your mental and physical wellbeing. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity most days. Read about ideas for getting more activity into your day.
Look after your physical health. This includes:
Read about medications as treatment for bipolar disorder and discuss this with your general practice team. You can find out more about the medicines you're taking in Medications for mental health issues.
Learn about talking therapy. This aims to teach people about triggers and when to get help, reduce symptoms and help with recovery. Therapy also aims to reduce stress and distress in families.
Use a free phone service. These services will be able to talk to you about your day-to-day struggles or help you if you have a crisis.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
This page explains what bipolar disorders is, including causes, symptoms and treatment.
An organisation that focuses on mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder.
On the next page: Getting help with bipolar disorder
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2023.
Review key: HIBIP-52193