Dear Counsellor:

I have been battling bipolar disorder for the past 10 years. It flared up after I had each of my three children and whenever someone close to me has died. I have mild episodes most of the time and I take medication.

I joined a support group and pay attention to my diet, exercise and relationships. Most times I am normal but I have to work hard to maintain the semblance of normality. I have my down moments but I try to be upbeat. However, dealing with the adversities of life is a real challenge for me.

- Ann

Dear Ann:

Whenever persons have a mental illness, they find it difficult to cope with life issues. It is very challenging for the individuals and their families. Sometimes, there are stressors in the patient's life that are causing a worsening of the symptoms.

Bipolar disorder is a condition in which the individual has severe mood swings - happy or sad or aggressive. It is treated with medication and therapy. Individuals can lead normal lives and prefer when they are on a high. Some individuals make poor judgements and find themselves involved in disputes because of this.

Education about the illness is important for the patient, family and general public. Having mood swings is part of life but with bipolar illness, these mood swings are very severe and are associated with reduced functioning of the individual.

Counselling of the individual and family is vital as the person can create chaos and problems for his family. Counselling usually focuses on relationships, relapse prevention and dealing with stressors. Group therapy and family sessions are useful as they will help the family to cope. Sometimes individuals smoke cigarettes or ganja to try to heal themselves. This has proven to be a mistake as their condition usually worsens. Individuals need to be under the care of a psychiatrist and should keep their appointments and take their medications. There are injectables for patients who have difficulty remem-bering to take oral medications. Bipolar disorder is a treatable condition and the public, in general, and the communities, in particular, should encourage individuals to seek treatment.

Afraid of life

Dear Counsellor:

I am afraid of the future and the adversities involved with it. I have a difficulty dealing with the adversities of life and gets fearful at times. I get worried and anxious spontaneously and panic easily.

- Dianne

Dear Dianne:

You have a problem that is common to humans. It is difficult to cope with the adversities but there are strategies that you can use. Many people have found help in spirituality and I would encourage you to try this. It will go a long way towards helping you to cope if you have a God to communicate with.

One should assess one's strengths and weaknesses. This will be a guide to problem solving and decision making. You should identify your goals and values so that you become self-aware in situations. Planning one's activities and one's life is helpful to cope with life's ups and downs. It is not an easy task.

Goals should be specific, measurable and attainable. You should have a time frame within which you want to achieve your tasks. Tasks must be broken down in small units. Whenever this is achieved, you should reward yourself. Celebrate every small success. You need perseverance and persistence as well as to be able to bounce back after a failure. In your planning, you need to be able to evaluate what is happening and make changes as you see fit. Therefore, being informed and flexible are key ingredients for success.

Performance enhancement comes from being prepared to work hard and to celebrate small successes. Reward sweetens labour. It is a daily grind to toil each day but the will to succeed in life should be strong. Each day, you should celebrate the gift of life and count your many blessings. To cope with fears and uncertainties, I tell my patients to study Psalm 23 and the Lord's prayer. These have the power to calm fears and deal with the uncertainties of life.

Having problems in your personal or family life? Email questions for Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson to yvonniebd@hotmail.com or call her at 978-8602.