Am I eligible for benefits? There are benefits you can apply for with a diagnosis of bipolar Expand Benefits and allowances are sometimes available for individuals diagnosed with bipolar. However the benefits structure in the UK is currently being reformed. The charity Disability Rights UK has a fantastic website to help you through the benefits maze. Citizens Advice also has offer advice and guidance on benefits. You may find it useful to contact your local branch to speak to one of their benefits advisers. As your national bipolar charity we also respond to proposed changes in legislation and highlight new changes on our website for your information.
You have been diagnosed with bipolar A leaflet designed for people who have received a diagnosis of bipolar. Expand A leaflet designed for people who have received a diagnosis of bipolar. This leaflet is for people who have been diagnosed with bipolar and gives you information and advice about managing the illness. How can you manage your bipolar? This leaflet has been given to you as you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar. Bipolar disorder is an enduring, severe mental health condition characterised by extreme mood swings - manic highs to depressive lows. You are not alone. Over 1 million people in the UK have bipolar, and many of these individuals lead productive, happy andfulfilling lives. The key to coping with bipolar is early diagnosis, acceptance and adapting your lifestyle so you can control the condition as much as possible. You can also manage bipolar through medication, the right healthcare, therapy and self-management. The earlier you receive treatment, the better. Even the mildest symptoms of bipolar can become very serious. Bipolar affects everyaspect of our lives and can put individuals and their loved ones under immense stress. What happens now? Treating bipolar There’s no cure for bipolar but you can take medication to help manage the condition. Bipolar affects everyone differently and it can take time to find the right medication or combination of medications for you. Please see our leaflet on medication for more information. Your doctor may also refer you to specialist local NHS mental health services. Many people with bipolar are offered treatment from community mental health teams. These may include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and community psychiatric nurses. Understanding bipolar As well as receiving the right medical support, you need to understand bipolar and how it can affect you and your loved ones. There are many organisations that can help you, including Bipolar UK. Our helpful services are there to support you, your family, and loved ones, and can also help support you in the workplace. You can also manage bipolar by adapting your lifestyle and watching what you eat. Ideally, you should eat a healthy, balanced diet, cut down on caffeine and alcohol, exercise regularly, try to sleep for seven to eight hours each night, avoid stress, and make sure you find healthy ways to relax. Your family, friends and loved ones Bipolar affects every aspect of your life and your family, friends and colleagues can be put under stress. To understand and manage bipolar, you will need support. If you can, speak to family members, your partner or close friends. You could ask them to go with you to see your doctor or to other appointments. Loved ones may also have useful insight into your behaviour, which can be helpful for health professionals. Family members and loved ones should be involved in planning your treatment and care and, unless you don’t want them to be, should be consulted by mental health professionals. Mental health teams should also give your family members clear information about your diagnosis and how they can also help you. Helpful services Your local NHS mental health team will also run some hospital-based services. If your mood swings become extreme, you may have what is called a manic or severe depressive episode. When this happens, you may need to spend some time in hospital or to receive support from community crisis teams at home. The community crisis team offers you treatment at home to avoid, if possible, you having to go to hospital. They may come to your house or offer treatment in a residential service or day centre, depending on what’s available in your local area. Psychiatric hospitals offer a safe space to receive treatment, but when you’re experiencing a manic episode, you might not always be able to recognize when you need this type of treatment, and refuse the treatment that you need to get well. If this happens, you might be sectioned, or admitted to hospital, under the Mental Health Act. This will only happen against your wishes if it’s in your best interests or to protect others. How you can help yourself You can work with your doctor and other mental health professionals who are there to support you. You should make sure you involve your family and loved ones and find out as much as you can about the illness. It’s also helpful to talk with other people who are also affected by bipolar. You can understand how bipolar affects you as an individual by monitoring your moods and learn what can trigger your mood swings too. You should also learn how to manage your mood and mental health through adapting your lifestyle. Bipolar UK also provides a range of services to support anybody affected by bipolar.These include:• Our Support Line• Our eCommunity, a free online forum• Support Groups• Work and Learning Support Download this leaflet as a PDF
Introduction to medical treatment A leaflet introducing the range of medications available to treat bipolar Expand Always seek a doctor's advice when making decisions about medication Medications are the cornerstone of treating bipolar disorder, though there are many other aspects to keeping well. We’ve compiled this short resource guide for information only. There is a range of different medications used to treat bipolar. Many different medications are used to treat bipolar. Which medications are used will depend on the nature and degree of your symptoms and the phase of the illness you are in. For example, when bipolar is associated with other problems such as sleep disturbance additional medication may be needed. Medications commonly used fall into these categories: Mood stabilisation or mood maintenance For use when high (hypomania/mania) For bipolar depression For associated conditions, such as sleep difficulties and anxiety Scientific evidence shows that how effective an individual or a combination of medications is can vary significantly. People can respond differently to the same medication and an individual’s response to a medication can change over time. There are a variety of side effects and different people will experience these in different ways. There are also new medications being developed for bipolar all the time. 1. Medications for mood stabilisation or mood maintenance Your doctor may prescribe one of these for your condition. Each of these medications acts in a different way in the brain to prevent your mood becoming unstable. They may also act to improve your mood if depressed or calm you down if high. Lithium Divalproex Carbamazepine Valproic acid Olanzapine Quetiapine How do they work? Their exact mechanism is not known and they probably work in different ways. They may have a common action to change the level of mood changing chemicals and boost levels of a “brain fertiliser hormone” called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This is boosted particularly in critical areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, or an area known as the limbic system and prefrontal cortex. Blood monitoring Many of the mood stabilisers require some kind of regular blood monitoring to check the medication’s plasma level. Lithium can affect organs such as the kidney, thyroid and liver. Regular blood tests can monitor this and are vital in preventing damage.. Physical health When you start on a mood stabiliser or antipsychotic you may have tests before and then at regular intervals afterwards. Olanzapine and quetiapine can cause changes in your metabolism leading to weight gain, diabetes or raised cholesterol. Initially your weight gain, blood pressure and blood will be tested every three months for the first year and then each year thereafter. It is important that these tests are done to detect changes early and treat them. 2. Medications used when high (hypomania/mania) Antipsychotics Antipsychotics are the most commonly used type of medication to treat a manic episode. They are divided into groups based on their potential side effects. No medication has a more tolerable side effect, but rather they have different side effects. Newer medications are equally effective in treating bipolar but all have different side effects that are not necessarily less troublesome than older ones. Psychiatrists use the wider range of antipsychotics available to suit individual patients. Antipsychotics have been shown to act as mood stabilisers in some cases. Some of the mood stabilisers are effective in treating a manic episode if given at higher doses. The following is a list of common antipsychotics that your psychiatrist may use: Aripiprazole Haloperidol Olanzapine Quetiapine Risperidone Clozapine Other anti-manic medications that are not antipsychotics include clonazepam, lorazepam, lithium and valproate. Other medications Other medications may also be used to prevent or treat mania, but there is less evidence for their effectiveness. These include topiramate, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, ritanserin, ziprasidone and gabapentin. How does bipolar medication work? The exact mechanism is not known. They have a sedative effect on the brain and alter the balance of a brain chemical called dopamine which is known to be abnormal in mania and psychosis. 3. Medications used for bipolar depression The following medications are established treatments for bipolar depression: Lithium Lithium plus antidepressants Lamotrigine Olanzapine plus fluoxetine Quetiapine There are many groups and types of antidepressants, too many to list in completeness here. Those commonly prescribed today are the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and include fluoxetine, paroxetine and citalopram. They work by altering the balance of the brain chemical serotonin in parts of the brain. Antidepressants alone without a mood stabiliser are avoided in bipolar depression as there is a risk of inducing a hypomania or rapid cycling. Other treatments, but with less scientific evidence for effectiveness in bipolar depression, include valproate, carbamazepine, aripiprazole and gabapentin. Treatment resistant bipolar depression This can be disabling and your doctor will have to weigh the risk of inducing a high or rapid cycling in you if using multiple treatments. Your doctor may, by combining medication types, boost their effectiveness. Combinations your doctor may investigate include multiple mood stabilisers, two antidepressants or lithium plus lamotrigine. In severe cases electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be necessary. The law governing the use of ECT is very strict in the UK and it is used infrequently. 4. Medications used for associated conditions Sleeping tablets From time to time people with bipolar suffer from sleep difficulties. Managing your sleep by keeping regular patterns and habits will aid good sleep. This is essential in keeping your moods stable. Avoiding stimulants like coffee in the afternoon and evening is a good example. If you are struggling to sleep it may be wise to take a sleeping tablet with your doctor’s agreement as when you have bipolar you can become more sensitive to sleep loss. Don’t take herbal supplements or other sleep aids without first consulting your doctor. Your doctor may be cautious about giving you too many sleeping tablets too often as they can become addictive. When stopping them you may have difficulty sleeping for a night or two and have vivid dreams. The most commonly used prescription sleeping tablets are zolpidem and zopiclone. Anxiety medications Anxiety problems with bipolar are common. Generalised anxiety, panic attacks and social anxiety are all more common in bipolar than in those without the condition. Anxiety problems are more likely just before, during or after a period of instability of mood. Most of the medications used to treat bipolar may help anxiety. However some of the side effects may make it worse or may seem like anxiety. For example some antipsychotics can induce a restlessness called akathisia (Greek for “can’t sit still”). It is important to report your symptoms in detail to your doctor so he/she may provide the right treatment. There are many psychological and other non-medication treatments for anxiety. Commonly used medications include antidepressants, beta-blockers, valproate and gabapentin. How do they work? They have a varied mechanism but benzodiazepines act like a key on large receptors on the surface of brain cells causing the cells to be less likely to activate, therefore mildly sedating them. 5. Women and Sodium valproate Valproate is a medication used to treat bipolar, other mental health conditions and epilepsy. It’s associated with a risk of birth defects and development disorders in children born to women who have taken Valproate during pregnancy. It is vital that women and girls are aware of the risks of this medication. Women should receive a patient booklet and alert card from their doctor or pharmacist. Nobody should stop taking Valproate without discussing it with their doctor or psychiatrist. You can search for Valproate on our website for more information. There are medications that are safer to take during pregnancy than others. We recommend that you speak with your doctor and midwife to ensure that you are getting the safest treatment for you and your pregnancy. For more information, we have produced a booklet with Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) which is available upon request. We hope you’ve found this leaflet useful. Medication is the cornerstone of treating bipolar, but there are many other aspects to keeping well including diet, physical exercise and complementary therapies. If you look after yourself, you are better equipped to understand bipolar and monitor variations in your mood swings. Check out our Medication and treatment blog for more stories and information Other links UK Psychiatric Pharmacy Group – This site offers a group of frequently asked questions about medications. The Royal College of Psychiatrists – This site offers a range of detailed information leaflets for a variety of mental health issues. The Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College – This site carries a comprehensive list of medications and their side effects plus helpful videos. Please do not hesitate to contact your doctor or mental health professional for specialist advice. Download this information as a PDF
Employee's guide to bipolar A guide to your rights at work including returning to work after illness, agreeing an advance statement and reasonable adjustments. Expand A guide to managing a successful return to work and your rights at work. If you have bipolar and you are finding it hard either to get work, or to do your work when you're there, you're not alone. Download this booklet as a PDF
I feel very isolated and would like to talk with someone who understands Bipolar UK services are often delivered by people affected by bipolar themselves Expand Bipolar UK provides a range of services for individuals affected by bipolar. Whether you have a diagnosis for bipolar, are concerned about the possibility of bipolar, are being affected by a member of your family or a loved one, we are here to assist and support you. Our services include: Local and national online support groups Our Support Line offering information and advice via telephone or email Online eCommunity open 24/7
Family and Friends Helpful links to other websites and organisations that can offer help and support to family, friends and carers. Expand Carers UKHelp and support for people who are looking after other people. Young MindsSupport and information for people caring for a young person with a mental health condition Family Actionprovides specialist mental health and wellbeing services for adults, working with the individual directly affected as well as their children and families. SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by SuicideAims to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend. Cruse Bereavement CareOffer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and to enhance society's care of bereaved people. Home-StartHelps families with young children deal with whatever life throws at them. They support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children. Family LivesRuns a 24 hour Confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222, Live online chat, Email support service, Parentchannel.tv, Forums, Online parenting courses, In your area National Family MediationProvide free family mediation now available for separating couples. Help and support everyone involved. Relate Counselling for adults with relationship difficulties. Carers TrustDedicated support for unpaid carers including young carers through a network of local carer organisations. Last updated: 25 January 2023
Can I drive my car if I have bipolar? You must inform the DVLA of your diagnosis and your doctor will provide information on your fitness to drive which will determine and restrictions on driving Expand If you have bipolar, it may have implications for driving. You must inform the following about any medical condition you have that could affect your ability to drive: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) (Includes the correct form for doing so) Your insurance company. You must tell the DVLA no matter how long you have been driving; this includes during the application for your first licence and renewal of an existing licence. As soon as you become aware of your diagnosis or possible diagnosis of bipolar, you must alert the DVLA You should also be aware of the effects your medication has on your ability to drive. In addition to this, if you have a substance misuse issue, including alcohol, you are required to tell the DVLA about this. Your doctor or psychiatrist may be asked to provide information on your fitness to drive. Contact details for the DVLA More information about bipolar and the DVLA
What are the symptoms of hypomania and mania? Members of the eCommunity have compiled a list of symptoms, based on their experience Expand This list is compiled by members of our eCommunity. In our experience mania and its symptoms can be personal to an individual. Having insight is important so you can recognise a behaviour or reaction that is slightly out of the ordinary. That said, the border between having insight and losing it can be quite fine. The change can happen quite quickly. It can be hard to determine its threshold when you are in an episode. Keeping a mood diary can be a useful tool to be aware of your own triggers and mood patterns. Also having people around you who you trust and who can give you feedback on your mood and behaviour is helpful. Here are some symptoms we recognise: Activity Highly productiveSpinning lots of plates at the same time/multi-taskingSpending or overspending Cognitive/ways of thinking Making connections creativelyWord play and punningSuspicious thoughts moving to paranoiaMaking links with coincidences (a kind of benign paranoia)Religiosity, sometimes with delusions of being a higher being or saviourObsessive thoughtsPlanning schemes or projects that are never realisedOverlap with depressive black and white thinkingSecrecyAudio psychosisParanoia/Feeling like being spied onRacing thoughtsAnxiety about everything and nothingBeing super animatedShort fuse/extreme irritabilityHeightened senses/sensory overload - everything is magnified - brighter colours or sharper hearingTouch can feel tingly. I get goose bump feelings up my arms and on my scalp which can be heightened by music, laughing, other peopleExcited feelings like butterflies in tummy, rushes of energy and sensations through body of being connected to everything around you in a spiritual/energy sharingCan sometimes feel like blending into an object, like you can feel the texture merging with you which although may feel pleasant at first, very quickly becomes unpleasantThings are too bright, too loud, too close, clothes feel scratchy/weird or too tight Behaviour GrandiositySleep loss/no need of sleepMicro managing projectsTalking faster and/or louderNeeding lot of stimulation...YouTube, TV, conversationsOverbooking spare time, leaving no gaps to do nothingMore active on forumsOverspending - linked to secrecy as mentioned aboveDriving with too much confidence/more aggressivelyRepeated loss of spectaclesVery high sex driveRisky behaviourExtra-productive and creative eg songwritingActing out of the ordinary eg being disinhibitedBecoming childlike or a joker/buffoon - doing silly things like being silly with my kids (which they love!)Becoming arrogant with a sharp tongueExtreme anxiety as part of hypomaniaGoing into a catatonic state and becoming unresponsive
Travel Insurance & Travelling abroad Expand Are you thinking of travelling abroad? Similar to other severe illnesses, the only times you might be prohibited from travelling is if you are too ill to travel. If, for example, you're suffering from a manic or depressive episode (or have very recently had an episode) you are unlikely to be well enough to travel abroad. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have issued a guidance leaflet and a checklist that can help travellers better prepare for their journey and get help when abroad. Click here to find out more. Travel Insurance It sometimes can be difficult to purchase travel insurance from High Street insurers if you have a severe mental health condition. Understanding your insurance rights and shopping around to compare quotes can be a really good way of finding the right deal for you or your loved one.
Agreed Reasonable Adjustments Form A form for your to use at work and designed to be used with our Employee and Employer Guides To Bipolar. Expand How to apply for reasonable adjustments at work The form below is designed to be used with our Employee's Guide to Bipolar and our Employer's Guide to Bipolar If you live with bipolar the provisions of the Equality Act (2010) apply and you are entitled to ask for reasonable adjustments at work to support you and help you stay well. Everybody's adjustments will vary but this form and our guides offer a template to help your write out what you would like. Download this form as a PDF
What are the most common symptoms of bipolar depression Members of the Bipolar UK eCommunity share their experiences of depression Expand This list has been compiled by members of the Bipolar UK eCommunity and documents their experiences of the symptoms of bipolar depression: Symptoms of depression Cognitive Executive function issues ie concentration, memory, decision makingForgetfulness/memory problemsForgetting medication or taking it more than the normal daily doseInability to explain your feelings to othersLoss of concentrationSlow or muddled thinkingDifficulties concentrating Feelings/emotions A feeling of emptinessA feeling of hopelessnessAnhedonia (lack of enjoyment)AnxietyApathyFeeling sadFeelings of guilt or that you are responsible for events (usually bad ones)Ideas that you are bad/evilIdeas that you are dislikedImpending sense of gloom that won't shiftIrritability with self and othersLack of motivationLethargyLow self esteemMoaning (serious constant moaning)ParanoiaPsycho-motor agitation, wringing hands, pacing etc.Remembering unpleasant past eventsSuicidal thoughtsTearfulnessThoughts of self-harmKeyed upWishing that the sun won't come up the next day - cannot handle the idea the tomorrow is going to comeCertain give-away statements like "I'm just waiting here in my apartment to die, really" Physical symptoms A feeling of being unwellAgitation, irritability and anger but usually when mixed or psychotic depressionNot wanting to leave houseSudden, unexplained weight lossUnexplained aches and pains/minor ailmentsWeight gain or increased appetite as well. It can go either way Self care Lack of appetiteLack of self-care/self-neglectLack of self-worth Self sabotage Engaging in deliberately self-destructive behaviours Sleep Changes in sleep patternsDisturbed sleep (waking multiple times in the night)Early waking Social Cancelling all upcoming appointments, ignoring responsibilities, shunning friends and family: and feeling guilt about all this at the same timeInability to ask others for helpLack of socialisingNo libidoSocial withdrawal
Medications for mood stabilisation Mood stabilisers commonly used in the treatment of bipolar disorder Expand The following medications are used as mood stabilisers or for mood maintenance. Each acts in a different way in the brain to prevent your mood becoming unstable. They may also act to improve your mood if depressed or calm you down if high. Lithium Carbamazepine Divalproex Valproic acid Olanzapine Quetiapine How do they work? Their exact mechanism is not known and they probably work in different ways. They may have a common action to change the level of mood changing chemicals and boost levels of a “brain fertiliser hormone” called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This is boosted particularly in critical areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, or an area known as the limbic system and prefrontal cortex. Blood Monitoring Many of the mood stabilisers require some kind of regular blood monitoring to check the drug’s plasma level. Lithium can affect organs such as the kidney, thyroid and liver. Regular blood tests can monitor this. Physical health When you start on a mood stabiliser or antipsychotic you may have tests before and then at regular intervals afterwards. Olanzapine and quetiapine can cause changes in your metabolism leading to weight gain, diabetes or raised cholesterol. Initially your weight gain, blood pressure and blood will be tested every three months for the first year and then each year thereafter. It is important that these tests are done to detect changes early so any problems can be picked up and treated.
Should I tell my employer, line manager or work colleagues? Disclosing you bipolar diagnosis to your employer and other work related topics Expand Telling your manager and work colleagues about your illness is a personal decision, but you have to ensure you remain within the law and your contract of employment. If, for example, your employer specifically asks about any illnesses then you should disclose if you have a diagnosis of bipolar. Bipolar is covered by the Equality Act (2010) which allows you to ask for reasonable adjustments in the work place that help support any disadvantage you might be experiencing. If you do not tell your manager, you cannot expect your employer to make reasonable adjustments. Download our guides Bipolar UK produces two employment guides for employees and employers which can be downloaded for free What reasonable adjustments can I ask for? When considering reasonable adjustments to ask for you need to think about what triggers an episode of bipolar in the work place and how you and your company might consider changing that particular situation to avoid an episode. The adjustments need to take away the disadvantage you are facing and be of benefit to you. Our employment guides provide useful advice in this regard.
Is bipolar a disability? Under the Equality Act 2010 bipolar disorder can be considered a disability. This mean that you can request reasonable adjustments at work and have other protections Expand A disability is defined under the Equality Act as: A ‘physical or mental impairment’ which has a ‘substantial and long-term adverse effect’ on an individual’s ‘ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. Bipolar will be considered a disability under the Act if it satisfies this definition, which is sometimes different to common perceptions of disability. Find more information about how the Equality Act can help and support you in our Employees' guide to bipolar and employment
Medications used for bipolar depression Some of the established medications used for bipolar depression Expand The following drugs are established treatments for bipolar depression: Lithium Lithium plus antidepressants Lamotrigine Olanzapine and fluoxetine Quetiapine There are many groups and types of antidepressants, too many to list in completeness here. Those commonly prescribed today are the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and include fluoxetine, paroxetine and citalopram. They work by altering the balance of the brain chemical serotonin in parts of the brain. Antidepressants alone without a mood stabiliser are avoided in bipolar depression as there is a risk of inducing a hypomania or rapid cycling. Other treatments, but with less scientific evidence for effectiveness in bipolar depression, include valproate, carbamazepine, aripiprazole and gabapentin