Bipolar and College

@iowahawkeyefan

Hi, there I don't have Bipolar, so I hope it is okay that I am replying to you. It is good that you got a diagnosis. I hope that you have been able to find a proper treatment that works for you. I know it has been a month since you posted but I am hoping that you come back and let us know how you have been coping with your bipolar and college. I know that making sure you have a therapist you can talk to is always a good idea. What kind of support systems does your college have in place for its students? Let us know what else we can as a community do for you.

Hello!

I had undiagnosed bipolar in college and really struggled as a result. It would have really helped me if I had

-maintained regular sleeping habits (lack of sleep can trigger mania)

-not given into peer pressure when it came to going out and drinking (have fun but moderation is the key)

-checked in regularly with a college counselor, just to have a professional who knew my condition keeping an eye on me would have been a great help

-been medicated and stayed on my medication

-seen a psychiatrist

-one or two friends you can trust with your diagnosis who will have your back and be honest with you if they are concerned, even if this is a long distance friendship (I actually had some really good friendships in college which made all the difference, even though no one knew exactly what was going on with me)

-communicated better with my parents about what was going on (our relationship got very strained which made it harder for them to understand how sick I was and for me to get help)

-used a mood tracker app to record my highs and lows

Exercising and eating right never goes amiss either but we all know that. College can be such a fun but simultaneously overwhelming time and it s easy to get caught up or lost in it. It s an adjustment for everyone and you have an illness to manage on top of that. Take care of yourself day to day and be honest with yourself about where you re moods are at and how it s impacting your functioning. It s a balancing act and it will take a bit of work but it s definitely worth it and you can have a great college experience. I hope something in there helps!

Best of luck and have a good year!

Can you update how you are doing and what has helped? Also can you advise if telling a trusted friend on campus was helpful or hurtful? My daughter is bipolar and goes to college in the fall. I worry about her there. I want to provide her the tools to succeed