Taming Summer Mania by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
The summer months are associated with fun and happiness, because what comes with them is warmth, sunshine, and longer days. Everyone seems to be out and about. Families, students on break from school, just about anyone may have the desire to go outside and be more active. It’s the time of year that’s viewed as fun and exciting.
So, what’s the harm?
For individuals living with bipolar disorder, changes in weather can have a big impact. As stated above, nearly anyone will have increased energy and desire to go out and have fun, but individuals living with bipolar disorder are hypersensitive to this major change in climate. What would make nearly anyone have the desire to negate restfulness for the sake of taking part in one of the many fun events on the long summer days would lead those living with bipolar disorder to do so, and then find themselves in a manic episode.
What can be done about it?
What it comes down to is finding a balance and maintaining your daily routine. You can go out and enjoy the weather. You can get together with friends and family.
Here are some tips:
Sleep. Adhere to the clock, not the sun. In the summer months the sun can set around 8:00 PM, so it can be easy for the time to get away from you. Think about the time you usually go to bed and stick to that. One way our body will naturally get ready for sleep is darkness, so having heavy curtains on your windows can be one way to achieve this. Interested in other helpful tips for sleep? Check out my video Tips For Improving Sleep
Plan your exits from events and get-togethers. It can be easy to lose track of time and get caught up in the fun of the bonfire gathering at the beach, walking around the county fair, or having long conversations with friends at the summer reunion. If you stay up late at night, this will take away from your sleep. Prior to going out, think of a time you will leave so you can go to bed at your usual time, and commit to it.
Maintain your eating habits. This includes eating a balanced diet and eating regularly. We don’t often think of diet when it comes to mental health, and diet doesn’t prevent or eliminate a mental health diagnosis, it’s just one of the things that is important when taking care of yourself. And taking care of yourself is a huge component in managing mental health.
Incorporate relaxing activities into your weekly routine. It’s important to make sure the fun, energizing activities and outings are balanced with an activity that will help your mind and body rest and reset. This can include yoga, mindfulness apps, deep breathing, or listening to soothing music. My personal favorite is lofi hip hop music on YouTube; these videos play music while showing soothing animation, such as a person sitting a desk journaling next to their cat that’s perched on the window watching raindrops fall from the sky.
Slow down. You can do the tasks you need to, but make sure you’re not moving fast. Do just one task at time. One example is folding laundry. As you’re folding the laundry, only focus on the laundry: This includes not just the movements involved, but also your mind. Try to not think about anything else in that moment. Bonus points if you do this without the television playing, or if you have something playing, it could be the soothing music.
You don’t have to do this alone. I specialize in treating bipolar disorder. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a phone consult.
My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I work with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.
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