Traveling with Bipolar Disorder
Mental illness is a huge part of my identity. It’s probably the only part of my identity that I didn’t question during the divorce. I can question my identity as a mother, daughter, sister, wife, or friend. But my mental illness is not subjective. It can’t be questioned or debated.
I have bipolar disorder and ADD (attention deficit disorder.) Keyword: HAVE. I’m not bipolar. It’s something I have. Something I live with. But it’s not who I am. (I’ll discuss this another time.) ADD is generally understood and accepted by society. But bipolar disorder carries a lot of stigma. Many people are shocked when they learn I have this mental illness.
Here’s the deal. Bipolar disorder doesn’t hinder my travel, but it does require extra effort in planning, preparation, and during travel to make sure I remain healthy while I’m away from home. A few things I have to consider:
Controlled medications
My ADD medications are classified as schedule C, which means they are a controlled substance. The prescription can only be filled every 30 days. So I have to time my trips around my prescription refills. My doctor can authorize a refill a few days early, but it’s not something we make a habit of doing.
Medication Laws
On a similar note, laws and restrictions around medication vary from one country to the next. Before I travel somewhere new, I have to check the medication laws in that country. Chances that I’d be searched are low, but I’d rather not take any risks. If my medications are considered illegal, I have to go through the US Embassy and foreign embassies to get a waiver. This could also require extra work on my doctor's part since she has to write a letter and/or written prescription verifying the legitimacy of the medication.
Triggers
There are many things that can trigger a manic or depressive episode, and they vary from one person to the next. Sleep disruptions in particular can cause my mood to shift towards hypomania. This means that when I travel, I have to note the time zone change and adjust my sleep patterns accordingly. The farther away from home I go, the more important it is for me to stay on track. I use a prescription sleep aid if I’ll be six or more time zones behind. Going forward isn’t as much of a problem. In any case, I rarely struggle with jet lag because know how to adjust my schedule.
Packing Medication
Sometimes I have to travel with my bottles of medicine. This part really sucks since I am a light packer. The bottles verify that the medication belongs to me. They also make it easier for a foreign pharmacy to verify they are providing proper substitutes if anything happens that will delay my return trip home.
Behavioral Therapy
My therapist cannot provide services when I am out of the state. This means I have to make sure to deal with any challenges I may be experiencing before I travel. Longer trips mean larger gaps between sessions. I journal when I am away to make sure I don’t forget anything we’ll need to talk about when I get home.
Stress and Anxiety
Excessive stress and anxiety can overwhelm me and shift my mood towards depression. I have to be meticulous about planning if I am going to face situations I'm unfamiliar with. I’ve pretty much got this down to a science and can plan a trip within 48 hours. But I have to be diligent nonetheless.
Depression
The return home can trigger depression for me, especially after family vacations in Costa Rica. We’re not tourists in Costa Rica. We don’t do anything special when we’re there. We just live. It feels like home. Then we come back to a place full of traffic lights and speeding cars and crowds at Target and emails from school—it can be extremely overwhelming for me. I’ve learned how consciously make a mental shift as the trip comes to a close to be fully prepared for the change of environment at home.
My mental illness doesn’t lock me in a box. It just requires LOTS of discipline with a dash of common sense here and there. It has given me a resolve that says if I can stay stable and productive while navigating life's ups and downs, I can conquer the world.
And conquer the world I will!