Maintaining mental health 維護精神衛生

A major takeaway from my own psychiatric reading this week is this: patients of bipolar disorder have to accept their bipolar condition, and they have to accept medication as part of the daily routine for the rest of their life.

In other words, just as diabetes patients have to receive insulin injection to control blood sugar level, bipolar disorder patients have to take medicine regularly to control the situation. Some refused to take medicine when they feel better and they are likely to see a relapse of bipolar condition.

Which reminds me of the need for us to always maintain mental health. If a condition of poor appetite and sleep pattern as well as gloomy mood drags on for days, it already is a sign that you must do something to stop your emotional health from deteriorating.

Just as bipolar disorder and diabetes patients need to always control their condition, good mental health needs our daily care and upkeep.

本週抽空讀了精神學科書籍，學得了一個重點：躁鬱症病人必須接受自己的精神狀況，同時接受藥物治療為餘生的一部份。

簡單來說，糖尿病病人必須接受長期注射胰島素控制血糖，躁鬱症病人必須接受自己一定要定時吃藥以控制精神狀況。有些人在自己狀態良好的時候拒絕服藥，躁鬱症之後就可能再度復發。

這幾點讓我想起我們必須時時維護精神衛生。若胃口與睡眠不佳，心情低落的情況持續好幾天，我們大概就必須採取行動，以免精神狀況繼續惡化。

如同躁鬱症和糖尿病人士必須時時控制健康狀況，我們亦需要每天照顧、維持精神衛生。