Bipolar highs and lows do not come with directions. Neither are they consistent for everyone who has the disorder. The mania can last a few minutes, a day, or more. A low can stick around for days, a week, or minutes.

Information is vital. Learning what triggers the ups and downs gives us the upper hand. So let's say we know what caused us to crash. Our mood dropped and we see nothing positive or good in life. And even though we're aware of why our head is in the place it is, we can't get out. Or can we?

Find someone, fast. Find a friend or family member to talk you through it. Don't hold back. Get the crud off your mind. Spit it out, even if the words aren't in any real order and don't make a lot of sense. Say what hurts and what's making you crash.

Then find a word, a sentence, a topic, from their side of the conversation. And twist it around into something silly. Make them laugh. Confuse them at the sudden turn around in your mood and it will change how you feel about yourself. Because you've just found something positive. And that one little moment will lead to more, and within a short time, you've crawled out of the dark pit and into the light again.

Is it easy? Not at first, but after you've worked yourself out of the low several times, you'll find it gets easier. Will it work each time? No, of course not, because not every low is the same. But it can help. And any help is better than nothing.