What Coping Skills have helped you and how? Please Post for others to learn from.

 

   I was thinking how many amazing people are on here fighting the good fight day after day. So i was thinking what have you found that has helped you. Tricks or things to avoid that make it easier on you to be BP.

   For me first of all is ACCEPTANCE:  I have accepted that i am this way, fair or not, and i have to figure out a way to live with this since i can't "RETURN" this gift.

   Avoiding STRESS. Some you can, some you can't. But stuff like personnel relationships is an area where i FORGIVE alot. Some may call that weak, i simply look at it as a defence mechanism so i can continue to live and grow and learn. My father taught this lesson to me because he died so bitter at so many people. I vowed years ago to not let it stick to me like it stuck to him. ANd in that i have been very successful, i just let it flow off my back like a duck.

   I take me meds each and every day. Yes there are side effects that really suck. (Right now it is sexual side effects, YYYYYYAAAAAYYYYY    But side effects aside, the meds allow me a measure of peace i would otherwise not have.

   FORGIVNESS: Again, again and again. I FOrgive myself and others. I try to learn from my mistakes, even the really bad ones. But in the end i forgive myself and gear up and try my best to live my life well another day. I carry the mistakes as lessons, but i dont carry the guilt.

    Ok, i've prattled on long enough. I cant wait to hear what you all have to say.

   Bill

Hi all, long time caregiver here (not much longer, long story) and I just wanted to weigh in.

I've spent the past 10 years reading about the disorder. I know I can never really understand, but there's a common thread about coping skills I'd love to share with you. Now, I know there are some/many who can't manage all four for a variety of reasons, but doing what you can is good.

There are four things, outside of meds, that seem to universally help. As with the disorder itself, people see different levels of relief...and I'm sure some see none. On with it I guess...

Counseling - Talk counseling. Going whether you feel great and don't want to think about it, or when you just can't get out of bed.
Diet - There's an old computer acronym 'GIGO', stands for "Garbage In Garbage Out".
Exercise - Don't have to go all Lance Armstrong, but any is good.
Schedule - Regular sleep schedule (yes, weekends too I'm afraid).

I'm a left-brained individual and love data and trends. What the data says is that the above list usually (in tandem with meds of course) offers help to those with bipolar disorder. Of course everyone will have days that it goes to pot, just part of the game. There's also obviously a chance it helps you much less than the next person...but...when meds alone aren't enough...

Sorry if this sounds preachy or anything, I'm kind of in mourning for my lost marriage. Mods you can delete it if this doesn't come across as helpful...I know it's a whole lot easier to say than do.

Post Edited (Jondoe) : 7/26/2010 11:16:15 AM (GMT-6)