Stability in Bipolar Disorder Requires Routine: forum discussion!
Hello everyone!
Today I read an interesting article about stability, let's talk about it together, would you? 
I am going to ask you some questions 
and I will be glad to hear from you!
Bipolar disorder, by its very nature, is not routine. People become manic unexpectedly and people get depressed unexpectedly. And during depression or mania, people become even more erratic in all areas of their lives.
So if bipolar disorder exists outside of a routine, what would happen if routine were applied to bipolar disorder?
Bipolar Disorder Requires Routines, a Strict Rhythm
Your average person has a pretty variable rhythm. People get less sleep on weekdays, go out to a party now and then, not getting to sleep until 2AM, sleep in on weekends, sometimes skip breakfast, drink more and less coffee, work more or less hours and exercise at different times during the day. This is not generally a big deal for people. Thats just part of life.
The problem is that for a bipolar, its a very detrimental part of life.
Many of bipolars, not to mention the people around them, have noticed that breaks in rhythm result in bipolar episodes. Most noticeable is changes in sleep, life changes and stress leading to episodes. Studies have borne out this observation. A change in life routine does, in fact, often precede an episode like hypomania or mania.
What Does Routine Mean in Bipolar Disorder?
It seems like the single most important part of attaining and maintaining any sort of stability is keeping a routine. It is highly inconvenient, but nothing causes problems more than varying from it.
Here are some of the factors that should be controlled:
1. Sleep – go to get at the same time every night and get up at the same time every day – this is most important thing you can do for yourself. Even staying up late one night can increase the likelihood of an episode.
2, Medications must be taken at exactly the same time every day in order to keep a steady blood-level of medication (it goes without saying, keep all doctor's appointments).
3. Control stress – yup, everybody gets stressed. The important part is trying to avoid stress, lessen it and find ways to deal with it when it comes.
4. Put effort into maintaining social relationships whenever possible.
5. Get sunlight everyday – get a sunlamp if outdoor sun isnt possible (ask your doctor if it is good for you because they know if you may have any skin condition that would not match with it)
6. Work consistent hours – shift-work should be avoided.
7. Exercise every day – this can just be a 15 minute walk, honestly, even that can help.
8. Eat a balanced diet – if you don't fuel your brain, it's natural that it would be upset
9. Create a daily routine where as many pieces of your day as possible happen at the same time every day.
You may find other factors that are important for you: what could they be?
What is the main difficulty when you try to have a routine?
Can you name some successful habits you are having that helped building your daily routine?
(**source Healthy Place for your mental Health)
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@BeyondTheInvisible
As mentioned sleep and stress are the biggest ones for me. Another one that has poked it's head now and then, is blood sugar. I've usually got a 5.2 to 5.4, right in the middle of normal, but if I don't eat something for lunch hypoglycemia rears it's head... weak, hands shaking, mild headache... and irritable. Doesn't matter if it's a cheeseburger, a 6" sub, dry ribs, or a pita wrap... I need both carbs and protein for lunch. I usually skip breakfast, and supper is usually smaller and later (by north american standards)... but lunch is required. Otherwise I'm apt to pull into a gas station by 2pm and get a juice and some bagged candy to get my sugar up a bit. Easy to control, but makes me more likely to snap at people for little things if missed.
The biggest issue when I have a routine going, is making last minute changes. I'm planning on eating supper around a given time, I'm planning on heading out to the gym at a given time (and a snack when I get home), I'm planning on doing laundry at a given time, I'm planning on having ashower at a given time... little things, right? ;) So when I have to go get groceries because something I need for supper was used on me, or someone needs something done when I'm about to run to the gym, or someone else has thier shit in the washing machine and not moving it over... never mind when someone changes the plans for the night or weekend...
The biggest habit for me, which also helps with my brain fog, is putting everything in my schedule. For example my month of sept has 19 events in it. Oct has 15 so far. I don't schedule in my gym time, or my standing sunday breakfast... I'm usually planning my time 2-3 weeks out. It's been a habit for a long time now. Usually I've got a whiteboard going as well as my phone. I've got a notepad on my laptop's background (rainmeter) with my next 3 medical appointments and notes for 5 others to be booked in, which also allows a history in the same app. My last 3 employers actually looked at your outlook calendar for scheduling in meetings (and occassionally double book), so having the work day filled in with any known events as soon as you knew about them helped everyone.
@Phoenix84
Hi Phoenix! Hope you're fine!
Wow you are really well organized, probably that could inspire someone else to try if such organization could help them as well.
thanks for sharing and happy Friday!!
@BeyondTheInvisible
Spent 6 years in management level work, and have been self employed for the last 5 years (more or less). Let's just say I know my way around a calendar and spreadsheet ;)
The accountant was shocked when I handed over 5 years worth of numbers on spreadsheets for my bankruptcy. Including my budget balanced against my actual... apparently she was surprised that I was direct linking values off different sheets and using complex formulas.
@Phoenix84
* calls Phoenix to fix things at home * LOL! 
Nice, really! That's something you can apply to different areas of your life, well done! 
Avoiding stress in my daily routine to not end up in an episode , second only by lack of sleep (or too much.) The problem im having now is that i have two family members that helped raise me in the nursing home and half the time they dont recognize me. What are some major stress coping skills for incidences that cant be avoided?
Typically i do ok around 3~ weeks out of the month. Now that number has dropped to 0 over the last two months and its severely effecting my routine to keep me stable. Not trying to over share I'm newly diagnosed and i havent learned too many coping skills just yet.
@heretohelpany1
Hi there, thanks for sharing!
I see it positive tat you are so well aware of what happens to you, thumbs up for that!
You are also trying your best to find solutions and your will is all you need to cope with things and to find ways to feel better, without it (your will) then you could not go far so I would congratulate you for trying!
Probably there can be also moment in whic your will becomes weak but I am sure you can holding on it and keep on going!
Now i would be glad if @JamieSclafaniLMSW could reply to you in order to have some tips. She is our therapist liason with the community so here you are not alone! Look at her threads too, click HERE
If you feel to please join disccussions in Bipolar room as well so that you can see if sharing with members ad hearing from them can help you as well.
Best wishes!
@BeyondTheInvisible I find a routine helps me in many ways no matter what the reason. Thanks for sharing this.
@soulsings
Good to know that it helps you!
Somehow my current job seems routinary but has kept me steady for 5 years. Before it i used to work in advertising and timing was awful. So my mood swinged a lot of times but i had the job done.
I've found routines can be difficult but they're very rewarding. Don't be afraid to adjust your routines to more comfortable ones.
Ive noticed this effects me immemsely and my body natrually wants me to have a sleep schedule i use to have a pattern of always going to bed at a certain time laying in bed watching a certain show until i fell asleep then id wake uo at 3 or 4 am and smoke and stay awake until 7 and fall asleep again. Nowadays im with a partner with insomnia and nightmares so everynight is different during the day i have no hobbies and ive been suffering immensly with bpd episodes to the point where my partner is noticing exaclty when things are manic (i am not properly diagnosed, im on anti psychotics and also prescribed to manic depressive medication that i dont take out of fear) reading this article almost made me choke up because im understanding now why this manic behaviour has become worse ive been lacking stability in routines for a very long time!
@quietSailboat6469
Hello there, sorry for the challenging moment you have been facing.
It's good if you have been able to detect what helps you the most.
Hope since then, things have improved!
Cheers 
@quietSailboat6469
I know the feeling. We sleep apart most of the time now, and it is probably better for both of us, but it is pretty saddening. I hate the mood exacerbations and they got so bad.
I think I'm going to try this. Thank you for the tips and the read
@Goldcherry2113
Hello @goldcherry2113!
Best wishes with it, I really hope it can help you.
Good you are doing your best to find the best path, keep on going!
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I work nights from home, and my life has been devoid of routine. I want to create a routine, but whenever I try I do too much at once and then my life slips back into disarray. I'm trying to figure out where to start and how build a more structured life. Thank you for sharing!
@Cyhyreath
Hi @Cyhyreath, you are trying your best and that's really positive.
To have many things to adjust into a routine can be challenging.
What about small steps and a list of priorities?
Important is that it does not become something stressful.
Really wish you to find the right path to feel better while you manage with daily life's tasks.
Cheers!
@LoveMyRotty thank you! I really like that idea. I am going to try it out. :) Thanks for helping me find some direction and cut through the overwhelming nature of self improvement.
@Cyhyreath
You are very welcome!
Feel free to post again to update me about how things are going on!