Bipolar I

@sailormoon97

Hi, sailor! I was actually diagnosed with mixed bipolar disorder back in February of 2016. I was 27 at the time. Unfortunately, it took hitting a crisis point, but it explained a lot. I experience both mania and depression simultaneously, so I basically alternate between baseline and servere agitation.

I cope with self-care, cannabis/cbd, sleep, intentional hydration and nutrition, yoga, meditation, knitting, support from my partner, weekly support groups in my community and writing. I am planning to return to therapy soon and hope to begin my anxiety meds again.

I recently had a surgery that should relax my hormones a bit which should also help. How are you coping with bipolar disorder?

Thanks for being here!

@sailormoon97

Hello Sailormoon! I was diagnosed in Oct 2022 so very resent. I have had these behavors my whole life but I learned to mask these because I am able to hold a good job and I was afraid of mental health professionals because of my Mom's mental illness history and a few bad experiences in the 80s-90s. I am trying to trust my team (Therapist and Nurse Prac). Today, I am going to talk to them about increasing one of my medications because I haven't been sleeping much and very OCD (sorting things in a compulsive way for hours without breaks until I completely breakdown crying) ... What is helping me most is reading a book called "Peaceful Living". I am trying to learn to express myself to other people without is coming out wierd or if it does come out weird then I need to not get "stuck" in feeling SUPER BAD about it and move on .... For now I need to be gentel with myself and honest about what is going on with me and not feeling ashamed of having Bipolar. Thanks for this post!

@sailormoon97

Hi! I was diagnosed in 2000. I had struggled for years but didn't realize I had a mental illness. Someone gave me book to read about bipolar disorder and it was then that I realized I needed to see a psychiatrist. After awhile in treatment I learned I was also a trauma caused multiple personality disorder. (DID)

Coping for me is not as easy to do because of the other disorder but I keep trying.

A good schedule and a lot of self care. I also like to focus on spending time with my grandkids and learning new things (free online classes) to keep my mind functioning in more positive areas. I have added a lot of things like proper nutrition, exercise and meditation to my schedule. The daily structure of scheduled activities seems to help along with a set bed and wake up time.

The most helpful thing for me to cope was learning to remember that I have mental issues and learning that I have to make my decisions with that in mind. I can't do things the same way that others do because it throws me off balance and begin spiraling me into another episode.