Hi KTP, glad you got here
Anxiety is a serious illness and a link below explains how it took me 22 years to overcome 95% of it but its worth the wait. Depression, often a result of anxiety or illnesses like Bipolar is harder to, in actual fact near impossible to eradicate. So therefore we are better off managing the illness and developing a level of acceptance. So I'll deal with those now based on my lived experience.
I'm 70yo and was diagnosed with bipolar2 in 2009. The swings of depression and mania followed me all my life and it was my new wife at the time that led me to another diagnosis other than ADHD. Bipolar? mmm, well I was shattered then went about analysing the illness. Much reading followed and reading was not a interest I ever had due to loss of focus where the ADHD came about. But also I knew I had to produce some self help actions.
- Acceptance. If we imagine a circle and all 'normal' behaviours is within that circle we should try to identify what behaviours we have that is beyond that boundary and try to accept them or change them. Social act for example, if we are really vocal we could say "well thats personality" and dismiss it or we can say "wait a minute, maybe I can tone down a little"? Once you've made adjustments anyone still criticising you isnt caring for your efforts so you need to address that with equal and opposite force (newtons law) for self preservation.
- Motivation. No matter what motivation during a depressive episode wont work. You need to wait until your mind is coming out of that state before you can get results
- Sleep. Highly underrated a good sleep will result in a better day the next day.
- Limitations. Learn your limits. It might mean you cant work again or socialise like others. Seek your inner self and that could mean spiritually.
- Toxic people. Identify them and rid them from your life if they clash with your stability.
- Preferable living situation. Being a hermit is likely a better form of living for bipolar.
- Guilt. In another link below I'll address that and its important to your friends situation.
That's a few. In the links you only need to read the first page of each that I've written. They are short and designed for max impact. Discuss them once read and absorbed.
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it/td-p/183873
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/guilt-the-tormentor/td-p/321604
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/worry-worry-worry/td-p/87808
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/acceptance-is-this-our-biggest-challenge/td-p/14769...
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/depression/depression-and-the-timing-of-motivation/td-p/149708
Also google- Prem Rawat Maharaji youtube all is good. Also seek out many of his other videos like - sunset, the perfect instrument, appreciate.
I hope this helps. Cheers for now
TonyWK
