What strategies or things do you employ during your bipolar episodes - both manic and depressive

[insertaname]

Hi everyone,

Today I'm struggling to find something to pre-occupy me. Legally I'm supposed to have a carer watch over me due to my strong medications. I have a lot of interests but today it feels like one of those days where you start something and then move on and do something else.

When I'm manic (based on memory)

• Impulse buy
• Eat
• Act like I'm high on drugs
• Talk to people of the opposite sex
• Sex on the brain
• Speak at a million miles per hour
• Demand a skipping rope
• the tv and music are too stimulating and so is watching the road as a front passeger,

Based on depression:

• I was rather manic and deranged
• I was singing sad songs
• I was wanting to stay away from a girl called M... she was another person with bipolar going with ECT. She was always sorta in my face.

Strategies:

Manic: art, music (567 songs and still counting), comics, knitting, cleaning (I'm a messy person) but I really did tidy up the house in just a few days my SO was shocked... usually when I clean I make a mess, walk the dog if i can stay calm

Depressed: I do as above but i dont feel like doing it. I don't have any motivation or energy. I wake up in a house that's empty. Well I'm also here on forums wanting to find someone or people who can relate to this. There are days where I question who I am, is it me or not me and question whether I said the wrong thing?

This is my first time being alone on recovery. So I've been in psych wards twice. And my last two episodes were voluntary and hypo... my meds are high risk the psych said if i need a higher dosage i'd have to be hospitalised.

[Alana_H]

Hi J,

I checked out a couple of videos from bipolar warrior, it's a great video/resource so thank you, I'll keep tuned into it. I think I mainly do podcasts because I drive a lot (I live in the country and study in the city), but video's are great too, you get a lot from seeing the person. Plus it also linked me in to a Tedtalk from a personal living with Bipolar, do you like Tedtalks?

I think you're right about relationships before "fixing", it's defiantly how I'd like to approach my work(/life), it's a tricky thing to do online, especially as I don't go on social media either.

Also, sometimes I think a small tribe is better than a big tribe, if you have the right people in them. It sounds like the psychiatrists you've really follow the medical model, have you had some any that have approached it better?

I think I will get back to being creative, although I really want to learn Japanese as well, I've downloaded Duolingo to start learning. Also, I just read the first Assassins class last month (from the library)! It was great!

I suppose I just want to ask two things, how you are now and how did your new attempt at block calendars go? But feel free not to answer of course.

Alana_H

[insertaname]

Hi Alana_H
In my last post I said I’d stop posting because I felt lonelier, I would get the same people and about the same number of response as well for each thread. There’s another forum I go to which is more interactive and in real-time but I wont tell you – it’s a secret.
Thanks for taking the time to look up videos from bipolar warrior – although I don’t follow him or watch him – he’s the best spokesperson for understanding what bipolar entails. I have not learnt how to drive for many reasons – we don’t have to get into it. I find that TedTalks are either a hit or miss or fail to address what the whole topic was all about. I’ve watched a few – but I sort of dislike them.
but there was one video not related to TedTalks that spoke about Green Building Evolution through dance and his background it was by WorldGreenBuildingCouncil I found it cool he danced rather than spoke.
There are pros and cons to small “tribes” as you call it. It makes everything that happens, is done, and is said amplified… which could lead to blow ups. My psychiatrist is actually following with me. So he’s not being textbook with me he’s working with, so no it’s quite a medical model because IT FAILED the first, and second and third time. My body takes tablets quite easily.
I don’t understand your question and it seems you’re misinformed of the medical model. It’s just standard procedure. I’ve had really good psychiatrists, but they are only there for three weeks… that’s how it works here, I cannot afford personal psychiatrist.
The textbook psychiatrists I avoid at all costs – they don’t seem to have any empathy, or understanding, or even imagination of what the patient is going through. They ask clinical questions in different ways to see if the response will change… I don’t like those ones at all they have huge egos.
I like to read fantasy books – but since doing uni I only read for that, or for hobbies like knitting and fish keeping. I have a lot of interests, but it doesn’t mean I keep up with them… I’m sort of a black and white thinking person: do it or don’t. Same with thinking which yes is unhelpful in some instances, but I don’t want to procrastinate either, thus that thinking,
That’s great that you’re enjoying reading.
I am in good place: have had meds reduced by 2-3 but not looking forward to being a pin cushion for blood test.
I failed again… but I will make a modified shelf for it or something… still figuring that out. All the boxes look great.
How about you?
J

[Alana_H]

Hi J,

Thanks for the reply. It is hard that things aren't on real time here, I suppose because the forums are so sensitive.

That tedtalk sounds great, I'll look it up, but I definitely understand what you mean about hit and miss, I just kind of pick out what I'm interested in now.

I suppose my question about the medical model was what you answered really, just how often they apply a very procedural generic way physical of dealing with mental health issues, when a mental health is much more complex. It must be hard cycling different psychiatrists, especially when you find one you don't mind.

I'm glad your making progress on your calendars, even if some don't turn out. I'm not great at sticking to hobbies, mainly I just play with my dog. Are you doing fishing at the moment? I've always wanted to give that a go as I love to eat fish.

I'm glad your in a good place at the moment and good luck with that blood test (I'm not great with needles).

Alana_H

[white knight]

Hi insertaname

I hope you are getting value out of this forum. This forum mostly has non medical professionals as responders. Community champions for example, like myself, have a mental illness but have experience enough and ability enough to guide posters like yourself to the best of our ability. That is why there will be pockets of - lack of knowledge or expertise because we aren't trained like psychiatrists or any other professional.

Having said that, I've read through your posts above to try to analyze your immediate needs and it appears that loneliness and things to occupy your overactive mind is your priority.

At the height of my hypomania I used to have a very large jigsaw in a spare room. When I didn't want to go outside I'd go and do say 20 pieces of the jigsaw. Then I'd do a crossword but I was no good at Sudoku. My wife buys old glass plates and bowls from OP shops and paint by numbers from ebay. She'll paint the paintings then with paint left over she will paint the underside of the bowls. That's another idea.

Everyone has different abilities but I thank you for being so patient in trying to find such activities. You are special in your own way especially how you have reached out for help. We might not be able to help but we do try. Many readers here read your posts and learn how to help themselves, so well done, it all helps.

TonyWK

[insertaname]

Hi

White Knight thank you for response.

I am not really an overactive thinker at this point of time. Despite there being Community Champions around - this forum isn't for me. What I am looking for and what I am getting from here aren't interlinking unfortunately.

Thanks for your suggestions but today I don't feel like doing anything - even responding to this is just too hard,

Kind Regards

Jennifer