Hi M3, welcome to beyond Blue forums,
wow, what a great question. My first piece of advice is knowing and accepting the road ahead. Life is a roller coaster and those with mental illness are by and large alone on that machine by worse still the roller coaster has higher highs and lower lows so we have to find strategies to deal with those lows and highs to help bring them towards the scope of normality so we can live as normal lives as possible.
Then when the lows come you accept them easier because you've been expecting them.
People. People mostly do not accept mental illness, blame you for your behaviour and stay clear of you voluntarily or by ostracising you. It's cruel and hurtful but we have to learn to deal with it. Hence this forum for example- reading how to deal with things like that. So staying on the fringes of clubs and removing toxic people from your life are two methods. There is a place for you, a place between close social interactions and being a hermit. Find that place where you are comfortable.
Forgive them. For they dont know what they do. It is easier and more comforting to forgive the naive and cruel ones than fight them. Their naivity is their problem but they are likely never to change. We are not in this world to educate those that cant be or dont want to change. Let them go.
Doctors contact. Dont be afraid of regular visits to your doctor. Even if you are ok, one comment from a GP can stick in your mind. Review your medication and dosage. You never know when a new drug hits the GP's office.
Work, find your ideal job. I recommend, for those struggling to work full time without many sick days off, to seek part time work and learn to survive financially on that income. Work is often stressful and stress is not a good thing for us to deal with.
Read many threads here. There are so many that can help us.
