Dear BlueOctober,

One thing that I would like to mention is that shift work and bipolar disorder are a ghastly combination. My pdoc said I could not ever work night shift again, without risking a relapse. Is there any way that you could change shifts? I noticed that my moods started becoming more even and predictable when I stopped working nights.

I think it's great that you are going to see a new T! My recovery really began when I started working with my current T. I see her as my mentor which means that I have deep respect and trust in her methodologies.

Our sessions have direction; that is, they are building blocks towards one principal goal, that being Wellness. I have weekly "homework" that acts as a catalyst toward finding creative ways to develop, monitor, and quantify my perceptions of wellness and recovery. I am no longer in the place I was before which was "I have bipolar disorder, I have no mood stability, I have lost all my strengths and qualities, I don't know how to cope with life's curve balls".

Today, it's about eating nutritiously (I am trying), getting sufficient sleep (some issues here related to menopause), monitoring my physical health, taking my meds as directed, doing something for others, and finding out what my passion in life is.

One last thing that has saved my butt when I became irritable at work; don't ever say anything to anyone that you wouldn't want printed on the front of the LA Times. I would put on one of my best (fake) smiles and try to keep some distance between myself and whoever was my target for the evening. Many Hugs, Laurie