Hi Lauru,

I have dysphoric mania and mixed episodes quite a lot. It is a very dangerou time, I agree. I am much more likely to SI, and my suicidal thoughts are most prevelant. This is when I have my episodes. It's like an erruption. I try to think of bipolar as the weather systems inside my head. Sometimes it's sunny. Sometimes it's raining and drizzling. Sometimes it's a tornado. And I think of suicidal thoughts as lightning. sometimes they are just the flashing in the sky far away. But sometimes they are right there coming in to strike. They are temporary, but they can be deadly.

The first tip I have is not to be alone. Learn to be aware of when you think you're close to an episode and just have someone there with you. I find it doesn't matter if they know where I'm at or not. Just having someone around is a big help. My family members often serve as a buffer without even knowing it. I try not to have any serious conversations. This is not a time to discuss problems or concerns. Its best to have them there doing something else like watching tv. It's kind of like being under observation without actually being under observation.

I try to focus on other things. Trivial things. For example, I'll watch tv. Not the news or anything dramatic. Sitcoms work wonders for this, especially ones with a laugh track. This doesn't mean I'm laughing or paying much attention or having fun, but it does help bring a focus point off of myself. This is actually a little trick I learned away back in high school, and it always works out for me.

Because my mind is racing I'll also do something else at the same time. Again, I try to make it something trivial. For example, I look at humorous pictures, like those cute cat and dog pics with funny captions.

Another thing that helps me with the dysphoric racing thoughts are games like Tetris, or other match 3 games like Jewel Quest. Games that have very specific little goals. I love match 3 games. I am horribly unproductive during these periods, but this gives me something to fidget with. I now even carry match 3 games with me everywhere I go with my phone. I can play a match 3 game, watch t.v., and look at funny picturtes at the same time.

Things I avoid are looking at Facebook, watching or reading the news, looking at old photo albums or year books, watching sad or dramatic shows and movies, or go on any forums I know are argumentative.



Take care of yourself. You will get through this. You deserve to get through it.