Hi Everyone,

WRAP (Well Recovery Action Plan) is divided into a few sections:

1). Developing a Wellness Toolbox is important. When your in a good mood you make a list of everything you like to do that makes you feel good. The idea is to pick one of the things from your list and do it when you feel yourself mood starting to change to bad.

2). Daily Maintenance Plan. This is a list of everything you need to do everyday to stay well. My list includes getting 8 hours of sleep, drinking 8, 8 oz glasses of water, take all prescribed medication etc....

3). Triggers. You list the things that cause your symptoms to peek (being in a large crowd of people, family friction, financial problems etc....).

4). Early Warning Signs. List signs (subtle symptoms that start) that your headed down the wrong road.

These four things have really helped me. My Wellness Toolbox has simple things like
Go to Starbucks, Go to the public library, go have lunch downtown, go the Bible study, listen to some smooth jazz, start a knitting project etc.....

After completing the above sections I'm more in-tune with myself. Before I would lose my cool and would not have a clue I was about to blow my top----it would happen so fast. Now I know what physical signs to be aware of, I also stay in in-sync with my moods, thoughts and body language.

I have a list of things (Daily Maintenance Plan) I complete each day, I also know my triggers and have created a list on ways to avoid or plan around most. Also what I started doing is not waiting until a "Early Warning Sign" then do something from my Wellness Toolbox. I do some of the things from my Wellness Toolbox throughout each week. Every Monday and Friday I go to ceramics class, Tuesday's I go knitting, Wednesday's mid-week church service and Thursday's Bible study. I just found a monthly support group I'm going to checkout.

My weekly list is a lot but I'm so new to having bipolar and I get sick of being inside.
I have more mania than depression but if there are days I want to stay home, I stay.
I just like having many options that feed my soul----positive things to do.

If I can be of help to anyone please let me know.