Quote:
Originally Posted by Polar Pixie
Hello,
I'm new to online forums. I'm just searching for new ideas, suggestions, and strategies.
A little intro about me. I'm 25 years old. Just recently divorced.
I have been diagnosed with Bipolar type 2, ADD, anxiety/panic disorder, PTSD, depression, and disassociation disorder. I know I'm missing one but I just shortened it by being the derailed hot mess express train wreck. Haha.
I had a very difficult abusive childhood, and being an adult has become an interesting mess for sure. I've done about 5 years of therapy now, multiple types of medications as well as doing an adult mental program in hospital.
With medications and therapy I have improved greatly, and still do therapy and any type of learning that I can to keep improving. I continuously rapid cycle, with multiple mixed states. My mind subconsciously races nonstop. I am just looking for some ideas of how to slowly start calming my mind as much as possible. I do yoga, listen to music, dance, workout, until recently had ankle surgery so I'm stuck on my butt, with boredom and for an active person like me, you can imagine that I'm crawling up the walls. I calm and relax the best with things that keep my hands busy. I work with my hands for a living and since I haven't been able to work.
Medications: Lamictal (in process of increasing dosage again) Aderrall, Vistaril, multiple vitamins and supplements
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Hi Pixie,
I wanted to say Hi and also that I empathize with you about having annoying racing thoughts. Are any of your thoughts bad/irritable? Or is it just about random things?
I also noticed you are on adderall. I know that this is a stimulant medication and it can definitely trigger mania. Have you considered trying a non-stimulant ADD med like Starttera? (It may be the only one on the market, im not sure.) Im taking it and it calms my thoughts rather than making them worse.
A way that I calm down (and I hope you have access to one) is laying in a sauna. I give myself a few hours to go to the gym, strip down (or go in a towel if you're modest), lay in the sauna for a few minutes at first, and then add 5 minutes each time. A healthy amount of time can vary, I am a big boned woman, I weigh about 200 lbs and I'm 6' tall. I am able to comfortably stay in there for 30-45 minutes. I reccomend to be sedative free and use a timer or bring a friend so you don't fall asleep/lose track of time. As your body sweats and releases the toxins, you feel refreshed. The shower afterwards is nearly as good as the sauna because you're washing all that sweat and oil/dirt that was in your pores.
If you don't have access to a sauna, I'm sure a hot bath would do the trick
I like saunas particularly because they are quiet and comforting. Sometimes I roll up a towel and place it in the middle of the back of my head to take some pressure off of my neck. It feels wonderful.
Hang in there,
Lisa
