but not as new to bipolar. I was diagnosed last summer, but still having trouble with coping. This past weekend was a disaster, I went into a total depressed spiral, all because of family issues that had nothing to do with me. My stepmother overdosed on Ambien and Xanax and dad called me in a panic. My daughter called the next day freaking out - she couldn't feel her hands or toes and didn't know where she was. I think she was having alcohol poisening. To top this all off, we are in the midst of moving and I was having to handle all the packing, arrangements to get utilities moved etc.

I ended up heading for the bottle (alcohol) to deal with it all, which I know is the worst thing I could do because it just makes me more depressed. But at the time, I just wanted to escape. I ended up missing 3 days of work and I feel so guilty now I can't stand it. My husband has no idea I missed work and I don't know how to tell him.

I'm still so stressed my body is reacting, making me nauseated when I eat, I'm tired, my allergies are kicking up and I think I'm having a reaction to the Lamictil I take - I get horrible redness and itching all over my body.

Any advice on how you deal with stress??