Hi

When I was diagnosed w BP2 this month, my husband suggested that I get a journal. Good idea- and I did. It sat day after day. I wanted to write in it but didn't know how or what.

A few days ago, I got a daily email from a site called Moodscope. (I hope it's ok to mention another website here.). I signed up for the daily email months ago when I thought I was "merely" fighting depression. Some days the email is helpful, other days not as much. It's nice, though .

The topic a few days ago was writing your own self help book. I was intrigued. Who knows us better than ourselves? Who do we need to help the most? Writing just for myself with no rules appealed to me. I didn't need to fill every page, write every day, or meet anyone's needs but mine.

So I started. I write things down that I discover. One suggested issue was To Do lists, which I make constantly and pretty much hate. I wrote to myself that I don't like this habit because it gets me off the hook with things I don't want to do. They get carried over, list after list, and I get a pass on not doing them because I am addressing them--- they're on the list!!

Another issue was sleep. I like sleep but it hides from me and seems to sneak out the back door or an open window when I want it. I love to stay awake late, sleep late, and go with my body's rhythm. Unfortunately I can't do my job with that schedule. Now that my kids are grown I can sleep a little later but nothing like I want. I created a sleep routine and schedule in my book. I got resources- a bunch of soft spa type socks when I read that people often wake up after a few hours sleep when their body temp drops. I'm off work now and worried about money but found them on clearance for $1.20 a pair. I got 7 pair. I found a sleep app for my phone called sleep cycle. I think it was $1.00. I never pay for apps but this is important. I can set an alarm time, and it will measure my sleep cycle and wake me up when I'm closest to being awake in the cycle within 30 minutes of my alarm. It also measures sleep quality -keeps stats. I then researched the TV we have in the bedroom. I like to watch TVat night and sometimes fall asleep with it on, which disrupts my sleep. I found the tv has a sleep timer and now set it to go off just in case I fall asleep. Whiles routine has me unplugging all technology an hour before bedtime, at least if I fall asleep early it will stop itself.

Those are my two examples so far in my personal self help book. I plan on keeping adding to it so I can refer back when I am stuck, and so I can see that I really can work on the impact this condition has on me.

I'm sharing in case it can help someone else. You've all helped me so much and I'm very thankful.