I don't see the benefit of staying in the dull safe zone-because I feel like at least with myself, when I am there, I feel like life is passing me by. And it's very hard for me because I am shy, self-conscious, and anxious much of the time(goes great with my bipolar-haha). I do have chronic disorders and I need to accept that is not going to change but what will it take to function my best in spite of it?
I think we talk a lot about meds and exchange a lot of info about them--which I am deeply grateful for --but I think one part is the non-medical part. People have been telling me for years to do yoga and / or meditation. Which I pooh-poohed. I do exercise when I am feeling less depressed and anxious, but become very reclusive and don't go to the the pool when depression returns.
I have to keep reminding myself that just as a stroke is a medical problem that requires meds, the disabilit and requires and improves with regular OT and PT, Diabetes too usually improves with exercise. Still, it's hard for me to remember pills are not the exclusive answer to depression and anxiety. Boy, I keep needing that reminder. I am grateful for psychcentral because others keep reminding me about sleep, eating right, exercise. It's so easy for every other coping mechanism to go out the window especially when I am depressed. I even have a pattern of stopping seeing my therapist who I have had for 6 yrs when I get depressed. I restart when I am feeling better
I think that's an indicator of how bad depression is --I just don't want to let anyone see me that way. But back in the fall, I resolved this time I would keep going no matter what.
Also, I most definitely need a refresher course in assertiveness training, and CBT which I found helpful at one time. I need those to strengthen myself with others and to combat the negative thinking I am guilty so often of.
Hope I didn't hijack your thread. apologies in advance if I did.
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Bipolar disorder with very long depressions and short hypomanic episodes. I initially love the hypomanic episodes until I realize they inevitably led to terrrible depressions. I take paroxetine, lamotrogine and klonopin.
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