Welcome to Psych Central (PC) chinese monkey; thank you for sharing your story. Sorry to hear you have been suffering from Bipolar

Some people at PC will find a therapist will also help them sort out the roots of their life when things are out of control.

If you are feeling isolated you could become an active member of the Psych Central community with an anonymous name and PLACE (you can change that to UK if you want in your profile) so you can talk freely in a way that will not jeopardize your job and you might feel less isolated and part of a community.

Getting sleep may be the single one thing that keeps me in balance. If you are not sleeping try some forms of relaxation or mindfulness practice. I find that mindfulness (meditation without the religion) and breath awareness help me cope with stress.

Many people find compassionate, caring people here at PC. Some people find the forums give them the compassion and empathy they seek. http://forums.psychcentral.com

Please feel free to private message any of the Community Liaisons by left clicking on the name in blue to the left of their post) for questions or just to share.
What is Loving Self-Care | In Your Own Hands