I've been having a very stressful couple of weeks and I'm afraid that this will turn into a situation that I can't deal with, causing me to have another BP problem. I've had stressful periods since my dx but I think right about now this is becoming the most intense and longest-lasting challenge. Both of my grandfathers are in the hospital, I am facing some career-ending decisions brought about by my medical leave, and I am losing support due to very close friends moving out of state. My recent med trials haven't been going very well and there are some other stresses mixed in there too. I keep beating myself up for having a hard time with this when other people could manage it, which I know isn't good. I'm trying to spend time in self care but lately I am spending that energy ruminating instead. I'm getting scared of having another episode and feeling like a failure again.

So I guess I just wanted to write that out, and to ask: Are there certain ways you take care of yourself only when life seems extremely stressful and you've exhausted everything else? Or do you tend to use the same strategies but maybe with greater intensity as needed? When you feel lke you're doing everything you can but need something more, where do you look for ideas?