Hello MDDBPDPTSD,

I have been where you are now so many times I cannot count and I honestly don't know the answer to your question. I wish I had an answer! Truth is, you can try all the skills in the world and still end up rock bottom...

Sometimes the storm is inevitable. When things flip over on me it happens so very fast and sometimes there is really nothing I can do to prevent it.

Resisting a storm is very hard and almost always a losing battle. All that needless frustration and anger when one can simple accept the storm for what it is and stop resisting. It is FAR more effective to prepare for the storm so that when it hits, you will have a solid foundation. The old therapeutic mantra, "Ride the Wave," certainly comes in handy when you feel the storm coming. Good news is you know yourself better than anyone and you have already made it through the storm. You already know you can do it again.

Suffering is a part of the human condition. Yes, we may have more intense and deeper struggles than other humans without our afflictions, (I'm assuming you have MDD, BPD and PTSD because of your name) but we need to remember that it is OKAY to be sad and depressed, to be hurt and to fall... Life operates in cycles whether we want it to or not. Humans go through phases of progression and regression. I don't think there's much we can do to stop it.

Sometimes the best mode of action is to try and accept the storm rather than to resist it; that way we save ourselves the secondary emotions that follow in failed attempts to stop it from happening... Better to build up our resiliency in ways that we know will work so that when the storm comes we will ride the wave... Allow it to happen and let it pass. "This too shall pass." It will not last forever.

Exercise, eat well, socialize, go to groups, review skills, journal, do what you love!

I hope this helps plant seeds in your head. Ultimately what works for me might not work for you - but I think because we are all human, we all think alike and something is bound to stick.

One therapist told me that she struggled particularly at night. I also struggle at night. She helped me to accept it rather than get angry and frustrated by it. We sometimes give power to a storm when we don't need to. Sometimes it is just that time of day... "The witching hour." Seems to hit me whenever it gets dark outside and I am all alone... I grab my teddies and I wrap up in soft things. I need to show myself love and compassion to build resiliency for the daily storm.... I allow myself to cry... I get a warm drink.

Thanks,
HD7970ghz