Learn how to decrease stress as much as possible & learn new coping techniques for the unavoidable stress (mindfulness & other stuff learned in dialectical behavioral therapy group classes--highly recommend them).

Retrain my thinking patterns (from negative & habitual ruminating on past mistakes & sad occurrences or looking at the future with fear & anxiety--not living in the present).

Increasing my feelings of self-competency through therapy & doing those things I was afraid to do. Discard my perfectionist tendencies that were paralyzing me.

Get rid of friends & avoid family members who were detrimental to my mental health & recovery.

Learning how to communicate with my spouse more effectively & how to de-escalate my emotions & over-reactions to things (DBT again).

Find ways to get meaning in my life. Give to others. I volunteer in the women's jail, co-leading a support group there with the therapist that leads the support group I go to at the local library. She has provided me with many options to get involved with helping others in speaking at hospitals, half-way homes, psych classes at the univ., local Kiwaniis club, etc.

Take up knitting!! Or some other meditative, relaxing hobby.

Exercise--my meds provider wrote me a prescription on her scripts pad with the rest of my meds for 30 min. of aerobic exercise 5 days a week. She says it is just as important as my medication. Also, I find the stretching, yoga & other "slow" types of DVD's are good to do to combat anxiety.

Educate yourself on your diagnosis. Try to educate your family, but don't make your illness the focus of the family. You are you--not your illness.

Keep a close eye on your triggers & symptoms. If troublesome symptoms pop up, call your provider. Make sure you have a good relationship with your provider so that it is a collaborative relationship--one where she/he listens to your insight (you know yourself best) & needs & concerns & takes all this into consideration.

Have a sense of humor. Don't take it so seriously. I laugh when my husband calls me "Lucy" as in Lucy Ricardo when I do some interesting ways of coming to a totally off-the-wall conclusion or explanation or way of doing something. He just cannot believe how my mind goes sometimes. But he is very appreciative of the creative side when I help him write his speeches. He can get a little dry!!

Look for a WRAP class (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)--free of charge usually offered by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) or DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance). They also offer support groups.

Eat a healthy diet. Limit alcohol (if you drink). Quit smoking. Don't isolate yourself.

Keep a journal & keep notes for your appts. with your meds provider & therapist (highly recomend therapy, too; it is shown to be very helpful). That way you can talk about issues you need to address & won't get flusterd during the limited time you have.

Get a life!! Having a mental illness is just a part of your life. Learn how to manage it & get on with your life. You deserve to have a full, high quality life. All my best to you.--Suzy