[cherrykins]

Every one tells me that I can feel better if I eliminate as many stressors as possible from my life...ONLY problem. My biggest stressor? working! I'm not working now and i'm doing pretty good. I haven't worked in about 7 months and it took maybe 6 to get to a point where I wasn't having anxiety attacks everyday. I'm afraid that if I go back to work then all the progress I've made will be down the drain. I applied for disability but it is such a stressful process I've missed appointments and stuff and almost been denied several times. I don't know what to do any advice? God I just wish some one would make all the decisions for me!

[DaveyJones]

Hi, cherrykins! I'm sorry to hear how you're feeling... that is a stressor in and of itself!

I think that learning to deal with stress is a very important part of living with bipolar. It is a tremendous problem for me, I've flunked out of school because of it. Stress is a major contributor to my bp episodes, so I have tried to learn how to deal with it. Exercise is probably the most important, as well as the one I am worst at! There are a number of behavioral ways to ease stress like yoga, deep breathing and other techniques that are taught in Dialectic Behaoral and Cognitive Behavioral therapy (Google 'em). That said, I'm going to my doctor in a few minutes to see if I can get an anti-anxiety med.

Waiting on SSDI is also stressful. I made sure that they had every piece of health-related paper I could dig up and got disability on the first time. If there is anything they may not have, find it, make an appointment and give it to them. I think that really makes a difference.

I think you have to keep trying to work or do something useful, but the effects of stress can make it almost impossible to do. When I get really stressed, my mind just shuts down, my organizational abilities go out the window. This is a real impediment to school and work.

I do feel for you. There really is no magic bullet, you just have to keep plugging away. Work with your doctors and try and do what they say, make sure you're on the right meds, etc. I wish you the best!