[crushedupstars]

Hi all. New here.

Was just wanting a few answers from more knowledgeable peoples.

I am unmedicated and don't have the means to be because of income.

My only resource is a counseling center nearby that works on a sliding scale, but I am not ready for counseling as the last time I went it landed me in the hospital.

I have been diagnosed in the last 6 months, however, and was wondering where to start. I am all over the place with moodswings, etc.

I'm starting to become exhausted of myself and am desperate for any/all answers. Thank you guys so much.

Where's a good place to start managing being BP? What can one do as far as daily living, planning, etc?

[blueoctober]

Welcome crushedupstars I'm glad you decided to join. I know for me meds are 60% of the equation. I'm from Canada, so I don't have any advice regarding affording meds, but there are options from what I have read on other posts.

I have been diagnosed since 2007 and was in-patient when I received my diagnosis. What has helped me to manage the BP (other than meds) is keeping myself on a schedule, eating properly, therapy and educating myself on BP. I have read many, many books on BP. Tracking my mood and journaling also helps. Here is a link to great free online mood tracker: http://www.medhelp.org/land/mood-tracker

I hope you can find a way to get meds. I think it's horrible if a person wants to take meds, but can't because of insurance issues. It disgusts me. If you don't feel your ready for therapy, that's okay. I have had to take breaks as well. When we have stuffed traumatic things for many years when it starts coming to the surface it can definitely be overwhelming.

[Lauru]

As for the meds, if you live in the US, most counties have mental health services and you can often get your meds for free there by seeing a county psychiatrist and having a county therapist. That's how I did it for a decade. I had little income and no insurance, they offered me a sliding scale of $30 per year, althought that was about a decade ago. And that paid for everything. I hope this helps you.

[Merlin]

some of the major med companies offer free meds to those that cannot afford it for good pr.

[BlackPup]

Agree with the comments on meds, if you can see about getting some it would be helpful. Not all drugs work on all people, but most people can find some drugs or combinations that help...
What else???? Education: there are heaps on online sites with information about bipolar, and heaps of good books, there are links and posts on this site to help. Two of my favourites are: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au which is a really medically based site, and http://www.psycheducation.org/ which has a lot of information about bipolar spectrum and other options for management.
The more that you know about the illness the better you can deal with the challenges, especially if you don't have many services available.
Things that might help:
sleep/wake discipline (ie go to sleep and wake at same time each night)
light therapy (helps with sleep/wake and seasonal affective disorder)
exercise (a proven anti depressant)
mood charting (being aware of where your mood is and what affects it)
identifying and avoiding triggers
identifying behaviours that improve moods

with regards to psychotherapy, I was just discussing this with my therapist last night and he said the problems are not going to go away, so if its a bad time to deal with it (ie work, study or stress etc) then its ok to just let it wait.
I have always gotten the best out of my therapy when I have been more balanced and cohearent... So if you do go to therapy, try to focus on coping strategies rather than dealing with big issues until you are feeling more in control...
Hope this helps...

[sugahorse1]

I am finding that counselling is now helpingme identify my triggers, work out my emotions and learn to handle them appropriately.

I do feel strongly that this battle is just about impossible to win without meds - please try get some help (Again, I'm not from USA, but others here are very clued up on state medical assistance)
Post here about your individual thoughts and feelings and we will definitely do our best to support you through the ups and downs. We're all used to it, as even with meds, it's just about unavoidable that the swings will come back at some stage or another...!

[crushedupstars]

Thanks everyone! All of your answers are very meaningful and helpful. Thank you so much.