[jog2011]

Any tips of how to find and cope with behavior patterns and triggers for your moods? I've been tracking my moods for about a week now and it has been so eye opening. Apparently after every 1-2 depressed days, I have 1-2 manic days. Within the depressed days, I have either been depressed all day or irritable & manic throughout the day. How does one deal with all this?!

[sugahorse1]

tracking your moods is a great start. Continue doing this, and eventually you will find a curve developing. Every time you notice a spike or dip, take some time out to realise what could have triggered you. Then work with a T on how to manage the swings. You'll learn coping skills over time. With the right meds, i've also noticed my mood curve level out a lot more

[venusss]

Learn to recognize irrational thoughts so you don't do anything you will regret when coming out of episode.

Learn some coping skills to deal with the moods (yes, you have control over them... not full, but you are not helpless either). Once you learn to separate yourself from your moods, things will get easier.

[jog2011]

Thank You both for your replies! Each day, is getting easier now that I'm on a new medication. I hope after another week or two I'll be thinking more clearly so that I can reflect on coping skills & try some out.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by jog2011

Any tips of how to find and cope with behavior patterns and triggers for your moods?

It takes some time for the meds to get to a therapeutic level, so that may be part of the issue. The meds, therapy, exercising and educating myself on BP have really helped me manage the illness better.

[sunnygirl1uk]

I use a mood tracker, to track my escerlating and depressive moods. I dont know what triggers them off i just wake up with them, and they either fade out during the day, or they continue to the next day. For me there is no real pattern because i cycle pretty rapidly.

The mood tracking is a good idea, glad you are doing it, jog2011. I've done it for years now and it is mostly useful for me in terms of the mood patterns (how long they last etc. because I have a terrible concept of time), than triggers. Usually I write a brief note in there too, but it is hard to follow and connect. The most connections I've made have been in a notebook. Jotting thoughts when contemplating a given issue has proved interesting. Some are recent relevations, others appear from many years ago. Just a phrase or sentence. Somehow they do fall together fairly coherently and show patterns I otherwise wouldn't see. Just an idea.

[jog2011]

Each of you brings up really good points. Thank You. Blueoctober, I had forgotten how much exercise helps. Today I walked to Church. It's something I've wanted to do for a while now, but never had the motivation, the energy to even go and the desire to get dressed. Thank you for sharing what works for you. Do you have any favorite books or websites that can help me learn more about BP?

[jog2011]

Innerzone, years ago i used to journal and I remember I had gained a lot of perspective on issues. It helped me think more clearly & was able to make better decisions seeing it on paper. I also have a tendency to obess over an issue or a thought so writing it down seemed to stop the rapid thoughts. Thank you for helping me remember that that's a techinque that works for me.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by jog2011

Do you have any favorite books or websites that can help me learn more about BP?

My favorite book on BP is in my signature. I also liked Bipolar Breakthrough by Ronald Fieve. A good website is the Mood Disorder Society of Canada. They have an excellent information booklet on BP. Here's the link:http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/page/quick-facts The booklet is on the left hand side of the page.

This is the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance website: http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/Page...?pagename=home