[BamBam83]

How often is too often to feel "normal" when I know I'm bipolar? I am up and down all the time-rapid racing, but sometimes I feel like my meds are working so great that I just feel normal and start casually depriving myself of sleep, suddenly become careless with my diet, and stop doing the things that help my constant recovery such as journaling, meditation and exercise. All I want to do is live in the moment of "I'm cured!" but I can't help but feel something terrible is headed my way if I keep on this path of "normalcy". Any suggestions in grounding myself? Anyone else ever feel this way? Feeling pretty alone here...

[sugahorse1]

Under no circumstances stop your meds. But personally, when I get to that 'normal' point, I do let some of my good habits slip. Just know in the back of your mind that you need to catch yourself from time to time. Set limits and know your triggers

[GreenIvy]

I don't think there is a too often to feel normal or better when we have BP. I have 2 different types of times that I feel that way. The first is when I am stabilized for a period of time and can last for a long period of time and the second is an early warning sign when I have been swinging that I am going to swing manic and the feeling doesn't last longer than a day or 2 max. When I am stable it is easy to forget the routines and habits that I develop when I am swinging since I don't feel the urgency to have them anymore. To help that I try to remind myself what will happen and what I have gone through because of it already and that it will all happen again if I don't stay with my routine and habits. I remind myself that if I want to keep feeling good then I have to work at it, much like a person trying to be healthy or get in shape they have to stick to good habits to accomplish that. Self discipline seems to be my best strategy in staying grounded but it can be hard, and some days harder then others.

[SunAngel]

Originally Posted by BamBam83

How often is too often to feel "normal" when I know I'm bipolar? I am up and down all the time-rapid racing, but sometimes I feel like my meds are working so great that I just feel normal and start casually depriving myself of sleep, suddenly become careless with my diet, and stop doing the things that help my constant recovery such as journaling, meditation and exercise. All I want to do is live in the moment of "I'm cured!" but I can't help but feel something terrible is headed my way if I keep on this path of "normalcy". Any suggestions in grounding myself? Anyone else ever feel this way? Feeling pretty alone here...

All I can say is that when you are feeling good, go with it and DO NOT question it. You just never know, it may last for a long tme.

[Anneinside]

I am always glad when I have that period of normal. But, I keep up with my routines, good sleep, taking my meds on schedule. Normal or in an episode, we have to remember that we have bipolar and need to take care of ourselves.

[manicminer]

My problem is when I start to feel too "normal" and start to lose that go-getter, get it done as efficient as possible all the time, I can sleep when I'm dead, feeling. That's when I start to cut back on the meds to get that feeling back. Or if I know I'm not gonna get much sleep for a few days and need to stay up for work or a special occaision, I'll go off my meds completely and slip into mild mania so I can stay up for days.
I know this isnt healthy, but I get through it then get back on my regular schedule once things die down a little bit. Don't recommend it