So... how to deal with episodes?

so there been article on PC long time ago

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipola...-with-bipolar/

I find the concept of expanding your comfort zone very intriguing... and yes, it is possible.

The thing is we are *always* gonna have episodes... so how does one deal with the moment it seems to get overwhelming?

What are your coping strategies for times too low or high?

/will share mine later, right now I am interesting in what everybody else does/

You are so right, and I am so glad you posted!
Just yesterday I came to the realization that this is who we are-bipolar. We have mood swings-it's a fact. And I am tired of feeling bad about it, and trying to train myself to dismiss that. I'm tired of looking in others eyes when I am very happy or very upset and seeing the worry-oh no she's going off. If I am pissed about something I want to accept and express that, if I am sad same thing.
It's like your quote-it is no measure of health to be well adjusted. I don't want to be well adjusted in a society I don't want to belong to. I want to be me and I am PROUD to be a bipolar person-to feel the intense range of emotions my brain allows me to feel.
My coping strategies are very intense exercise, glass of wine, yoga, and yelling.

I'm still trying to figure out my coping strategies - working on getting a tdoc so I can get help with that.

For me, the big issue that the professionals want to focus on is dealing with depression. I recently read a book that I found really insightful for strategies that can help during those depressive periods - "Get it done when you're depressed" by Julie Fast and John Preston. I have tried a number of the coping strategies in that book with some success, but hadn't tried applying them in any sort of strategic manner - I think that's where getting a tdoc's help will be useful.

oh venus, what a good question. when i have a depressive episode, not often-on meds-i become totally paralyzed. won't describe as u can probably relate. the best i can do is be quiet and let it ride it's course. last time was 4 months long! i usually call pdoc in the event he wants to tweak my meds until it subsides. usually helps to do this. it's my anti-depressant he elevates. nothing much helps to add to this answer except i watch amerIica's funniest videos each day. it causes me to laugh and that for a moment partially lifts the depression for an hour. i know this suggestion sounds weird but for me it helps. i can't concentrate on anything else. i try to cry if i can thru meditation. it also helps/crying cause it lets out the depression somewhat.
sorry i dont have much to offer to your thread. maybe i'll glean info from answers here.

Awesome thread
One of my biggest coping mechanisms is maintaining regular sleeping patterns. It helps to limit my sleep when I'm depressed and make myself sleep enough when Hypomanic.
Also being really strict not to let myself "beat myself up" when I'm depressed, (harder than it sounds!!!) but really worth spending the time in therapy to sort out why you think the way you think.