[insideout]

Do you ever get suicidal when you are manic?

I do.

Its a bad little trap I will tell you that...

What can I even do for it? Cant up my dose of SSRI's... that will probably make it worse.

Dont wanna hook myself to an IV drip of antipsychotics either.

Just wanna pull my hair out. Run around and scream.
Set things on fire. smash windows with my fists.

What do you do for this? Is it very common?

It common for me. As to what to do about it. Well no, tools and skills for dealing with mania can appear much different than depression. Mania is not a good time for me, hypomania sure. Mania is an awful experience for me, sounds off but it's true, and I believe that is common with full blown mania.

One of the best things is to prevent mania in the first place. Since we know it can be hard to manage once it's in full effect. So manage your sleep, diet, routine, light exposure, stress ect. I have found a lot of help in yoga, meditation and mindfulness, seems to helped keep me away from becoming manic just as much as depression. Who knew?

Same thing applies to while you are actively manic. Regulate your life in a way that supports what you are trying to achieve, and that is balance. I know, sounds so flippant of me. When you are manic you can do these things. It might hard, you might screw up, you are defiantly not gonna get it perfect, but is does help.

[insideout]

Is there a certain time of day that its best to do yoga or ehatever exercise? I like to lift weights to relieve stress.

I find that it sometimes increases my energy.. and in Mania that doesnt help.

Do you have a certain schedul that you follow? i dont have a set schedule.

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by Anika

It common for me. As to what to do about it. Well no, tools and skills for dealing with mania can appear much different than depression. Mania is not a good time for me, hypomania sure. Mania is an awful experience for me, sounds off but it's true, and I believe that is common with full blown mania.

One of the best things is to prevent mania in the first place. Since we know it can be hard to manage once it's in full effect. So manage your sleep, diet, routine, light exposure, stress ect. I have found a lot of help in yoga, meditation and mindfulness, seems to helped keep me away from becoming manic just as much as depression. Who knew?

Same thing applies to while you are actively manic. Regulate your life in a way that supports what you are trying to achieve, and that is balance. I know, sounds so flippant of me. When you are manic you can do these things. It might hard, you might screw up, you are defiantly not gonna get it perfect, but is does help.

I am wondering, Anika, how you have disciplined yourself to stay still and calm for yoga and meditation. When I am hypomanic I have a very hard time staying physically still and my mind races, so I have a hard time focusing on one topic for a long time. For instance, when I try to do self-meditation, before I can get my entire body relaxed my mind might be on the bills, work tomorrow, etc. I would love to find a way to control the mania in my mind.
Bluemountains

I go to a studio, at the studio there is no talking allowed in the hot room, and everyone is very focused on them selves. I think that really helps me to discipline myself, plus I'm a bit of a " don't want to break the rules" by nature, so I will do my best to keep quiet and calm in the room. It's not always easy tho, there have been times when I let out giggles in a very quiet room of people practicing.

At first it was very very hard. I didn't believe I could still my mind at all. I still have to drag it back into stillness when it wanders, but I know I read that even monks minds wander while meditating, I think that's why it's called a practice, because you are simply always practicing.

Going to the studio keeps me motivated and disciplined. You feed off the energy in the room, which I find great. It's a calm peaceful energy, versus hyper chaotic. It gives me more dicipline at home too.

I usually practice around 7pm, that works with my schedule and kids, and gets me relaxed for the evening, which I need help with most. Bikam yoga is exhausting enough that my body really is tired after. If you are having problems with boundless energy maybe try a yoga style that is more physically demanding. I don't love the heat and humidity in the room, it's a bit much, but it takes all my mental and physical effort to stay in the room with 100% effort for an hour and a half. Then I go home and die

Just keep Practicing and it will become easier, promise. You'll reap the benefits as long as you are doing, no matter how many times you have to refocus.

Oh, I use mindfulness to help me with meditation, and I really just focus on breath, not controling or manipulating the breath, just aware of it, and less aware of everything else, thoughts, noises ect. Sometimes I will visualize a picture or colours and just hold them in my mind to get me started, the visual helps because as soon as I am not "seeing" it, I know I have wandered.

Sorry another post, but if either of you are interested in going to a yoga studio, I know it can be expensive. Some studios offer payment in Dana ( donation ) or Seva ( service ). There are quite a few studios that will do this or even advertise on their website that this is an option. Yoga should turn no one away.

[krisakira]

When I'm hypomanic I talk and write about death a lot... like it doesn't matter whether I live or die. One time I actually tried to hang myself...

[fergus]

I'm in the middle of a 9 week mindfulness course and I'm starting to find it to be useful. you're not controlling anything but bringing your attention to the breath and the physical sensations of the body. if you enter the red zone and really can't stay still your allowed to get up and move around and then come back to your meditation. the aim is not to banish our emotions but to embrace the good and bad

Fergus, where do you take the coarse? I think that's really interesting. I have been using videos of Jon Kabot Zinn, as I like his style, and have been reading and practicing a lot. I am finding it very helpful. Glad you are starting to notice a difference too! That's exciting!

[fergus]

Originally Posted by Anika

Fergus, where do you take the coarse? I think that's really interesting. I have been using videos of Jon Kabot Zinn, as I like his style, and have been reading and practicing a lot. I am finding it very helpful. Glad you are starting to notice a difference too! That's exciting!

Hi Anika

I'm in Toronto but my therapist is in Oakville. She's the one that told me about Dr. Treyvaud. He actually lists one of his teachers as Jon Kabot. His site is http://www.mindful.ca/index.php?opti...id=3&Itemid=16

[Victoria'smom]

I tend to find that I think death would be interesting and fun when manic. Also things that will certainly cause my death are the things I'm most interested with manic. If I commit suicide most everyone knows it'll just be a manic miss calculation. Tatoo's, piercings, and MMA works well at these times.

[insideout]

Miguel's mom,

Yes tattoos absolutely help during this mood!! Exactly... I wanna get in a brawl. I want to get another tattoo right now.
I used to get piercings every time I was manic, so at least one per week... and I did them myself most of the time.

I am probably gonna lift some weights.

[KevinGetAwesome]

I think about all the people who have had to stand by me and support me through all these years when these thoughts even appear. That usually kills them pretty quick. Oh, and I'll try to put on some safety songs that soothe me.

It can be any sort of combination of pop punk, instrumental, classical or hip hop. Just depends what I identify with at the moment, but it will usually bring me down a few levels. Also, hot showers that last for an hour or two have probably saved my life on more than one occasion.

Originally Posted by fergus

Hi Anika

I'm in Toronto but my therapist is in Oakville. She's the one that told me about Dr. Treyvaud. He actually lists one of his teachers as Jon Kabot. His site is http://www.mindful.ca/index.php?opti...id=3&Itemid=16

Very cool, I'm on the other side of the country in British Columbia, but I think I'm going to see if I can find something like this around here. Thank you for the link.

[fergus]

Originally Posted by Anika

Very cool, I'm on the other side of the country in British Columbia, but I think I'm going to see if I can find something like this around here. Thank you for the link.

Try this place: http://www.mbsrbc.ca/pages/about.htm

Too bad you weren't in Toronto