[manic most days]

You guys are AMAZING!! You guys are biploar and still know when to say wait.... Don't deal with this now~
How do you do that? How do I learn that? I'm serious!!! I can't wait & that alone causes most of my having to go apologize to friends I've gone off on or people in general once things are sometimes explained to me in a different manner.
BUT I can so easily do this with my kids.... It is the mommy time out thing hmm weird

[BipolaRNurse]

It takes a long time to be able to do that. Part of it is getting the BP under control, but it has even more to do with age, wisdom, and skill......as well as refusing to allow other people to drive your bus.

First of all, you have to believe you deserve not to be overwhelmed by the needs/wants of others. That's probably a lot of what you're reacting to; no wonder you explode and then have to apologize. Instead, you need to tell people how you want to be treated. There is no law that states you have to be the solution to everyone's problems. And YELL when you're stepped on! I don't mean going off on people just because you're having a bad day, but you don't have to put up with excessive demands.

There, now you have a starting place. You can adapt these ideas to fit your own way of being and doing things, but whatever you do, remember to "pay yourself first"---IOW, you need to take care of yourself and your own needs before you tend to someone else. I guarantee you'll have fewer triggers and more energy for the important things in life.

For me I think that it comes from a life of dealing with the pain of not knowing when to quit. None of us just did this from our onset. We all have dealt with an unreal amount of pain due to our condition. I think that it is a part of us knowing what will happen that has the biggest part of doing this.

[bluemountains]

Practice.
And I am still too loud, at times. I share too much. I get too emotional, and I still have lots of apologizing moments. You should be proud that you have a mommy mode that is so level. I must admit, that there are times that I have to apologize to my kids.
Overall, I am much better with emotion control than in my past, but I try to think first, and take a timeout when necessary.
Bluemountains

[Victoria'smom]

If I understand your question correctly- I make a hierarchy of life what is needed, what I want for family, and what I want for myself. I try to keep everything at the bare minimum of things I can accomplish while depressed. As I feel good I can add to it. My to-do list is only "allowed" to have 5 things (thanks OCD rules) on it on top of bare minimum. If it's an overwhelming, anxiety, or angry day then I only expect the bare minimum. My friends know to call me the night before to check if plans are still on and to confirm they can come over, unless no one has seen me in like a month. We try to keep our home as quiet as possible. Each of us have noise canceling headphones to use when a group activities are to loud or we are doing individual activities. I also use the headphones w. music to color, to slow myself.

[cocoabeans]

Only because the consequences of taking on too much, getting an extreme mood are so damn uncomfortable! Okay, yes I enjoy plenty even deprive myself of sleep sometimes but...

If I'm too excited, if my thoughts get loud, I put myself on bed rest! Why? Benefits me. My brain is such a ****ing ****. I say that because I'm censored anyway!

I mean it though. **** you brain.