Really ?

Ok this has been rambling around in my head and I finally decided to spew it onto a thread.....

I understand the need for Bipolar folks to watch out for there self and try to do all the things they can to stay stable. If everyone followed it all .. is there time to enjoy life?

Take X meds if you have them
Stay on a strict schedule everyday
go to bed at X time
get up at X time
Avoid this food and that food
Give up alcohol
Give up pot
Remind yourself you have/are Bipolar daily
Etc
Etc

Don't get me wrong, self care is needed for everyone not just Bipolar.

But I don't see how keeping away from everything is living a life. Medications aren't a magic pill to cure every issues.

Maybe I am rambling .. but I just wonder about people who follow every single" rule" .. are they really " happy" ?

I pick and choose things that works for me, but oh my I can't imagine giving up all the things I enjoy.

Maybe its just me

Everything in moderation, even moderation? I'm not exactly a rule follower, I kind of like breaking rules tbh lol, with exception of the golden rule I do try to follow. Question authority, think for myself, try different things. I'm not on my lithium for 5 months now and really it wasn't much different. Yesterday morning I hated everything, tonight I feel happy, just rolling with it. Giving up Klons would be a much harder thing, it feels like how pot used to make me feel like mellow takes the edge off, either it's helping me or it's a crutch or both or whatever, small steps for me and trying different things. I actually did a huge hike like 3 hours today, finally exercised woohoo that's huge improvement for me, just learning as I go I suppose. Did I even stay on topic lol? Sorry if I didn't, I should get to sleep.

Some people have greater self-discipline which allows them to work within a framework of living successfully with Bipolar illness. My guess is that they are more
comfortable in life having that discipline, but everyone is different in reacting to
bipolar illness, probably.

Some people don't mind lots of rules and schedules. Other people like to live without so many constraints. This isn't at all just about self-discipline, you can be disciplined but not like having many rules like these, and you can have no problem with strict, superficial rules and still not be disciplined. And some people actually like being told by others what to do.

I can't follow an exact routine everyday but try to fit in a few things during my conscious hours.

Basically eating x amount of times a day. Eating less meat during the week. Sleeping between x amount of hours. (usually 7-9) Trying to get in a little bit of exercise. Practicing positive attitude. Spending some time with my boyfriend. (Not always possible now that we're both working)

I don't see how daily reminders of being bipolar helps, though. I usually think about it if I notice a different mood state but I don't actively tell myself I am/have it. I don't think it's healthy?

I think you do what you think will help you and that's all you can do. For some people that means a strict schedule. For others, they may be flexible with their daily schedule but intend on keeping some rules. I think *some* routine/schedule/goals that you can follow daily, help, too. Like, drinking less alcohol and smoking less pot can't be a bad thing, but I don't necessarily think quitting completely is necessary if you can do it in moderation. So, yeah, I agree with you. I couldn't imagine quitting everything that I enjoy.

I follow all of the rules. Really. Am I happy? Oh yeah, it makes me feel happy and secure knowing that I am doing everything in my power to help myself. One of the biggies that I do is not giving my condition any more attention than I have to. It's made a big difference for me, and as a result, I haven't been on here much.

See, I'm responding to this thread cuz I think the exact opposite. I don't understand how anyone could live a life like this, having all of the problems and complications that come with this condition, and NOT do everything that they POSSIBLY can to improve and get better.

I know that my opinion on this makes people angry. lol... oh well. If your angry by this, then maybe there is a reason.

just had to share my two cents worth.

But for some it's helpful not to have strict schedules.

See, I read once article how celebrating New year's can land you in hospital.

If I followed strict schedules, I wouldn't have uni degree (so many all nighters!). I would not travelled as much as I did (sleep or not sleep in trains, buses and ferris is probably "bad" for bipolar. Drinking with strangers is bad for bipolar. So they say. For me it's worth it).

Dan, I am not angry. It's just... I told you how everything can include... to some unless you went to India and meditated intensely for months... you didn't do everything So maybe, you do come off as judgemental in this. I wanna life to enjoy. Life where I can get job that maybe draining on psyche (non-profit sphere cannot be put in same sentense as "avoid triggers" and "strict schedule"). I wanna life where I can take my backpack and hop on bus and travel and sleep three days when I come back, body exhausted, mind overwhelmed...

what is mentioned in OP in a way equals to me to non-life. I am willing to do other things. I meditate quite intensely and went through some intense courses... for that.

I have been WAY OFF anything that resembles a strict schedule for several weeks now.

I'm not taking my Wellbutrin twice a day. In fact, most days I do not take it at all.

I quit going to the gym a month and a half ago.

If I am working on a project, I stay up through the wee hours of the morning, and then set my phone to go off in 8 hours so I can get some sleep without worrying about waking up just because the people in the 8-to-5 world are waking up.

Am I happy? No.

But I feel better than I did when I was taking the Wellbutrin twice a day.

well, we are all different. For me, a person's gotta do what they have to do. Period. I have become very black and white and it's what works for me. So my opinion reflects that.

but that's all it is, an opinion. I just logged in looking for james, and couldn't resist commenting on this.

but in the end, it's only opinions. Some are strong, and some are not.
Some come across as judgemental, and some are really understanding.

I'm at an opionated and judgemental time in my life, cuz that's what I have to be right now for myself. sounds dumb, huh? but that's why I can't be on a site like this and I prolly should have not responded. I really have no intention of staying here. I was just looking for James.

but I figured you might get this, so I am responding to you.

the reason I am judgemental right now is cuz I am not going to let anything throw me off the course that I am on. understanding is not worth it to me, I am protective over the course that I am on. If that makes me an asshole, then it's worth it at least, cuz I have to worry about myself first.

oh well......

hope you have a great run of it, Venus.

I'm off. Won't be responding anymore, and I don't get the notifications either.

hope you find what you are looking for.

bye.

Dan

I cannot do strict anything. Sucks the joy right out of my life. The most I can manage is make sure I get 2 hrs sleep and a monthly B12 shot.

See this is how I figure it:

Trying to stifle my bipolar with meds and whatnot, just stifled me too. I'm irratic, volatile, irrational and lots more at times. Trying to make myself sleep 8hrs and think and feel how others perceive I should was a noose round my oh so buraful caramel neck.

So now I honestly just go with it.
I go with my swings, with episodes, and with my (reasonable) wants. No more "oh I can't / shouldn't, bcoz I'm bp" screw that! life is for the bloody living.

I refuse to choke myself to death with this label.
And yes for the "I have bipolar" group, this model / lifestyle isn't a problem, they have a condition they need to treat, and this suites them...

Me, I am bipolar, its part of who I am, and I need to live in a way that makes allowances for that. Whatever I decide that "way" may be...

Not sure if this all made sense, listening to an old FOB album on MAX volume in my ears., kinda distracted atm..

I forget to take my meds, sometimes for weeks at a time. (Not just bipolar meds, all meds including vitamins!) So, you've got me there.

I don't drink very often so, I don't see how once every 3-4 months is too big a concern. Plus, I've never done anything crazy and we don't go to bars or out, even.

I do much better on a schedule. I like to do things the same way every time. That doesn't always work out with kids, especially stubborn and argumentative ones like mine.

I don't have to remind myself I have bipolar daily. The universe usually does that for me....

Try to eat better but don't fully deprive yourself of something you love, just have less of it.

Just do the best you can, that's my motto! And if you can't, then forgive yourself. Life it too short.

Just wanted to add. (thank you DH, for jarring my thoughts loose)

Just because I actively decide to NOT let my dx / label run my life, does not mean I go about freely willy nilly doing my thang without a care in the world.

I still make responsible choices.
While I have the occasional drink, I do not get drunk, unless on purpose, which is once a year, New Years Eve, (IF in a safe environment with folks I trust) and i do not partake in any risky behaviour that I will face negative consequences for.

I refuse to touch alcohol if my mood is anything below "normal" because it will spike whatever negative feelings are hiding beneath my surface.

I always ask "how will my actions affect Jordan" and then "how will my actions affect my brain"... if the first is not a negative and the second is atleast manageable, I dont foresee a problem.

I do however abstain from pot, mostly because I got paranoid and nauseas last time, but that was probably because I was medicated. So have been toying with the idea of trying a few puffs because bf has a supplier with some nice grade goods.

Oh so my point is. I am not throwing caution to the wind, merely giving myself more room to live and breathe, in ways I have predertmined are safe, or cant be that bad.

And I dont remind myself of bipolar everyday, that would be like reminding myself I have a face

yeah, that.

One thing is caution... but there's caution when crossing a busy road... and then there's never ever ever crossing a road, cause it's dangerous.

Life in itself is deadly. So worrying about everything is pointless. Being scared of "what if" will hurt you worse then one drink. Routine is good, but not to the point "it's 10PM and my child is bothering me/friend really needs to chat/something happened that should be dealt with... OMG, I will get worst episode ever if I don't go to bed right now". One thing is to know your triggers if there's few (that's why I refuse to eat too much ramen noodles... they whack up my balances)... but not everything is trigger just because Internet says it it. Seriously, most likely you'll be okay.

Believe me, Christina...You're not rambling. Self care is healthy for everyone -- even though I don't always follow this advice. I think it's important to recognize that our BP isn't responsible for every quirk, or "normal"/situational emotion we experience. Medication isn't a "magic cure" for all our issues. Thanks for pointing that out.

I want to thank Everyone for responding !!!

I like the responses... Just kinda proves how we are all unique.

I choose to live my life with very few restrictions. I am not careless. I just want to "live"

Thanks for this thread Christina, i really enjoyed reading all of this. We are all so unique and bp is weird, but I'm proud of us look how we keep on keepin on... thinking outside the boxes, finding solutions, "living", loving, doing our thangs, whatever works, work it!

I understand what you mean... I can't really answer your question because I definitely DON'T follow a strict schedule and I also partake in drinking every once in awhile...

One thing I'd really like to change IS having a schedule. Going to bed at roughly the same time, waking up at roughly the same time... also I need to add chores and structure to my day. Right now I'm unemployed and I'm only taking night classes, so I kind of get up and do whatever I want when I want, and I think it's having a negative affect on my moods :/ I want structure, it's just hard to give myself that when I have the whole day off with nothing to do! haha. Any advice??