... and calm my mind and body down if I can't meditate? Meditation reminds me of my mum and I just can't do it, I can't listen to that type of music or meditation cds... Somehow I need help relaxing so I can sleep and stay asleep. Any ideas?

Oh and yer I'm fighting a high, have been all year. Upped my meds the other week (seroquel 450 to 500 on Abilify 20 as well). Been upping my meds every few weeks all year so far.

[middlepath]

Rather than meditation and the accompanying music, etc, have you tried just closing your eyes and focusing on the feeling of breathing in and out. That is one of the ways that I disengage my "busy" mind. It is sort of a reset button i guess. It doesn't take long and it works really well. I guess the closing your eyes part can resemble mediation, but you don't have to think of it that way, I just think of it as withdrawing for a few min.

[Phoenix_1]

I did yoga for 35 years. One of the breathing techniques I learned to calm myself goes like this:
Lie down or sit comfortably and close your eyes. Keep an open posture (don't cross your legs or arms). Start taking deep breaths and breathe in and out slowly. Breathe in to a count of 8, hold your breath for a count of 4, and breathe out to a count of 8. Do it over and over again for as long as you like. Try to breathe more and more slowly and take deeper and deeper breaths. (this can be a challenge if you have asthma like I do). Concentrate on the breath entering and leaving your body, and the counting. Try not to think about anything but your breath and your counting. (this can be very hard when you're manic, but the counting helps to keep your mind busy).

I also use what is called in yoga "alternate nostril" breathing with the same count structure, but it's hard to explain.
I can usually go to sleep when I remember to do this technique:
Use your thumb and forefinger to open and close your nostrils for this technique. Hold your right nostril closed. Inhale through your left nostril to a count of 8. Close the left nostril so that both nostrils are closed and hold to a count of 4. Open your right nostril and exhale to a count of 8. Repeat on the other side. (breathe in through the right, hold, exhale through the left) and so on. It sounds really weird but it's very calming. If you start to yawn, that's ok, just try to bring yourself back to the rhythmic breathing.

Its really hard to relax when you are on the up. Hell its really hard to relax anytime! But I understand how difficult it must be for you. *hugs*

I am trying to practice mindfulness a lot lately. Its really hard for me to "live in the moment" and I can only achieve it sometimes. I practice a lot, it doesnt always work, but the more I do it the better I am getting at it. I still have a lot of work to do.

One of the techniques I used to help me practice mindfulness is chocolate. I lay with a single piece of chocolate in my mouth. Channel my thoughts to only focus on the chocolate, describe the feel and taste to myself if my thoughts keep wandering. I have to concentrate hard at first to keep channeling those thoughts to something that is happening right now. I start to relax and breathe. When it gets to the point that the chocolate is gone and I cant focus I get up and do something else and try again later. Even 2 mins of relaxation is more helpful than none.

There are heaps of other relaxation techniques that are handy, such as staring at an object. Describe everything about that object to yourself keep your thoughts focused on the object and keep staring at it. Being able to channel your thoughts is a great help for other areas in your life too. Progressive muscle relaxation is another that works for me. Start at your toes and clentch each muscle all the way up to your head one at a time focusing on the breathing. That one is really good for me. I have more ideas and techniques but these are the ones that worked for me.

Meditation doesnt have to be full on "oooommmmmm" stuff, it can be just sitting for two minutes, living in that moment, really being there, breathing and letting go of those thoughts and feelings just for a little while. It does take practice though, so dont give up!

Thanks for the ideas. I'll try them out today and see what happens