[vjdragonfly]

I was just wandering what you do to help yourself cope and help avoid triggers. I also thought it might help others.

Personally I have to keep myself occupied at all times with things that interest me. Unoccupied time leaves me room to dwell on issues and thoughts.

[Standup2me]

I often lose myself in a book.

That way I can turn off the world around me and all that
I have to deal with is my book.

Often, people overwhelm me

Does that happen to anyone else?

[TheatreKid]

I'm the opposite of you, Standup2me. I need people. When I'm heading towards depressed my best strategy is to make sure I have plans with people, or a group to go to, or something social at regular intervals. The more isolated I get, the worse I get.

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I often lose myself in a book.

That way I can turn off the world around me and all that
I have to deal with is my book.

Often, people overwhelm me

Does that happen to anyone else?

Yes. I am an introvert. I actually only enjoy company when I am hypo.

[r010159]

Take my meds, regular exercise, get enough sleep, and go to where there are people. Oh yes, eating well does help. But I am terrible at this, for that matter, with all of this.

Chamomile tea helps me feel settled.

Arts & crafts - especially making little things that I can give to friends and family, especially people who I might have neglected when going through a mood episode.

I go to a local bipolar support group.

[SickOfSadness]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I often lose myself in a book.

That way I can turn off the world around me and all that
I have to deal with is my book.

People overwhelm me at times too, but then again I nees people. I'm confused about how I feel about people. Sometimes I love them, sometimes I hate them....

Does that happen to anyone else?

People overwhelm me too

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[STRIVEtoSURVIVE]

I would like to repose the same question that started this thread and say both yes and no to the question here:

Originally Posted by Standup2me View Post
I often lose myself in a book.

That way I can turn off the world around me and all that
I have to deal with is my book.

People overwhelm me at times too, but then again I nees people. I'm confused about how I feel about people. Sometimes I love them, sometimes I hate them....

Does that happen to anyone else?

I always love to be around certain TYPES of people. For example, calm and patient people who will have rational conversations and avoid the topics of (or agree with me on) religion, politics, or anything similarly sensitive are always welcome around me. My life revolves around these types of interactions, and they are arguably one of the few types of interactions that make me feel like a member of the human race instead of Hyde lurking in Jekyl's body. My fiancee is one such person, and she makes life worth living for me. I could not (and would not want to even try to) picture my life without her in it at every available opportunity.

However, there are triggers out there in the world, centric around other peoples' behaviors, that I cannot endure for even the slightest of moments. For instance, if I'm stuck walking behind someone who I feel is not getting out of the way and obstructing my path for any amount of time, and I don't feel I can walk around them safely, it's almost as if I can hear a countdown clock to psychosis. I get irrationally angry very quickly when that happens, and if it's ten minutes or more, I just sit down and stare off into the vast caverns of my mind to escape from the situation.

So yes, I understand what that is like, and it happens to me, but strangely enough I feel as though I NEED BOTH (to have people constantly there AND to never have anybody there) to be happy with my surroundings. This makes life very difficult to live, but fortunately I can remain composed the majority of the time without saying things I regret or presenting outwardly threatening body language... most of the time.