[Manic Trance]

Hi everyone!



I hope all of you are doing as good as possible, had great new year's, etc...

I wrote in a while ago to say that I was bringing in a phase of greater agency in the management of my illness. I really let myself go for a while, and I was managing a lot of anxiety and depression as a result, and of course protracted hypomania and some mania, etc... Anyhow, I followed through with this, in that I A controlling my diet and am quite strict about it, I have stopped drinking and smoking, I'm not smoking pot or using any other illicit substances, I am doing my best to control sleep and I am trying to mediate and exercise again, commit to a more manageable schedule, etc...

It's working! Though I am STILL bipolar, the symptoms have really narrowed. No extreme lows, and a curbed hypomanic streak.

The point here is, how do you guys continue to manage your condition once you start to feel better? I think it is really important for me to come on here, because interacting with other people who are bipolar is an important part of keeping it real for me, but now that I am feeling better I am not motivated to do this and things like mood tracking, etc... I feel that if I do not do this I'll just get deluged by another manic or depressive wave, so I Really want to stay vigilant about these ways of managing. But does anyone else have the experience of that being hardest when you are actually feeling OK? If so, how do you manage.

OK...

Hope to hear from some of you.
Talk soon!
MT

[~Christina]

Hey
Good to see you ! What a great job you have done changing your lifestyle !!! It really does make a big difference.

I stay active here regardless of how I am doing , Sometimes I lurk for a few days if I'm just working stuff around my head, But even when I am not doing so well... I still come to cheer people on, it gets me outta my own head and I focus on hopefully helping someone else.

For me PC is a safe place to hangout and know that others really "get it"

[wing]

I'm coming off a rough patch because I started up with all the self-destructive things you described due to a lot of prolonged issues, pilled on top of one another.This post is encouraging because I, too, have stabilized by knocking off the self-medicating, instead getting back to a healthy lifestyle as you describe. I tend to isolate, so I went back to doing my outside activities. Also, exercising is key.So is going out for fresh air, even if the weather isn't great.

Plus, I actually stopped minimizing with my dr. about a week ago and asked for a med change. I guess that helped me break free and get back to the lifestyle I know works for me.

Why I waited that long? Sheer stubborness. And being stubborn made my coping skills go down the drain...

I'm glad to join you in saying I feel stable and healthy for the first time in 3 years.

[memson]

I've learned that regardless of how I feel at any given time I must be diligent and consistent with my management system and regimen. It's a bit like stopping the med's when you feel better! DON'T DO IT!
I've also learned that by maintaining my mood journal I can spot the trends and detect a change of state much soon. It has also proved to be an invaluable diagnostic tool with my pdoc and was in fact responsible for my change in Dx.
I herald you on the lifestyle changes you have made; I've made some similar ones, most particularly a significant reduction, almost elimination, in alcohol consumption.
Use ALL of the management tools at your disposal, including PC, and I'm sure your stability will continue to improve.

[Moogieotter]

Hello MT,

Your story is inspiring. I am stable and functioning of late, and just recently joined the forum as part of keeping it going, and to give back. Nice to meet you and hope your stability and happiness continue.

moogs

glad things are working good for you now.

that's awsome

i'm gladd you checked in too- i miss you here

[Manic Trance]

Thanks guys!
YAY!
So good to hear from all of you. So glad to be back.
Shattered Sanity, it was so nice that you said I miss you on here.
I always love to come on, but I never assume that anyone recognizes my handle or notices if I come or go.
Glad to be back and thanks again to you all!

S

[avlady]

Manic Trance, i love the eye picture on your post!!!!It looks like me in a manic trance!!

[Manic Trance]

Originally Posted by avlady

Manic Trance, i love the eye picture on your post!!!!It looks like me in a manic trance!!

Oh those manic trances...

[Mountainbard]

Originally Posted by Manic Trance

The point here is, how do you guys continue to manage your condition once you start to feel better? I think it is really important for me to come on here, because interacting with other people who are bipolar is an important part of keeping it real for me, but now that I am feeling better I am not motivated to do this and things like mood tracking, etc... I feel that if I do not do this I'll just get deluged by another manic or depressive wave, so I Really want to stay vigilant about these ways of managing. But does anyone else have the experience of that being hardest when you are actually feeling OK? If so, how do you manage.

First of all MT it's great to hear that you're doing better. I know the feeling of wanting to keep it going, and I know the feeling of doubting whether I will. Unlike a lot of people (I think) I didn't discover PC when I was really struggling, so I don't have a lot experience w/coming here when I don't feel good. But I have been feeling like exercise, journaling, and the like are not as important now that I've been stable for over six months. I know that is self-sabotaging thinking and I'm trying my best to get past it. Meanwhile I keep coming to PC to cheer people on and get out of my own head, as Christina put it so well.

[Blitter2014]

I consider PC part of my maintenance program. I have only just risen out of a deep dark hole, and PC has been a big part of the healing process, both through the support it has given me, the comfort I have gotten from others when they tell me I am not alone, and for the distraction it provides. I also find it helps to help other people. It not only feels good, but it gives you something else to focus on rather than ruminating about your own circumstances.

PC now for me is about giving back to a community that has helped me and is part of the two things I treat myself to everyday

I, too, am for the most part stable now (maybe mildly depressed), but I continue to come on here because I feel I "belong" here. I believe it's important for me to talk about how I'm doing and to be self-aware on a day-to-day basis, and this is the best place for that because I never feel as though I'll be judged. Very hard to find in the "real" world! I usually go to the Daily Check-In section in the Depression forum and also the fitness/self care thread of the Other Treatments forum (I think that's what it's called) because exercising is key for me in keeping depression at bay.

I'm glad to hear you're experiencing a period of stability. It's so great to feel "normal."

[Turtlesoup]

Congrats on your progress-like others have said I have found PC to be a very supportive forum both when I am feeling good & bad. It helps me not feel so isolated-I'm working very hard to get to where I feel comfortable in my own skin again-I lost that somewhere along the path of the last 4 years or so & reading posts & checking in here really helps me-when I see someone doing well it gives me hope about my own situation & if I can help someone feel better about their issues it has a very positive effect on me.