[annielovesbacon]

Today I lost my dog. She was everything to me, and I am completely devastated. Already I can feel my depressive symptoms (more than just normal grieving) coming up.

I JUST started feeling okay. I finally felt stable. I can't go back into a depression. Is there anything I can do to stop it?? (I don't have access to my therapist right now, just FYI.)

[99fairies]

I don't have any advice for you but want you to know I am very sorry about your dog. Being sad and full of grief is totally natural and does not always mean you are becoming depressed.

[BipolaRNurse]

So sorry about your fur-baby. :-(

[wildflowerchild25]

Try to do as much self care as you can. De-stress as much as you can. Take showers or baths, watch funny tv shows, whatever you do that makes you feel better. Self soothe with the five senses. Maybe look up some DBT emotion regulation tips (I don’t remember what they are).

[Aliceiw]

I would say that sometimes It's really hard to prevent it, but it is possible. At least with my experience, everyone is different. If I can catch it early I have a few medications that help if I give them a slight increase. If you've spoken with your psychiatrist and they have approved a medication you have on hand for increasing in times like these I'd recommend trying to email them or leave a message that you are increasing dose. For me, if it's depression I usually try to do more stress management but my mood stabilizers sometimes can be increased. With the highs of the spectrum I have an arrangement with my psychiatrist about increasing my antipsychotic. It helps if you have these plans ahead of time. If there is no plan with your doctor then I would try in some way to reach someone in your psychiatrist office who can stand in, someone on call to help. If all else fails, you can try to lessen the impact of the episode by decreasing any stress you can think of. If something causes you anxiety, maybe skipping it for now. If you like to exercise- running, yoga. If you don't there's meditation. Expose yourself to uplifting movies, books, people. If social media stresses you out, disconnect. If certain people make you stressed, distance yourself. This is your safety and wellbeing and that is number one right now. Make sure you sleep, get enough water, eat fruits and vegetables, healthy fats. Hopefully this helps and hopefully you've caught it just in time and can take action to lessen its severity or avoid it. It is possible, I've done it several times but usually its medication that nips it in the bud.

[~Christina]

Do the opposite of what you want to do

Don’t stay in bed longer than normal , get up , go out etc

I hope you find your fur baby soon

[Wild Coyote]

I am sorry for the loss. Grief is normal, yet can cause mood alterations.

Lots of good suggestions here, esp. doing the opposite. Do you have DBT/CBT to utilize?

Deepest Sympathy.

WC

[annielovesbacon]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I am sorry for the loss. Grief is normal, yet can cause mood alterations.

Lots of good suggestions here, esp. doing the opposite. Do you have DBT/CBT to utilize?

Deepest Sympathy.

WC

Yes I have been in CBT for roughly two years... doing the opposite of what I want to do is good advice. Thank you.