What keeps you sane when your mood goes wonky?

Books? Movies? Plays? Internet? Exercise?

Mine: internet. lol. And fiddling with electronics. Distracts me from my horrible thoughts when I get them. (I don't have them now, though.)

internet, if I can keep to doing sensible things

a lot of the time I get so depressed that the only way to lift my mood is to go find something and spam the hell out of it- and I know it's bad, but it does help me a lot (coming on here helps, because I know I won't do any damage)

I also like music and tv (especially watching the lion king)

also breaking things: not really self- harm on my body (though that does help too), but hearing objects fall to the floor and break

one of the things I like breaking are dvds and cds.

seeing a big scratch on the surface makes me smile

That hurts my heart

I'm a big nerd and live for tinkering with electronics. Haven't done anything fun with it yet, but I have a Pi 3B+. I'm wanting to do the radio experiments first

watching comfort movies for sure. watching comedies like Brooklyn 99 and such. listening to mental health and sports podcasts, coloring, drawing and some cleaning around the house. I do spent time on You Tube watching mental health vids and movie and comic book related stuff (I'm a geek).

if I'm in a really bad place with my mood, I try to get out and drive around a bit and get some air or go for a walk. then again some days I just lay in bed and screw around on my iPod listening to audio books because that is just what I need at that moment to take care of myself.

Another one, industrial music loud af! It makes me feel like I'm made of machines and can scream out the little bits, the big s---s, and reminds me that pain is EVERYWHERE but can be overcome if I get angry enough at the world for just a few seconds. I calm after this and stuffs not so hard usually. I know there's fouled logic circuits here, but it helps sometimes. Violent video games, classic ones especially, seem to help too. It's even better with industrial blaring and playing an old side-scroller. Sega Genesis ftw!

Videogames, art, music, movies, shows/ videos on Youtube, journaling, reading, exercise, taking walks, cooking

cooking sounds like something I should look into. it would definitely take me out of my head. really cool. YouTube is my great standby lol.

Exercise, sleep, being social with a good friend, sunlight, a healthy meal, a good cry sometimes, an uplifting movie/show/comedy, getting out in nature. All of the above if possible haha.

Going for walks and writing. Although both have ended badly at times haha.

Scrolling Facebook, roaming PC but my biggest is reading I have a few book series that I can just escape into.

Music sometimes, but it can make make matters worse if I start looping one or 2 songs at a time for days.

When all else fails I literally lay in bed and stare at my wall eventually I will shut my eyes and maybe doze off.

1. Exercise
2. Music
3. Knitting
4. Baking cookies (but not eating them. Eating them feeds depression. It’s a slippery slope).

Hypomania heading to mania or an episode with mixed features:

1. "Lay low", as I call it. When I'm becoming very hypomanic heading to manic it is a bad idea for me to be in public or get overly involved with certain types of stimulating projects. They often fuel the fire. Sometimes (especially in the past) I had/have little insight into a developing mania. Nowadays, I sometimes do. If I don't, then someone like hubby tells me. I'm getting better and better at spotting it early.

2. Then PRN Seroquel, if things worsen. Perhaps focusing on less stimulating projects (i.e. flower arranging or certain cooking/baking projects).

3. If all of the above fail and the episode seems to continue to worsen, I call my psychiatrist. He will then either advise me to take more of a base medication (usually Seroquel XR) or he will give me an emergency appointment.

Depression:

1. I try to make sure I don't just completely stop doing things. This is when I try to get active socially, to some degree, or start a doable "To Do" list. I also try to push myself to get out of the house at least a tiny bit and push myself to do something that is normally at least a little pleasurable (i.e. music, nature, or cooking).

2. If it worsens, I call my therapist. I try to work on challenging dysfunctional thinking.

3. If it worsens even more, I make sure my psychiatrist is aware of it. Sometimes he adjusts my medications. The adjustments can be up or down, depending on the type of depression (no energy vs. agitated).

On a day like today, when I am exhausted, I isolate a bit and hope to take a nap.

I have a very difficult time getting emotions/mood to lift when so tired.

Just a very challenging day today.

sane are you kidding . . . functional , xanex and sleep , I also go korean

smelling smoke.

it really calms me

it's just ashame that where I live, it isn't exactlyh the easiest smell to come across. lol

singing nursery rymes to myself

My husband does something like this to relax. He burns inscense that smells just like the wood his parents burned in campfires when he was a child.

Things that involve the senses. Burning a candle, taking a long shower, listening to soft music. Looking at magazines or books.

Keeping busy with things I have on hand. Going out with my husband.

If things are bad I’ll call a crisis line.

great tools! involving the senses is an awesome coping mechanism to use. my T always suggests grounding to help with tough patches with moods. he once gave me a bucket of sand to play with during a mixed episode. it really worked. going places with my Wife that we haven't been to is another thing we do to help me. sometimes an Italian restaurant we've never been to. or a local food or music fest.

Self-help videos, yoga, meditation, reading, music that reflects how I'm feeling, trying to remember to stay patient, support from others with BP (like using this forum), PRN meds

I generally can see my symptoms while theyre happening. I also like to tickle my heightened senses! Oh and of course, last time i was manic (3 months ago) I totally lost it- all sense that I was severely manic (with psychotic features). When riding up to mania I love to dance and talk! I also love talking to my friends- they do try to bring me down.

My dog, Daisy.

I've been meditating in the shower. gets me out of my funk most times.