[Fuzzybear]

What so called ''vices'' do you use to cope with bipolar?

I mostly collect too much stuff....

It doesn't matter. ''Stupid'' question.

(not as stupid as the ****ing ''professionals'' in this forest irl with their limited vocabulary and blaming attitude)

[The Black Dog]

I need to find a hobby in the worse way. I used to drink but dont do that anymore.

[wolftrap]

I drink and smoke. I like to paint abstract paintings.

[Moose72]

I guess mine would have to be sex. I don't have it that often though but I do cancel things if I am offered sex.

[lightly toasted]

Oh sex would be nice, it's been a long time since that's been offered. I replaced sex with over- eating, and zoning out with binge watching as my not-so-healthy coping mechanisms. I isolate a lot too.

I've never had a hobby. I wonder if that would help.

[Soupe du jour]

I used to heavily abuse alcohol. I did stop that (only a few slips here and there) after my first psychiatric hospitalization. Before and after that, occasional food binges would happen, but not to a point of an eating disorder.

Daytime bruxism has been a problem for me most of my life. My teeth are very worn down. A couple years ago, I even needed two root canals (two front teeth) because of it. I've made some strides at curbing this, but not completely.

Though more of a symptom than a coping method, irritability has been a vice in the past and occasionally even now. I include this because the frustration and excess energy builds and getting it out (often in a bad way) does bring some relief for me.

There was a very short period when I abused OTC stimulants. I did stop that.

[MuddyBoots]

I used to smoke weed, abuse opiates, self harm, and ditto what Soupe said about the irritability. Been working on these though and have been using healthy coping skills (listening to and creating music, writing, going for walks/runs, skiing and hiking) whenever possible instead.

[wolftrap]

Now that others have mentioned it, I must say sex. I'm not a one night stand person, but when I'm in a relationship it predominates. When she broke up with me, my last girlfriend said "And what was the deal with all of that drinking and sex?" I was flummoxed because in my experience every relationship was based on these two 'vices'. Not that that's a good thing...

[lightly toasted]

I much prefer relationship sex too, and it's by far my favourite part of being in a committed relationship. I have a tendency to marry or live with emotionally unavailable men, and sex is the only form of intamacy they offer. That's probably not good.

I would get quite pissy if sex was refused, because it's the only expression of love or communication that was offered. My sex drive didn't disappear when I was depressed either, I could handle no cuddling afterwards, but I still wanted some form of connection with another human being. It was a pleasant diversion from my depressed mind. But when I'm depressed I'm hardly alluring, so...

I haven't had a one night stand since I was ...geez, maybe 17. I'm a realtionship addict, serial monogamist type...so that's probably my biggest vice, now that I think of it.

[Fuzzybear]

Right now I'm stuffing my face with a cupfull of mixed nuts and some martini. Papa bear does not like this ''vice'' so I rarely indulge in it. In fact he doesn't like any of my ''vices''...... When I talk about things that piss me off this stresses him out. So tonight I'm resorting to some other temporary way to improve my mood (just the martini and nuts) I do feel better than I did an hour ago, I was in bed and feeling (couldn't sleep) I used to binge eat a bit sometimes when I was younger (not a diagnosable eating disorder)

[sarahsweets]

I shared on the thread about smoking but I believe that a large majority of people with mental illness (bipolar in particular) have some sort of vice or addiction. I forget the percentages but they are high. This is due to the need for self medication and can still occur even when we are stable on meds. I am an alcoholic in recovery (sober 8 years) and I smoke. I really want to stop smoking but its like cigarettes have a hold on me more than any addictive thing I have ever done in my life. I keep coming up with plans to stop and then freak out. I am afraid I will drink again even though I have zero desire to drink and its not even a possibility otherwise because of how long I have been sober. I used to be very overweight before my gastric bypass 13 years ago and while I didnt binge I definitely had poor food choices. The stats are solid for people with adhd too (i have it as well) In fact people that are not treated for adhd have a much higher abuse of substances rate. A lot of research is even being done on addicts that require stimulants. The old theory was an addict can have stimulants. But most doctors with good knowledge of adhd know that the risk not medicating is actually greater.

[wolftrap]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Right now I'm stuffing my face with a cupfull of mixed nuts and some martini.

Brilliant!

[busymomof5]

Eating to the point that I am stuffed and lying on the sofa. It shows too.