[BeyondtheRainbow]

What has helped you manage your bipolar the most? Meds? Therapy? A combination of the two? Something else?

[Alive99]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

What has helped you manage your bipolar the most? Meds? Therapy? A combination of the two? Something else?

Willingness to let go of mania. That helped the most.

Close observation of your episodes. Management of the episodes and prevention of them, physically, mentally, emotionally, but first and foremost, that willingness was needed.


Management:

- Always, always sleep enough, use pills if needed to sleep enough, absolute first priority
(My first ever episode came when I skipped a night's sleep, I skipped it as part of a plan, not due to mood)
- Eat properly and regularly
- Regular, healthy routine during the day
- Slow down physical movements
- Slow down mental stuff too, stop doing anything that causes extra mental stimulation, even go lie down if needed, don't even go outside
- Recognising and CBT-like fixing of thoughts and beliefs that could lead to episode/deepening of episode



Now it's just back to the dysthymia I had before the bipolar developed.

That's no fun, trying to solve that too.

[leomama]

Yeah thanks for this I think I’ve been having a manic episode for like a week.

[Soupe du jour]

Definitely a combination of both medications and therapy. Truly. Also, it was important that I cut my drinking way way down. I don't think many people find solid stability when overusing recreational substances. Or for some, using them period! And that includes cannabis.

Alive99 mentions a couple very important things to learn and implement from therapy. Also important is developing more insight into the beginnings of episodes, which is sometimes hard, but with practice improves. Catching them quick is important since allowing full-blown episodes is not only painful or dangerous, but may eventually cause the kindling effect.

[mssweatypalms]

For me, it's mostly meds and support from my family and friends. I know I always complain about my family and friends not understanding me, but knowing that I can lean on them if all else fails gives me strength. Therapy is not a typical option here so I haven't tried it. I just follow my psychiatrist's advice and try to manage things on my own. I was in quite a mess my first few years, but little by little, I learned how to see signs of going up or going down and how to deal with them. I read a lot of things about bipolar disorder online, but this is the first time I actually joined some forums after more than 10 years. I've never really talked to other people with bipolar disorder in person.

Oh, and another thing that helps me a lot is my teaching job. I always try to be stable for my students. Of course, it's my main source of income, but I also care a lot about them and about doing my job well.

[MuddyBoots]

Specifically, an IOP I was in when I was 17-18 with very strange at first views. They had a doc and he took an aggressive a pproach with meds. Then the counselors were awesome. It was kinda cult-ish. They had their own philosophy and they wrote a book. So a combo of meds and therapy,, but a very specific doctor and specific program. I haven't found any helpful treatment providers outside of that IOP.

[*Beth*]

Medication, hands down. After that, therapy...but when things get really rough therapy only goes so far. Meds, however, can really help put me back on my feet.

[rwwff]

I really have to credit meds as well. Mania makes me much to reckless for my job; I really couldn't have kept things going for my family if it weren't for the meds that brought me out and keep me out of manic episodes. Therapy helps some with other issues, but there's not a lot it can do to put a stop to a manic episode.

[Gabyunbound]

Medication.

Being very very aware of how much sleep I'm getting and adjusting meds as needed to get enough sleep because lack thereof is my biggest trigger.

Minimizing stress. I only work 4 days a week now and this has been enormously helpful. I'm also in a less stressful work environment than I have been in the past.

Psychodynamic therapy for a couple of years which turned into a kind of trauma therapy. It was very painful at the time, but later on I realized that it was very helpful. I feel like I have put that kind of the trauma I had experienced behind me. More to work on, though!

The therapy I'm in now. Super chill compared to the last one, fantastic therapist, I had started seeing her for anxiety, but she has been very helpful with other issues.

Being far more aware of my moods, and their causes, than when I was young.

[Mountaindewed]

My family support is the main one that’s helped me out these last 10 years. Also I give huge credit to this treatment center I was in from 2007-2009 for saving my life.

Therapy is either hit or miss for me. The one I had from 2011-2015 was bad. The one I had from 2015-2018 I got along with and was ok. Then the last one was younger and my hormones were out of control so I kinda had a crush on her and with tele health appointments she wasn’t the greatest. But she did help me out a lot regarding my transition by giving me the diagnosis and the name of my doctor. So I give her a lot of credit for that. The next therapist, we’ll see.

Meds mainly my Geodon is what’s been helping me.

[buddha1too]

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour

Definitely a combination of both medications and therapy. Truly. Also, it was important that I cut my drinking way way down. I don't think many people find solid stability when overusing recreational substances. Or for some, using them period! And that includes cannabis.

No need for me to reinterate, as Soupe covers it for me. The recreational substance piece was especially important for me, because as uninhibited as I was when manic, it was even worse when I was using. When depressed, pouring liquid depressants (alcohol) on top of it was a disaster! There, again, suicidal ideation turned into outright attempts due to lack of inhibitions. Thus, I have to credit AA for helping me keep things more "right sized," as well.

[Uykulu]

Meds ,theraphy ,my family and my friend's support, sleeping on time,having meal on time.not drinking,time, maybe prays

Having a routine, going to bed and getting up at the same time has helped me the most

[xRavenx]

Medication, therapy, sleep hygiene, support system.

[Aviza]

Meds first dbt second wish i had dbt 20 years ago. It has helped me a lot. But psychosis needs meds.

[Blue_Bird]

Meds, therapy, good sleep, exercise, healthy diet, self care, family and friends support

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[Sunflower123]

Medication and inner work I’d have to say. I’ve invested in programs and workshops and webinars that build up my mind and mindset. I also have what I call my “dream team” of medical professionals, therapist and mindset coaches to support me.

one of the main things for me was getting away from my family and accepting that they didn't want any part in my journey. it was them who wouldn't let me have meds, them who wouldn't let me go to therapy, them who constantly stigmatised me, them who told me I was worthless.. once I was on my own and was able to do those things, it got easier to manage because I was making my own decisions about my own treatment

I can say that I don't think therapy's helped me much, but maybe that's because I've had 9 diffrent ones, and I've not been with any of them that long (usually they tell me I'm too much)

I like journalling. been doing it on and off for years and it's great to get your feelings out their and it's also good to look back on when you're having a bad day.. like you got through this before, you can do it again

the hospital's defenetly helped me, I can say here and now, that if it wasn't for their care and their support

Possible trigger:

]

I wouldn't be here writing on the forum today.

that's how bad it got at one stage, I remember even being blessed by a priest

lithium has helped me a lot too. I oe a lot to that particular medication

[Alive99]

A question came up for me: Would regularly practicing rational reasoning help with controlling episodes more easily?

I know utilising reasoning helped me personally a lot with them but I don't know if intentional, explicit practice can contribute.

I don't know, I no longer have episodes but maybe someone else can look into this so I'm putting this out there.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Alive99

A question came up for me: Would regularly practicing rational reasoning help with controlling episodes more easily?

I know utilising reasoning helped me personally a lot with them but I don't know if intentional, explicit practice can contribute.

I don't know, I no longer have episodes but maybe someone else can look into this so I'm putting this out there.

No. By the very nature of the disorder I lose my ability to be rational (unless I'm on the proper meds).

[Alive99]

Originally Posted by BethRags

No. By the very nature of the disorder I lose my ability to be rational (unless I'm on the proper meds).

Yes, that makes sense. The idea was whether this can be prevented to some extent with practice like that. But of course, at some point it may be that only medication helps or at least it makes dealing with things easier, and so it s more effective.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Alive99

Yes, that makes sense. The idea was whether this can be prevented to some extent with practice like that. But of course, at some point it may be that only medication helps or at least it makes dealing with things easier, and so it s more effective.

I think mania can be more easily caught early than depression/anxiety can. At least for me. The trick is in not getting swept up into the (hypo)mania before the episode is too far gone.

Being proactive.

[leomama]

Having the same doctor since my diagnosis even if that means paying out of pocket at times.

[Victoria'smom]

My injection. It has leveled me out to more manageable swings and psychosis. It doesn't take them away at all but it's kept me out of the hospital.