coping skills

[Paz]

 So,
 How do you all cope with this? Maybe if we all can share what we know, it will help others.
 What do you think???

[biPOLAREXPRESS]

I believe I cope with this as well as most other things the same way...I dont. I have been through enough hospital stays and out patient therapy sesion to get by. I wish I could say that I use one technique to get through, but I really fake my wy through. Someone once said "fake it till you make it" I guess thats what I do. MI has been in my life for some time. I was injured when I was younger and I have a pemanent Tramatic Brain Injury so I do the same for both issues. I know that neither one is me. I am a person who has these problems, not a problem that is a person. So i guess self talk might be a common skill. I dont know. I just know that if you let something control you then you might as well hand over the keys, cause it now owns you. Sorry if this is hard to follow, I am winging it. shooting from the hip going out on a limb...you get the point.

Thanks for making me think Paz

[cadno]

This is something I am working on, in another post I mentioned that I'm taking charge of my problems and I literally am!

For me I'm borrowing from the things that have helped my psychosis, so I'll list them

• Visualisation
• Meditation
• Charting
• breathing techniques

That's just a few of them and if anyone wants I can list how I do them and what effect it has

Cadno

[Paz]

 I have mentioned in a few posts about how I cope, or what works for me. Really though, when I think about it, I may be a little bit like BPExpress...not really dealing with it. What I mean is, DJ really, really looks out for me and protects me from the outside world by working from home most of the time, and helping me deal with things. He listens, and has made it so my life isn't really too hard...Thank God he is an excellent provider!! I kind of live in Lala land...I don't have to worry about anything, unless I choose to get my panties in a twist[that is one of DJ's goofy expressions ]
 One of the reasons we travel, and spent time in Costa Rica, and are now living in a beautiful sunny place is so I stay happy and healthy. I live a very simple and kind of sheltered existence, but it is how I have to live to stay sane. It is much easier to cope with my illness this way.
 I just thought of something...I know I sound like a broken record, but diet, supplements and excercise is another way I cope...when my body feels healthy, my mind feels better. I know it sounds hokey, but for me it is absolute truth. I'll shut up now.

[biPOLAREXPRESS]

I guess its kinda like doing the dishes.... I put them in the sink to soak and then I either wash them or smash them on the ground. 

either way the dishes or in this case the problems get solved. i really want clean dishes, but sometimes.....

[Dreamline]

I have always tried to force my self to act normal.  I guess that's because I have had it since I was a small child and with all the pressure put on me by my parents, peers and teachers made me really internalize everything I could.  That has caused me much inner turmoil, self blame, self criticism and a huge problem with anxiety.  Thank goodness for the fact that I finally went and got help for my BP...and the other crap brought on by the way I had to cope with the way I was raised.  Instead of acting, I just say how I feel, good or bad...as for coping, I exercise regularly, do my best to stick to a schedule...and I'm struggling.

[goosemuffin]

Being a little goofey has always helped me cope with feeling depressed or the severe manias, but since being dx'd over a year ago, I have tried finding other people who suffer from the same disorders. It helps me cope, it helps me accept myself. Denial is still a HUGE coping mechanism for me, most of my family know nothing of my mental instability and I don't usually tell my pdoc when I'm having a major manic episode..it feels too good and my husband (usually) keeps me under wraps before I do something too stupid. (btw i refilled an old rx of lithium from my old pdoc and told hubs EFF OFF IM STAYING ON THE MEDS, he gets off on my being so bossy so he just went with it)

[nordicnicki]

cool glad to hear you are on the meds

[chasemanzmum]

maybe you guys can help with coping skills for advice for me. my coping skills suck a$$