Well it's the whole military process. They don't have therapists or counselors that can prescribe meds. You have to meet with the mental health folks, then that doc has to talk with your physcian and then you have to call to get an appt with him which takes about a month. And people wonder why the suicide rate in the military is higher than the civilian world.

Wow, that is f'd up! I thought I remembered you were military. Figured that was the case. Are you any closer to getting prescribed meds in the "process?"

Booze....sometimes
Cafeeine...too much
Pot...yes
Shopping...when I can afford it
Sex...when I can get it
Food...what made me fat

what cha got?

I might be getting meds this week. One of the therapists I'm seeing is talking with my phsycian tomorrow to get me on meds. It's a pain in the ass though

Quacked - I'll be praying for you as the Dr.'s attempt to get their heads out of their tight asses and get you on meds!!!! Seriously, I so hope they do soon. Hugs!

Thanks. I know there's more to life then this. I'm tired of hurting. =(

nothing. I have learned to deal w/it when it comes up and not try to drown it out because it never stays "drowned out".

I tried to be a good girl and just stick to my meds for @ a year; but sometimes you know they just don't cut it. Sometime's a couple of tokes on a joint is all that stands between me and a semi truck. Of all the ways to self medicate this is surely the best. If you get stressed or angry then caffeine will make it worse. Alcohol makes me worse too. Self injury, I've done that and now I'm scarred for life. Smart job.

sex, books, drugs.., alcohol, and love! (ohh yea sometimes going on long nature walks)

but mostly herb for me :/ eh

sex. food, abusive relationships, chaos

wow i didn't expect such a big response but now i have some great ideas on how to cope (some good ones too, lol). It looks like most of us have some habits that help us deal with everyday life and without them we would probably feel out of control. Now I don't feel so guilty.

Used to self-medciate with anything and everything I could get my hands on, pot, coke, pills, booze cigs, exstacy, meth...etc. Now it's weightlifting, cardio, mixed martial arts and COFFEE!!!

I agree with luvnhope, If someone is using all these addictve, self destroying things, are you sure you're really trying to make yourself better. These things only make bipolar worse. If you're sincere about getting better, you need to drop all this abusive behaviour. It is not helping. You have got to help your self. Good luck

doyouhear thats what self medicating is all about helping yourself. there are good habits like reading and knitting so so habits like running and bad habits like alcohol, but they are all attempts to help ourselves. i question weather this is a general human trait or something specific to bps, or at least in a higher degree to bps?