hi there. I use medication, therapy, I keep really close contact with my regular pysican because most meds(physical meds) can throw mental health meds and even our minds in genral out of wack. for example, I can't take birth control, any kind of steriod, or tramadol, because they make me suicidal.
funny, it doesn't say that on the label(but I'm special:)

I have friends and we hang out, but I must remember to keep lots of down time because if it gets to be too much I get stress out. that is also why I do not work.

pet theray is also a good idea. I have two cats. if you cannot own an animal, I suggest volunteering at a local animal shelter. I did in texas when I lived there and they let me just brush the big dogs.
they were no kill so I didn't get my heart broken

go to church(or a spirtual gathering) these people usually are very supportive and can lend a good ear and can encourage you to do the same when you are ready.

that's all I got.

I take a lot of meds for both BP and other physical illnesses. I have to keep my medalist up to date and give a copy to each of my doctors including my pdoc every time I see them. I recently stopped working because of both the physical illnesses and the stress. The stress was causing more physical illnesses. I have a dog. I meditate, go to Al-anon meetings and I have a big teddy bear. I have some very good guided meditations that use visualizations.

A lot of positive self talk
Gratitude
Prayer
Meds when I can get them
Avoiding stress..people and situations that are unstable or unsafe
My symptoms at this point are physical. Being self aware..knowing when I am depressed and accepting it until it passes helps. Keeping aware of manic activity and locking myself indoors helps.

I never thought I would ever live life so self aware.. doesn't give me much time for crap and drama. I like it that way tho. I don't do much that I don't want to. I go where I want to go. See people I want to see. I have never been happier and I still have a lot of hurdles personally. Many of which money would take care of.

Glad to hear you are stable..Keep up the good fight.

I'm afraid to start taking medication specifically for my bipolar Dx. I use breathing and visualization techniques that I had learned some years ago for anxiety and anger issues.

Sometimes the world pisses me (so corrupt) off and sometimes individuals piss me off (so human) off but now I don't go "off" on a verbal tirade I just walk away and if I can't just walk away I go somewhere cool, serene and eat a peanut butter a strawberry jam (Smuckers) sandwich in my mind and listen to the water and watch the eagles tumble in the blue skies above holding talons lovingly and laughingly. (well I imagine I would be laughing if I were one of them.

I abstain from alcohol and hard drugs, mean women and sleazy men. I remain well rooted to the place I've come to call my home in this world and no longer have the wanderlust of my youth.

For all of these things I think the worst of my symptoms are behind me now but I still have my anxieties and depressions but again I am fortunate to see them as something I can rise above when required.

I have meds for other physical related things, and diazepam for anxiety, morphine (dilaudid) for pain and am in the habit of detoxing my body from these every week for 2 to 3 days.

I get to sleep at a regular time ad wake up at a regular time without the help of sleep aids. I wake each day expecting the best and am not overly disappointed if it's cruddy weather and I don't want to go out...unless I have somewhere I've already arranged to be.

I keep my life on an even keel best that I can and tend to sail the calm winds of truth and avoid the tempests of lies and deceit.

I find the people here at DS, whether friendly, unfriendly or indifferent as individuals and am often reminding myself that I have learned this disorder/disease manifests itself in so many ways and allow myself to forgive quickly those who are lashing out at myself or others because they are just having a bad day, week, month.

I find I enjoy DS for the most part and engaging both in having fun and seriously being here for others, when they seek me out specifically, or I feel I should say something. I often wish I had two heads and for arms...but that's just the "mild bp" talking I expect.

People here might not mind but those who see me in the malls and walking in the park taking pictures would definitely bother me with a lot of silly questions. Like what do I have under my kilt and...how many?

My first rule of thumb is to be me...it's the easiest way for me...second is to be honest...life's less complicated that way...third (and this is the hard one) to think before I speak or post a song. I'm so used to trusting I have no malice toward others that my words come straight from what I judge to be a good heart and no ill feelings from other are my intent.

People will read what they read and like what they like as well as interpret my words in any way they choose...think the best of me and the worst of me...and even think I'm someone else. I can't change that I've learned.

Now I just need to learn acceptance of the many faceted faces of this illness and the other co attendant disorders. I'm a work in progress.

Thanks for reading, I hope I never have to take meds for my mind. I already take enough and I was born with only one kidney so I must protect it, even at the cost of going off the rails now and again. I'm not violent, nor a mean spirited person. I am a man for peace and a peaceful world...for all.

~peace in~

A combination of skills learned in therapy and IOP, mindfulness, and medication. For meds I now take Saphris and Lithium. I've been having a great deal of depression and my doctor just prescribed N Acetyl Cystiene which is an over the counter anti oxidant which shows great promise for Bipolar Depression. I've only been on it for a day so can't say if it works or not but I am hopeful, nothing else has worked.....

I don't think either meds alone or therapy alone will provide good relief of symptoms..... it should be a combination of both.

I take meds that I'm seriously considering stopping, but I will be replacing them with others, if I do.
I just think I'm starting to see side effects that outweigh the good the meds are doing. (I guess time will tell on THAT one!!!

Focusing on my breathing seems to be as or almost as helpful for my anxiety as Alprazolam is.
I still take it at night -- no Alprazolam and Seroquel = no sleep -- but I no longer take it during the day.

My reason for doing that has more to do with not wanting to be dependent on benzos more than it does with quelling my anxiety.

'Breathing' is more of a pain in the ass than popping a pill, though!! LOL!!!

I try to consciously relax my muscles.
That has limited success.
The second I STOP paying full attention to doing it, they tense right back up.

To the best of my ability, I try to keep my stress level as low as possible.
Life is getting in the way of that right now though, seemingly with no end in sight!!!
I'm grappling with physical problems and caretaking my mom and then there's just the 'other crap' that makes up my daily life.

LOL!!!! So I guess mainly I just try to get through each moment as best I can!!!
Sometimes it works pretty well!!
Sometimes, not at all!!

My life is a crap shoot. Sigh.

LOLOL!!!!! You know, I think a good sense of humor will see you through everything that life throws at you better than ANYTHING else!!!!
And THAT, I've got!!!! In spades!!!! LOL!!!!!

I must be absolutely hypomanic right now but for the past month and some I've been on Cymbalta and Topamax which has me very very happy, energetic, positive and out and about in my community talking to people in front of groups! Mind you I was completely isolative and in social anxiety two months ago so I feel like this med combo has been a miracle! NO ANXIETY!

I've joined yoga again, been walking/jogging, spending time with family/friends.

If a negative thought does enter my mind it's easier to use my CBT skills to stop the negative thoughts. I've been through lots of therapy (schema, CBT, biofeedback, group therapy).

Routine!! This is really helping me too. I get up the same time every day and go to bed the same time every night.

Been eating a lot more veggies and less junk food and no sodas. My taste buds have changed due to the Topamax, (aversion to sweets and carbonated drinks) it causes weight loss as well.

I hope things start looking better for you Wiccan but it's good to hear you feel stable. Do anything you need to keep yourself centered.

I take my meds everyday & thank God for them.
Pet therapy works for me, so does exercise, big time.
Therapy also helps me, but im without one atm, im on a waiting list though.
Just keep ater every day =o)

Minimal meds on a regular basis is first and foremost. Don't know what I'd do without them.

I also sleep a lot. Some may say it's not a good idea too sleep so much, but it makes me feel better.

DeeTOOL forgot to list one!!!

She communes with nature and takes fantastic photographs of many of the beautiful sights she sees!!!

And I suspect she gets a lot of satisfaction out of the art itself, as she has a very good eye for taking just the right shot!!!
That ought to make for a great feeling of accomplishment!!!

Her stuff gets chosen by and is displayed on weather websites!!!
Quite often!!!

(It's good stuff!!!)

Whatever works with your Hep Therapy should be stuck with. I use medications and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.