Counseling can be a way to learn coping techniques and other skills for dealing with bipolar. Maintaining a regular schedule and getting enough sleep is crucial. Don't give up if you still want meds, sometimes it takes a while. Best of luck to you :)

Exercise I hear helps. With me and exercise though its like the old saying "You can lead the horse to water, but you can't make him drink"..

Or, what I do..I have hobbies that keep me busy...

Counseling is helpful to understand where you are in life and what's working and not working. Very helpful for finding better strategies for living happier and healthier.

I have found DBT really helpful look it up Dilectical Behavioral Therapy and also a WRAP plan ( Wellness Action Recovery Plan) it helps you identify what depression looks like for you and mania as well and how to cope with both by using your early warning signs. Find information on these and see if it might be a good fit for you....

Good luck!

I think Bipolar is too severe and requires meds. I would have mood swings every day of my life. Finding the right meds can take time, there are so many. My first was Lithium and it changed me life.

I really haven't. I've found I need meds and counseling. I jammed myself up trying to do without any. Not like they cure me, but I feel so much better with than without. Are you dx'd BPl or BPll?

Well I have been on crap tons of meds, including the famous Lithium and find that it doesn't work for me. I have some people who don't want to diagnose me with BP, while others say either BP II or Not otherwise specified BP. I've also struggled to find a counselor who I feel works for me.

My BP2 treatment is five-prong (and each is just as important as the other): diet, exercise, sleep, meds and head-stuff (counseling, meditation, etc.) I have to be diligent with all to be well. Avoiding the hell that was 20 years of undiagnosed bipolar is all the motivation I need to be committed to all five.

There are usuallly combinations of Therapies that work hand in hand to treat Bipolar and get you to a state of stability....unfortunately 99.99% of the time its going to include medication and most likely more than 1. BiPolar Disorder is a chemical imbalance in the brain and it takes "chemicals" i.e. medications to correct that balance so that your brain can equalize emotions and function regularly. Therapy, learning coping skills, behavioral skills, breathing techniques, meditation, etc. all work together to help you learn how to weave your "life" and the 'Bipolar Disorder" into one, so that you can live them together successfully.

Bipolar Disorder is life disease, it affects everything you do in your life, to reach stability you have to learn to include it in your daily routine...

Yes counseling is good. Also walking. Get out in nature. Get a partner to go with you, or walk a dog with you. Even a neighbors dog. I am in the same place as u. I stated to go to a support group. We need others who care in our lives. Talk to me anytime. Hugs