Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Stranger to groups, well known with bipolar

polyarny
polyarny

For the first time I was recently hospitalized and had to face consequences involving my coping mechanisms with my bipolar.  I've been living/struggling/surviving with this diagnosis for 8 years now, but have been struggling with poor coping mechanisms for over 20.  I'm a type 1 so I'm mainly on highs with my anxiety with both positive and negative outcomes, even being medicated.  My anxiety rules my life and I have 'good' and 'bad' mental health days.  The biggest down fall of my anxiety is my delusions and paranoia.  I constantly think that any and everyone is out to get me, I know its not true, but try telling that to my brain chemistry.  On 'good' days I can talk myself down about 80% of the time, on 'bad' days I am constantly trapped and extremely distracted.  


I'm on LOA from my job because of my hospitalization and need for a medication check and mental health evaluation.  I fight clinial treatment rather than drug therapy because I see better results from medication and not a clinician.  Its a marathon, not a race but trying to convince my paranoid delusions it is quite hard to break that wall.  


Does anyone have any ideas, methods, etc. for coping mechanisms for anxiety?  I try distracting myself with books, movies, crafts, work around the house, breathing techniques, ASMR, etc. but I'm looking for something that will address and overcome those moments that I'm in a crisis state.


Any advice would be fantastic.  Thanks!

Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
Welcome to the board polyamy... It's a good place to come...... There's a good and active Anxiety board on here as well

I find grounding techniques help pretty quickly for anxiety..... There are a lot on google

I always use my favourite room.... Describe your favourite room in the home in detail out loud...

So I use my bedroom.... describe the colours, fabrics, art, furniture etc and you have to describe it talking out loud....

Within a few minutes I feel more relaxed.... there's obviously a physiology behind this and it works

Colouring can help a great deal as well... It uses both sides of your brain.... a lot of people like mindfulness meditation

Deep breaths and big hugs
beckyp
beckyp
When at home if I'm not doing anything, I will watch my favorite movie, the Matrix, and just listen to it. I've watched it hundreds of times. It relaxes me. I journal (in a book with a pen), when driving I pray for peace and calm and that helps me and I listen to contemporary Christian music on the radio.. Deep breathing helps if I'm at work, and lastly I will take a klonopin if needed. I know it is addictive, but I've been on it for 30 years and I looked at the pros and cons and decided I needed it, and so have my drs I've had.
brindallrn1
brindallrn1
I have been struggling with bipolar for years as well. I also have had pretty bad anxiety on a regular basis. I started using the headspace app for meditation to be really helpful. They have some free mediations but to get the really good ones you do need to subscribe but I have found it well worth it. I also journal alot, that seems to help for some reason. My therapist suggested that I have a specific plan of interventions set up for anxious episodes so I'm not trying to figure out what to do in the middle of them. I do this thing called diamond art that really helps. Hope you find some relief!
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