Coping Box

I've decided to make a coping box, which is a box filled with things that can help you cope with negative emotions.

• Worry Stone (or Focus Stones)
• Rubber Bands (since I struggle with self harm, to use one to snap on my wrist to sting but not overdoing it)
• Stress Ball
• Deck of Cards
• Puzzle Book
• Chamomile Tea
• Inspirational Quotes Book
• Scented Candle
• Play Dough or Stress Puddy
• Chocolate
• A coin purse with enough money to take a family member or a friend and myself out to lunch  (Just simple like Subway or McDonald's for example, just to get out of the house, have a treat and socialize)

I feel like these things are good, mostly hands on coping skills that can be kept all together in a nice box.   For example, if I was feeling down I could make a cup of tea, light the scented candle and read some inspirational quotes.  That would be very relaxing, quick and easy to do.  

Hypo/Manic

The past week has been crazy.  I've been hypomanic bordering on mania. My sleep pattern has been 2-3 hours a night, now it's none to 1 hour.  I just can't calm down. My mind keeps racing and I'm starting to think irrationally.  There's so many projects I want to start. Time feels like its going so slow, people seem like they're talking really slow and I'm becoming irritable. This just happens to be the week I was going to start trying to use relaxation techniques! I have way too much energy to sit there and try relaxation at this point.

Halloween

The Cycle of Avoidance

I learned that there's nothing wrong with a small amount of anxiety, just enough helps motivate us.  Too much is when it becomes overwhelming and a disruption in our lives.

Without facing our fears, nothing will ever get done.  It's about slow exposure, putting yourself in situations you're uncomfortable in.  It's the best way to overcome certain anxieties.  It takes time and a lot of effort, but in the end you'll gain confidence.  The worst cycle is avoidance, avoiding things that make you uncomfortable, the longer you avoid the worse the fear becomes and continues the cycle.

I've gotten caught up in this cycle.  I'm afraid to make telephone calls for example,  the longer I go without making them the shakier and more awkward I am when I have to make one.  That's just one example of many situations I avoid due to anxiety and all my worries.  It's really keeping me from living my life.  I'm ready to overcome this and take control of my life.  Just one small step at a time.

Daily Routine

I've decided to type out and print my own daily schedule.  This has things like working out, playing violin, working on my CBT workbook, along with simpler things like wake/sleep times, medication time, meal times, etc. I'm going to try to stay on schedule for 5-6 days out of the week.  I know it will really help me.

Since being out of high school my days haven't had much structure and I miss that. I really need routine in my life, I feel like it's extremely important especially to mental health.  My days as of late have consisted of sleeping all day, staying up all night, and doing relatively nothing.  I made sure I will be leaving the house at least once a day (when I work out) and maybe eventually up to 2 times per day.

Mental Illness Support Jewelry

This is a great site recommended by another member at Psych Central Forums.  Mental illness awareness/support jwelry.  Also, $10 of every purchase is donated to the cause.  Check it out at
https://bravelets.com/products/shop/cause_id/45

Feelings When First Diagnosed

This is partially from a thread I started at Psych Central: Feelings When First Diagnosed

I've been interested in how other people felt right after their diagnosis was disclosed to them.  I actually first felt relief that there was a name and treatments for all the chaos I had been dealing with in my life.  I also felt a small amount of shock, only because I didn't realize I was having manic episodes,  I was only aware of the depression.  I guess my mind is going too fast for me to notice what I'm doing when I am manic.  Thankfully I now know the signs of a mood escalating into mania.

After that I felt anger, like I would never live a normal life because I couldn't find the right medication for awhile.  Not long after that was acceptance.  I have this disorder.  It doesn't define me,  I can be proactive in my treatment and live a successful like if I'm determined to.  For myself, it was a process of different reactions.  

If you're reading and you have Bipolar Disorder, how did you feel after you were first diagnosed? Shock, anger, relief, etc?  Let me know in the comments below, I find it interesting how differently we react to this type of news being told to us.