Ways to control Bipolar

[SenseofEntitlement]

Are there any things I can be doing to keep everything under control? I'm well now, I'm on Lamotrigine, which I am happy with, but I still have some extreme moods, and I just feel a bit "raw" and vulnerable. I'm reluctant to do the stuff people always tell you to do for depression in case it makes me manic.

I'm hoping to go back to work if I can stay stable for a year, and in the meantime I'm studying with the OU and volunteering at a charity shop (starts tomorrow!) to keep myself busy, as well as doing a community art class once a week.

I find that being outdoors helps me loads in the summer - we have a garden that I potter about and try to grow stuff in, and we live near a park. It is bloody freezing atm though.

I've started having a berocca in the morning, on the grounds that it can't do any harm and might do some good.

I'm slowly getting on top of the housework, although tbh the house is pretty much at the standard I am fine with - no health hazards, we can find what we need etc. It could definitely be tidier I suppose, but I just can't get worked up about piles of books on tables when I could be reading the books.

One concern for me is that I hardly see anyone. I have one friend in this area (we moved nearly three years ago) but I only see her maybe every two months. She tends to come here, or we meet for a brew - she has invited me to her house, but it just seems overwhelming for some reason. Apart from that, I see DH, the DDs, the ILs and sometimes people at school if I do the pickup . I do an art class, which is nice, but everyone is at least thirty years older than me and I don't have much in common with them. So maybe I should somehow find some friends. I'm so rubbish socially though - I get too self concious.

Any tips?

Firstly - you sound like you are doing a great job at keeping balance and peace in your life. Well done you!

Two suggestions for calm socialising would be a book group, there are loads of websites that list groups ortey your nearest library. Secondly have you ever fancied knitting or crochet? I've learned this last year and found it very therapeutic and gone along to my local knit and natter grip for some company and tips. Both activities have a focus and something to talk about so that should help with any worries about being too self conscious. My crochet was terrible to start with but nobody cared.

Give yourself time to recover. Being manic is exhausting. I was diagnosed in 2005 and it took me til 2009 to get a job again, til last year to work full time, redevelop my social life and confidence. Took til 2009 for all the damn drugs to work properly. I think it is such a dominating condition it does just simply take over your life. I volunteered in the mental health sector and that was great. It WILL come....

Hi, i think winter is a much more difficult time of year for us all, lack of sunshine, being able to go out etc. I always find my BP gets worse in winter. I also empathise with your lack of friends.
I too find it difficult to maintain friendships, mostly I think because I prefer my own company, unless I'm heading for a manic episode and then i'm everyone's friend

I'm on lamotrigine and am considering asking my gp if it's ok to up my dose during the winter months, a friend of mine does this, so I'm assuming that's ok.

If I think of anything else to add, then I shall. Head up arse at the mo though, sorry.

take care.