5 Tips to Manage Your Episodes
Managing the highs and lows of bipolar depression is tough, to say the least. Developing coping mechanisms that work for you is so vital to keeping your peace of mind, despite those unfortunate mood states. Here are some of mine: 1. Get Creative! My favorite passtime is art. It allows me to express my deepest feelings without having to speak a word, or share the results. I use creativity as an outlet for my uncontrollable aggression. The act of creating something from your imagine, no matter the results, allows you to feel more confident in your ability to manifest the all of your desires that feel so out of reach. 2. Learn Your Triggers I can't emphasize enough how important it is to learn what triggers you, no matter how small. Acknowledge that there might be things that push you into certain mood states. You can't be in control if you're simply avoiding the elephant in the room. Be patient and honest with yourself. 3. Deep Clean
Put some music on and clean like there's no tomorrow! I know how hard it can be to get out of bed when you're feeling relentlessly depressed. The last thing you want to do is get up and clean. But you know what they say... Your external world is a product of your internal world. If your environment is messy, it's usually because your mind is all over the place -most likely you're trying to avoid something. Organizing your space creates more room for you to make sense of all of those overwhelming feelings. 4. Get In Touch with Your Spirituality Whatever that means for you. Keep the faith. Staying optimistic during depressive episodes might feel impossible, but instead of agonizing over your current state -know that this is temporary. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. 5. Journal Journaling allows you to express your emotions, both negative and positive. Keeping a journal has proven to be the most effective for me. Before I received my diagnosis, I would journal to the point where my writing was illegible. It helped me release pent up frustration without taking it out on others. It also gave me the opportunity to view my progress through my words. I could see all of my patterns on paper. Becoming aware of your thoughts is vital because it allows you to change them. It takes effort, yes, but it's certainly not impossible.
