A question for the Bipolars?

Question

I am bipolar. I was diagnosed at 17 and I'm now 30. I've managed to live with it for a while as you can see. I don't take mood stablizers but I am taking antidepressents since depression hits me harder. Anyway, I'm feeling a little anxious because I've been invited out for a birthday lunch by some ppl I don't know very well and I need to relax a bit. Any tips???

Answer 1

Breathing skills.. google that...  some breathing tips like breathe in throught your nose and hold for 5 seconds and exhale from your mouth and keep that up until you can relax.... another one is breathe in through your nose and think happy thoughts like peace, relaxed or some word or short saying, then exhale the negative thought, and slowly say that to yourself.  so if I would go this last one..  breathe in slowly thinking "peace".... hold that for a few then exhale slowly "stress,and anxiety".  

That is a better way to try to deal with what you want to accomplish them getting some anxiety med...

Answer 2

If you have bipolar you should be on a mood stabalizer too.  Just anti depressant will make you at very least hypomanic, anxious, racing thougths and hurt your sleep patterns.  Maybe not right away, but it will (been there).

One thing i know that helps me when my mania is triggered by something  (and anxiety), is forceing myself to keep a better sleep schedual usually helps calm me down.  So take 2 unisom fairly early (8-9 pm)  and force myself to get some extra sleep.....usually 2 or 3 nights in a row if its bad.  Doesnt fix every thing but does calm me down a bit, slows my head down.

Other then that, keep yourself distracted and dont think about it(I know easier said then done).

Answer 3

Well, I'm not Bipolar, but my dad is.  What usually helps him is just taking some me time  Just sit down, watch a movie, read, whatever.