wow! I took on a job that really kicked my behind. I wrote a book in less than two months. It was not a good idea and I got sick about half way through, but I always finish! Then bipolar tries to finish me! I went into a severe downswing after the book was done. I’ve often written about how I go down once I finish a project. I’m used to it- but this time I went down in the middle and at the end.
My therapist always reminds me that I have trouble with transitions. Even if the transition is a good one such as finishing a book, I still have trouble. – all of my friends with bipolar have trouble with transitions- a friend of mine went to her family for Thanksgiving. She said, “ Every time I go to Seattle to see my family- it’s too much for a transition! I just want to go home to my routine!”
So true. Julie
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Transitions are very difficult….so I have been on-line researching tools to help with transitions. I found the the author William Bridges has written numerous books and articles on transitions..and he identifies three stages: 1. Ending
2. Neutral Zone 3. Beginning
The Neutral Zone is the most difficult and he offers 10 tips to help get one through the neutral zone more quickly. Check this out on-line.
Perhaps the transition at the end is so difficult because you no longer have those daily writing goals that kept you propelled the last two months. Have you tried writing out daily goals? I find that to be very helpful. Perhaps the depression is also caused by the state of your home; you’ve written before that some things sort of “go” when you write, and if you had to finish a book in two months, maybe your house needs a good cleaning. (If I’d been in your situation, MY house would be a disaster!) Just looking at it can be depressing, so, if you DO have to clean, start somewhere small that will show immediate results, like a bathroom. That’ll give you motivation to move on to the bigger, and potentially nastier, projects! Have you been exercising? And the last idea – do you have a buddy whose visit always makes you happy and does not leave you with negative transitions? Maybe you can have lunch (at your clean home!) with this person.
Hang in there – it always gets better!
Sincerely,
Sandra