That is only partly a joking question. I know that my mania is just as dangerous as my depression. But why can’t I at least have as much hypomania as depression! If a psych read this they would remind me that what goes up must come down. In fact,I write that in all of my books- but I don’t know one person who doesn’t love euphoric hypomania in the beginning and middle stages. When it hits the third stage it’s awful- as is the bad crash that inevitably follows. But I still wish I could have it more- just without the downside. It’s sort of like being able to live on sweets without ever getting fat!
I manage my hypomania just as diligently as I manage the depression. I know how serious it is- but when I’m depressed as I am today- I wish it would just show up for a few hours so that [ Read More ]
My goal when I’m down is to take action all day long to make things better. It’s hard. Where will I go? What project should I do first? Will anything work out? Why are things so hard? Etc Etc
All good questions. I will go out and organize my day while I sit at a coffee shop. I will then choose a project and do it. Whether I am crying,filled with OCD thoughts or hopeless. None of it is real. Problems are real and they can be tackled and fixed. These thoughts are bipolar disorder and they need to be recognized and then ignored!
I will make a list under this post about what I accomplished today –just to show myself that I can get a lot done when I’m depressed.
Julie
Here is the list:
- Visited with my mom even though it was hard to be with people.
I float a lot when I’m depressed. As my brother said,it’s like I spend all day working hard to get nothing done! My hypomania is so different. I get it all done in one day!
I love hypomania- the good,euphoric,mildly up kind. It’s the best drug in the world. The problem is that in the 30 years (OMG!) I have had hypomania,it has never stayed good for very long. Before I knew how to treat and ultimately prevent it,the mania was very destructive. It only felt good,but it wasn’t good. Right now I am feeling better than I have in a long time. I’m getting work done- my thoughts seem normal and I’m really sticking to a positive view on life despite these interesting economic times.
How do I know if this is the beginning of hypomania? That is always a question for [ Read More ]
When I have trouble focusing,I’ve learned to ask others to make decisions for me. I’ve trained the people in my life to just go ahead with what they want to do and I will follow along. What do you want for dinner? I don’t care- you choose. What movie do you want to see? Let me know some choices and I’ll give you my choices. I let others drive,plan parties and do what they want- on the days that I’m having trouble making decisions.
On the days that I’m fine,I make my own decisions- but when the depression and ADHD are here,I say- I don’t care what I do- just help me do something!
It works. I’m also a much more relaxed person around my friends and they appreciate that.
I woke up depressed- nothing new unfortunately. I knew it was going to be a tough morning- but it doesn’t have to be a tough day!
Then I turned on the TV and saw Barak Obama being sworn in as President. I felt such happiness. No matter what a person feels politically,I think that seeing a million people in an orderly gathering in Washington is a powerful thing- and it helps depression because it makes you see that people can get out and do things – even when it’s cold!
I now have to get on with my day. It’s hard to get going when your first thought in the morning is that there is no purpose to your life. I have to remind myself that I didn’t feel this at all yesterday and that this is depression talking. Now I have to get out and work on my book proposal- see friends and [ Read More ]
It can be really overwhelming to pay bills when you’re not doing well. I swear,so many of my ideas in Get it Done When You’re Depressed have to do with the little things- cleaning a house,making lunches for kids,finishing a project,paying bills,exercising,getting out of bed when you’re in a bipolar down swing! It’s easy for these things to get lost in a depression fog!
One of the most popular tips in the book is to work with a friend. I regularly go to a coffee shop with friends and we simply work together. We talk when we first sit down and then we work. I can do email,write my books,or do my paperwork. I often bring a big pile of letters,bills etc in a bag and just go through them one by one. I bring large clips so that I [ Read More ]
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