Beer, food, meth, stimulants, energy drinks, video games, unprotected sex, bad relationships, obsessive internet checking, smoking, tattoos, spending, raves, ecstasy, pills, hard drugs, new shoes, new relationships, have a baby, nachos, lottery, obsessive friendships, junk food, caffeine, new lipstick, pot, new haircut, hard liquor, party, buffet, new roommate, new city, fantasy football, … anything to feel … alive, better … something!

You are NOT alone if you have a similar NOT-SO-GREAT bipolar disorder coping list.

My list used to be very long. I drank a lot in order to calm down.  I got caught up in manic internet dating and now have an STD to live with for life. (I am always honest about this as STDs are a consequence of mania for many of us.)  Constant moving and walking into contentious relationships were also big items on my coping list.

I have fixed these behaviors over the years.  I have changed.

I am so much better than when I was first diagnosed and used a huge coping list to get me through the ups and downs that I simply couldn’t explain until I found out I had bipolar disorder.

What does your not so great coping list look like?

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