What are the Do's and Don't's of Living With Bipolar Disorder

[SmilingElephant]

I jus wanted to know what are the common do's and don't's like i know not skipping your meds is one but things like what to avoid eating or doing....things like that.

[Dreamline]

Always get enough sleep and don't stay up too late. 
No drugs or alcohol...although it depends on the person , and for some like me, avoid caffeine
Eat healthy: esp get enough protein and fresh veggies, take fish oil
Exercise regularly.
Stay away from toxic people and unnecessary stress.

[Phyllis]

those are some good do's and don't's dreamline!

I can't think of any. I see it as more of a common sense thing. Even though 1/2 the time we are not in our right mind. 

[Dreamline]

Another one is, if you can, have a loving pet!
Have a plan set up for if you have an episode...a plan for others to follow to help you.

[SmilingElephant]

I want a chihuahua SO bad.....i might be gettin one in 2 months.....i just want a teeny little companion that doesn't have so much hair and likes to be held....its a NEED for me now.

You have a good list goin dreamline! ....i too CANNOT have caffeine....it makes me Manic for a whole week .....i just went thru it last week....can't do that no more....i had to literally reset myself...i skipped my meds one nite...stayed up til bout 4 in the morning....the next day i took my meds, went to therapy, came back home and slept the rest of the day away and called out the next day and now i'm back to normal

.... for me. Lol

[Dreamline]

If you do get one...as a lover of dogs and having worked with them for years and trained/shown them, I highly recommend you get this DVD called Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Dog.  It shows you how to gently but firmly get your dog to respect you.  The reason I am posting this for you is because small dog owners are the absolute worst for letting their adorable little dogs be the boss.  They are funny and they are cute but when it comes down to clipping toenails, guests coming over, giving pills, taking something away...etc.  Then you have a problem.  For all I know, you may already know this and all the how to's...but here is a link if you're interested:

http://leerburg.com/308.htm

Chihuahuas are awesome, you can teach them ANY trick because they are not only very smart but very willing to learn.  They are very good for obedience trials and agility too.  What color are you getting?  If I was getting one I'd get a chocolate or red (I think they can be any color). 

[dragonfly]

yep,treat your dog like you are a wolf pack,it's easier if they are malamutes or huskies and they look like them...i totally agree,i growl at my dog when she tries to eat my food etc,she sits and waits and i give her some when i am done,she gets it if i speak her language....
anyway,dos and don'ts,
(for me)lots of coffee,red wine (sometimes)and i use nicotine lozenges now(used to smoke)nicotine really has some sort of benefit??i have been using the lozenges for years,all the nicotine and no smoke...
*reading is very important when i can,takes your mind to another world...
*learning too,studying keeps your brain healthy and stops you freaking out about stuff thats necessary
*walking in nature.everyday or night..very important,take yourself away from nature and you take yourself away too
*keep track of your swings,if your feeling manic don't do certain things,same for depressed ,anxious etc...takes time to learn but worth remembering...
*do what you love,,for me art,writing etc
*HAVE A PET,i have 10 cats and a dog and a ferret ,theres more but i'll go on for ever.THEY LOVE YOU ALWAYS
*i don't take meds and these are my guidelines,,so i don't have to,i trip out from time to time but i think i am getting the hang of it after so many years,i never want meds again and i am trying to live with what i was given,nothing is by accident and we are the way we are for a reason....i am trying to harness the power of bp to improve my life,,so far so good,,,even though there is always a downside to the up,NOTHING IS PERMANENT,,,very important,,i chant this when i am having a really shit time....never forget that.....

[Dreamline]

If my dog ignores me, I woof at him...and it works.  We used to howl together but everyone complains about it.

[SmilingElephant]

^^CUTE!!^^

You guys have some really good lists though....what else can we come up with?

So far mine is
-No caffeine
-Keep stress to a minimum as possible
-Avoid BS

And now i MUST have a pet.....i'm so jealous of you guys right now that have a dog!

Also....i HAVE to eat throughout the day.....well at least 3 meals bc i get mood changes when i don't eat.

[bee_bop]

Hello all,
Feel like I haven't been on here for ages. Missed you guys!
I reckon I do all the don'ts at the moment:
Drinking alcohol
Caffeine
Eating poorly
No exercise
Bad sleeping routine
Ack - I do try though and have managed to knock out these things sometimes!
Love Me

[bee_bop]

SmilingElephant, you have a great name by the way!
I seem to attract BS like I don't know what as well. That's a good hint: avoid BS!
Some serious advice I can give SmilingElephant is to know your triggers...that helps manage your condition eg. a trigger might be hanging around with negative people...etc.

[dragonfly]

avoiding bs is sometimes very hard..which is mostly the reason i just don't go anywhere and why i have agoraphobia ,it seems it's a world full of,thats why i love this site and the internet in general,,where else can you flick off the world like a light switch...they call it agoraphobia but i know it's just avoiding bs,and the people is seems to come from.

[Paz]

 Toxic people are a trigger for all BP's. Eliminating people like that from my life has been a huge benefit to me. Other things that work for me are very similar to what everyone else has posted...Diet is huge, really it is. If you eat proper and healthy foods your mood will improve, your body will benefit, and you will look better. Vitamins and mineral & fiber supplements are key...I find they help my energy level, and I think I can feel them flowing through my veins and helping my body to work properly[of course this might all be in my head ] I also exercise, and like dragonfly said, I get out in nature everyday...it does help to calm my mind, and if I am feeling huge anxiety, the fresh air seems to cleanse all the negativity and fear that I may be feeling.
 My little dog is a huge part of helping me to feel well...he is quite the character and he calms me down just by being near me...it helps that he likes to jump in my lap and snuggle alot, when I am depressed, this is a huge comfort to me. I do read alot, though sometimes my ADD makes it difficult.
 I have a routine, I find that this is very helpful especially when things start to go haywire...at least there is some sort of structure that I feel I must try to keep going, and that is helpful when I feel sad. I take care of our house and I sort of view it like it's my job...I have to get things taken care of, and that makes me feel useful...when I'm manic I get lots of projects done and that helps me feel a sense of accomplishment. If I am not feeling well, DJ is very good about getting us a household helper...I do miss our Casera from Costa Rica, I wish she was with us right now.
 I don't drink a lot of caffeine, only 2 cups of tea per day, and sometimes not even one cup, depending on how up I feel. Also drink alot of water, very important.
 I drink a little, usually a glass of wine with dinner, I take very few meds and I am a firm believer in homeopathic remedies, and I also think talk therapy is very important...we all need to vent to someone sometimes and therapists can help with coping skills.
 Emotional support is very important, the therapy helps, but DJ is my rock...if he wasn't around for me and our son I know I would be totally fucked. DJ changed careers and started working from home so he could keep an eye on me and help me when I start feeling funny. I am never alone, and for me that is really important, I don't know about other BP's, do any of you think that not being alone is important also?
 

[SmilingElephant]

Thats really awesome paz. I used to have a problem being alone but lately i like being by myself and isolated. I think i'm going thru a depressive episode. Yesterday was just weird and i think its bc i had an argument with my mom, she's my thorn in my flesh...all my life she's been that. And i hate arguing and fights and dumb disagreements, they make me so depressed. And now there's static in the house. But at least i have my dad. And my bf. That i can talk to.  Does anybody notice how showers are like magic on a stick? They help lift my mood. Sometimes its a struggle just to take one.

[MeganG]

Developing cooping skills has been one of the most fruitful things for me. That and sleep, and alovining, pet, and a good support system even if they don't understand. Being in control to how i react to things is very liberating and makes me feel less crazy.
Even "normie" start hearing voices after 3 days of sleep deprivation. Always remember you're in control whether it seems like it or not.