ROUTINES

*****Informative******


I am going to try to make this blog as informative as I can without siting sources necessarily and telling you things that you already know. Maybe, letting you my experience. Here we go.

"Studies have shown that a daily routine for sufferers of bipolar disorder can lengthen the time between episodes."

So, I know, duuh right. If you have a psych doc then you have been told this numerous of times. Well, I want to say if you suffer from bipolar disorder then its hard for you to do anything routinely. (Or maybe its just me) I find when everything is in order I can't really relax. But, when things are in disarray I feel more comfortable.

Example:
When my daughter's clothes, and mine too, are all over the apartment it's easy to find things in the morning. I can get us dressed in record time. But, if I have done laundry and everything is put away nice and neat then its hard for me to find what I'm looking for. I usually can't find two things that match for me or her.

That being said, its hard for me to function with a routine. However, I have tried one anyway. So, for my morning routine I usually get up and shower at the same time. I go to the same gas station each morning and I try to drop the kid off at the daycare at the same time each day.

Now, I do find that I do have less stress in the morning. Is it enough of a difference for me to want to diligently get a routine down. No. But, that is primarily because having a routine in itself is stressful for me.

What I find if low stimulation makes my life breathable. Stimulation is a very bad thing for me. If I get happy I usually get really loud. If I'm upset I just get really mad and it takes forever to calm down.

So, I try my best to stay away from any conflict or drama. I know what you are thinking, that's easy to say. And you are right, it is. But, it's also easy to avert the situation. Everything does not have to be addressed. I know when certain things make us feel certain ways we NEED to address them to be able to move past it sometimes. But, this can cause more harm than good. Sometimes its better to dwell on something with yourself in the mirror, than have a blowout or argument over it.

Also, I try to relax from the world at times. I have found that this really helps. I can't always be "involved" with the world. Sometimes the illness does not allow me to. I take everything badly and I'm snapping for no reason. At that point, I relax in my own thoughts. I try to take the kid  somewhere and lay back. Now, this does not stop the episode. But, it does stop me from doing things that I can't take back once the episode has past.

I know you all are thinking well duhh. But, really, it takes a conscious effort to not do those things. You are over stimulated and have energy to burn. I have a treadmill that only gets used to get rid of energy. I'm no workout buff. I have a hard time keeping weight. But, the running helps.

Im weary about taking my kid out when Im manic. Primarily because she takes so much attention that if I turn my head or get engrossed in something anything can happen. So, my apartment is filled with toys and all types of things for her to enjoy when we can't go out and enjoy the day.

My goal is to not let my bipolar disorder interfere in her daily life to much to where she would notice.

So, far the routine has helped some.  Making a conscious decision to retreat from the ever-changing world around me at times has also really made a difference.

What has helped you?