I’ve been struggling to motivate myself to write. Bi-polar Depression is a bitch. Sometimes I feel drained by peoples negativity, sometimes I get wrapped up in it all, and sometimes I loose my COOL. Peoples ignorance, privilege and bad attitudes drop kick me off the edge and I find myself discontent and angry. In instances like now, when I’m questioning everything, where I want to run away from the world and live off the grid with my hubby and fur babies. Its episodes like this that I am trying to use all of tools I have searched for over this life long struggle with mental illness.
For me, social media is more of a trigger than a release. This is why I’m trying to move to sharing my experiences in more detail on this blog. In times of need I have relied heavily on blogs to help me find tools to use in my own self help journey. Now I want to share what I have learned and what has worked for me in hopes of returning the favor for someone out there.
I’ve been medicated and I’ve done it med free. I was over medicated as a pre-teen and had a bad experience with a counselor so I quit treating. About my senior year in high school I started getting severe anxiety again but I was deathly afraid of being over medicated and even more afraid of becoming dependent so I refused to take medication. Counselors, journals, meditation, workshops, diet changes, job changes, breaking ties with toxic people, forgiving people, accepting, regretting, I could go on and on but today im going to share the top ten things that have worked for me. I have tried to use my resources to make change, to gain knowledge to ultimately feel better. Just trying to feel good is something that some people have to fight for everyday and we should be mindful and support our friends, family and community members who struggle with mental health.
1. Just go to the doctor already! Call your doctor, call your health insurance, understand your medical benefits and start the conversation with your primary care provider.
2. Medications are YOUR choice, don’t let anyone tell you differently. Everyone is different, listen to your body, only do what you are comfortable with and always manage medication under a doctor’s supervision
3. Counseling. Even if its just one visits, its worth the try. Maybe you try multiple people before you find the one that works for you. It’s your health, stand up for what you need.
4. If you have Healthcare through your employer, check to see if you have an EAP (employee assistance program) last year I used my EAP through my employer and got 8 outpatient counseling visits a piece for my husband and I with $0 out of pocket cost.
5. Meditate, this is not optional! Just do it.
6. Make a list. When I’m in a fit, making a list helps me to pause and list out what is making me feel the way im feeling
7. Journal- write it out man!
8. A healthy body supports a healthy mind
9. Hobbies, if you don’t have one, get one.
10. Love yourself
Working on a better you is an ongoing activity that is never done. I am always searching, reading, listening for experience and advise from the world around me. When I focus on a better me and a better world my anger and disenchantment with my current state melt away. Just writing the draft of this blog on my way to work helped to bring me back to reality, to focus on the here and now. As always thank you for reading and I hope this article gave you some tools that will help you in your journey!
Happy healing 🦄
Everyday Slay 