Ideas for
Remaining Stable

When I've been relatively stable, I try to remain on my medication. But I've also tried these ideas as ways of protecting my stability or delaying the onset of a manic or depressive episode. The following notes were from my 14 Nov 97 diary.

Rigid Organization of Time - Get up at the same time, dress at the same time, go to work at the same time, go to sleep at the same time.

This provides a basic ordering to my life. If I drift from the this pattern without an obvious reason, it is an early warning signal. And the structure makes it easier for me to pick up the pieces when I am recovering after things have gone awry.

Rigid Organization of a Few Activities - I have a Morning Schedule taped to the refrigerator that lists the things I have to do between getting up and getting out of the house. These include brushing my teeth, getting breakfast, taking medication, opening the back door (so I can enjoy my garden), playing quiet music, washing dishes. Very basic stuff.

Without the list I often forget to do these things. I make sure I do the same things day in and out. And it works, or least makes me more resistant to my cycle shifts.

I also have an Evening Schedule for the things I have to do for the hour before going to bed.

Exercise - 15-20 minutes jogging/running every day relieves stress nicely. Lately I changed to swimming about 40-50 lengths on afternoons, which I prefer to running.

The exercises often relieves my stress and the pleasant tiredness leaves me in a calmer mood all evening.

The exercise is also good for controlling my weight and acts as an appetite suppressant, which I don't complain about.

Yoga- The Raja Yoga classes are both exercise and meditation. The exercise and stretching take place in a calm atmosphere which is of itself beneficial, and the meditation allows me to relax for period of time.

Of course what I learn abut meditation can be applied outside of classes, and I have occasionally used meditation to calm myself down into a more clearheaded mode when I was hypomanic.

Time Out- Taking a few minutes out every hour to relax or taking a few deep breaths in stressful periods. This is particularly handy when I am hypomanic.

And of course - Micromanagement of Activities - monitoring everything I do and determining whether it is "normal" or "crazy", and adjusting actions to suit. This is not easy. But the alternative is going out of control....