Hello.
I’m Steve, and I’m going to talk to you about how I deal with my hypomania.
These are my tips and I’ve got some cue cards to help me remember what I’m going
to say to you.
The first thing is to know thyself, which means try and develop an insight into your
own mind, to really keep an eye on when you are going to…
When you feel that you’re tipping over into mania.
Maybe, make a list of those occasions where you’ve been manic in the past and try and
identify when you’ve felt, when you’ve known that that was resulting in a manic episode.
I find that’s really useful but also, be honest with yourself as well because I think
what I’ve tended to do in the past is to not be honest with my own, about my own manic
episodes and I know this sounds a bit cute, but you are what you are and embrace your
special, unique qualities.
Okay.
Next thing is triggers.
Recognise the things that are going to trigger you off.
For me, I’m quite a passionate person.
I get really angry about certain things.
Not on a personal, day to day basis with people but very much about social injustice and stuff
like that.
And, because I’m working within a campaigning environment, I am very passionate about the
work I do but sometimes, I have to make sure that I switch off and not get too overwhelmed
by it.
Because what will happen is, if I’m working on a particular campaign and I start…
My first ideas are very creative and I feel very energised about something but sometimes,
that energy will just not go away and sometimes, it’s unavoidable.
If you work, particularly in a work environment like I am, you do get that normal rush of
energy.
So, at weekends, that kind of thing, if you’re in the same kind of environment that I am,
it’s to try and cancel some of those appointments you’ve got with friends and just give yourself
a weekend to yourself so you can rest.
Okay?
Next one is…
Oh, not that one.
It’s, don’t panic.
Don’t panic.
When you’re in a manic attack or when I’m in a manic attack, my tendency has been, in
the past, to, although I might be aware that I’m actually in a manic phase, that I can’t
get out of it.
And that I’m locked into it and then the anxiety will start coming up and I’ll start
thinking, oh my god.
I’m going to be ill and I’m going to be depressed and I’m going to be off sick from
work and all these things will start piling into my mind and it just becomes this whole
real hotpot of nastiness.
So, what I’ve tried to do and this is a technique which I’d recommend anybody to
try and learn about, is mindfulness.
Now, I’m only starting to learn more about this particular process but it’s that…
It’s basically stepping outside of where you are within your manic cycle and viewing
the things which are actually running through your head.
And as I said, it’s not an easy process to always adopt but…
And, as I said, it takes a while to actually get used to it but I find it useful because
what happens is, if I do step back and try and step out of myself, I will…
Things don’t look so bad.
Next thing is friends.
Don’t forget.
If you’ve got…
If you’re very lucky to have people in your life, like I am, and people care about you,
then don’t forget that they can make all the difference and don’t be afraid to open
up.
We’re not…
Some of us aren’t…
Some of us might not have as many people close to them as you can but if you can find one
or two people that you feel that you can trust, talk things through with, then I recommend
you do that.
And quite frankly, if people get pissed off you because of your bipolar condition and
they call themselves a friend, well, I don’t think they really are.
And finally, you’re not a failure.
Learning how to deal or manage hypomanic episodes can be a real pain and I’ve fallen off that
galloping horse many a time in trying to manage my hypomania.
The thing to do is to always just take away a lesson learnt from those occasions when
you have not been able to deal with it and say, right, okay, this time it didn’t work
and I didn’t quite manage my hypomania because of this or that.
And just build up a list of the things that have actually worked for you.
And be kind to yourself.
Be kind to yourself because the point is you’re not a failure if you find it difficult to
sometimes manage your hypomania.
It’s just a learning…
It’s always learning and being prepared to learn about it all the time and I think
eventually, you’ll get to a place where you feel that you can manage things.
But I hope you found this useful and, take care of yourselves