Coping with Psychosis Through TV Shows: A Personal Journey

When I was in psychosis around my bipolar dx a year and a half ago, I had two shows I watched all the way through over and over. Before dx, when I had no clue what the hell was going on with me, it was Last Man Standing. After dx, but before the new meds kicked in, it was How I Met Your Mother. Over and over, because I was experiencing extreme anxiety and paranoia, and these were familiar and comforting shows (I'd seen them many times before). After the meds kicked in and I started feeling normal again (so for well over a year), I suddenly couldn't stand those shows because they reminded me of being in a psychotic state. A few days ago, I decided to turn on Last Man Standing. And I can watch it again! The first time the theme music played, I felt a small surge of anxiety, but otherwise, I've been okay. I'm able to restore my good associations with one of my favorite shows. A major victory over PTSD! ☀️🌈