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Cookies13

Updated 1y ago

Struggling with Mental Illness: Seeking Advice

Hi my username is Cookies13 and I'm battling a couple of mental illnesses and am having lots of trouble managing them. I've gotten better about it over the past 2 years, but I'm still struggling. I'm looking for suggestions on how I can manage my conditions better.

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Calicia

2y

Hi! I have Bipolar 2 as well. I know it's super hard to deal with sometimes. One thing you could do is take me time. It's incredibly beneficial. Especially to de-stress and chill out. Try painting or pottery or learn how to sew. Even if you're not good at it, you'll have fun learning. If not, find a hobby that works for you that you know you'll enjoy. Make sure you're in an environment that keeps you calm. Maybe get some strip lights, get an essential oil humidifier, set your bedroom to a comfortable temperature for you, get some blankets and curtains to block out light from the window. Dark chocolate and music also helps me out a lot. I hope this helps and wish you the best 🤍
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maic

2y

the biggest catalyst for me to get well in my journey was connecting with a psychiatrist that I felt that I could truly trust. I came to her for help when I was in the middle of a deep dark depression, had just moved back home with my parents, was having suicidal fantasies, and was struggling to regain any control of my life over my compulsion to drink/drug myself into utter oblivion. She's been treating me for 7 years and my progress has been truly incredible... She was someone I could talk to for as long as I needed (her sessions were 1.5 hours and she always naturally ended the session on time without making me feel rushed at all); she was thoughtful and deliberate when considering changes to my medication regime; I could email her at midnight on a Saturday blubbering about my dysphoria and assuring her that I wouldn't kill myself before she answered but I really needed to change my meds, etc. - and she'd email/call me back on Monday and send a new script to the pharmacy so I could adjust things in the moment I absolutely needed to.... Psychiatry is a beautiful thing if you have the right person working with you to help you get on a good track.
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Cookies13

2y

I'm currently working with a psychiatrist and counselor, but a lot of my mental conditions are caused by my family. They were and still are very abusive and like to gaslight me into thinking that a lot of the stuff I remember is wrong. I'm unfortunately still stuck in a place where I'm gaslighting myself most days and it seems like I'm going nowhere. I have my boyfriend and his family that help me, but it just sucks that I can't rely on the people who raised me and have known me for my entire life. I was only recently diagnosed with BPD 2 and most of the medications that she has put me on are causing some strange side effects. Before I tried my current meds, I was on lamotrigine and that caused me to be manic for 2 weeks straight. It also gave me dibilitating migraines on a daily basis. I'm just having a hard time and feel like I'm going nowhere.
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maic

2y

I know your struggle!! I know those feelings of hopelessness too well. For me, my struggle to fight to get well with finding the right meds was in 2015. The only thing that pushed me forward at times was the hope that there was a CHANCE that things could get better, maybe I could be well and happy one day, even though I had no evidence or strong faith that would truly be reality. All I can tell you is that I made it to that light at the end of the tunnel and it was everything I hoped it would be - life is not perfect but I am now at a point that I can ride the waves and remain functional - I will lend you the mantra that I used to say out loud to myself in the mirror when I was feeling the most worthless and weak, and it's a mantra that helped me to keep moving forwad even if I was crawling/baby steps.... "You are stronger than you seem, braver than you believe, and smarter than you think you are."

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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