Bipolar Disorder: Try Something Different

In one of my worst depressions, my therapist gave me some of the best advice I've ever gotten: "If what you're doing isn't working for you, try something different."

I've had to use that advice several times over the years, and it has never let me down. Many times I've found myself in a bipolar rut, not knowing what to do, and those words would come back to me: "try something different."

Recently, I've had to use this technique again and, of course, it did not let me down. I'd been having trouble getting to sleep. Once I got to sleep, I was fine - it was just the getting to sleep in the beginning that I was having problems with. So I tried something different.

I tried listening to a CD on Insomnia that I got from a psychiatrist friend of mine at www.goodtapes.com, Louis P. Bauer, PhD. It was amazing how much that CD helped me get to sleep. His soothing voice and technique helped put me to sleep so much faster than I'd been able to get to sleep on my own.

I was able to overcome that hurdle all because I remembered that advice I'd been given way back when to "try something different."

When I was having a problem with racing thoughts, when my mind just wouldn't shut off, I again remembered the advice to "try something different." Everything I'd tried had failed, so I was willing to try anything to still those racing thoughts. It came to me to try doing (easy) crossword puzzles.

I focused my thoughts on the crossword puzzles and not on my own thoughts, and it worked to keep my thoughts from racing. I still use this technique today.

If what you're doing isn't working, "try something different." Be creative, like I was with the crossword puzzle idea. Think of things that you haven't tried before, but would be willing to try to solve your problem. Then try it! It just might be the very thing that takes care of your problem, like the Insomnia CD did for me.

Sometimes, when you have bipolar disorder, things can be going along fine for quite awhile before they stop working as well as they were. That's when you have to "try something different," because what you're doing isn't working any more.

It can happen with medications, too. If you've been on a medication for a long time, it can stop working for you. Then your psychiatrist may have to switch you to another medication. In other words, you have to "try something different."

If you're in a bipolar rut, or stuck in a problem that you haven't been able to find a solution for, try using this piece of advice that worked so well for me: "try something different." It just might be the key to unlocking the puzzle that you've been unable to solve!

Don't forget to check out my bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele