Bipolar - The gift ( beating the cycle)

There are 4 you's. There are 2 that are in a cycle between mania and depression. These are you at the extremes of your illness and you will think things about yourself and act in ways that aren't you. It will make you feel inauthentic but there's also you that waits to come out of depression. The you that has sat with your trauma, every slight, every mistake, every friend lost and utterance of carless abandon. The authentic self out of control. There is you who is not in a cycle of illness but not managing it properly that has no direction, at the whim of emotion and thinks little of himself or life in general. Then there's you when you manage your illness properly. The biggest stabiliser is rigorous exercise and an anti-psychotic. Along with sleep. Sleep is vital - this will give you some control over the way you feel and make you feel good for longer than the easier but ultimately harder forms of emotional management which is all chemical: alcohol, weed in my case and whatever chemical you use to give you the feeling of being able to change the way you feel. Second is mood stabilisers these have to be taken through the rest of your life. Third is work which enables you to be in the world make money and have routine but if it stresses you out it's no good. You just need a reason to get out of bed at the normal and be sober for 8 hours. The fourth is self expression. You have a gift! Your illness is a gift but the gods never give you anything without strings attached your insight requires suffering but you have an advantage over people with normal emotions and are an artist by default. Fifth is regular sleeping patterns that stabilise to your circadian rhythms. This is huge as important as excercise! Sixth a meaningful relationship and friends. Seventh is a high protein diet. My favourite is steak, with eggs and avocado...avocados are great for bipolar. This is what works for me.....