Dealing With A Relapse

First of all: Relapses can be upsetting, but it is important to remember that a relapse does not mean that you have gone back to the beginning. It simply means that you have experienced a symptom of your existing BPD, maybe one that you had not experienced for a while. 

For people with a history of depression or bipolar disorder, the risk of relapse looms like a cloud over their lives, threatening to separate them from their work, relationships, even their children. Stress, sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and stopping treatment are among the most common relapse triggers.

The National Mental Health Information Center at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists numerous triggers. Here are five:

• Interpersonal friction
• Feeling overwhelmed or having too much to do
• Being judged or criticized
• Ending a relationship
• Physical illness

For me..... I am feeling interpersonal friction with my Mother.. she has been irritating me like mad lately. I should understand that she is actually the person that has saved me during my illness so I should be thankful, she is a wonderful mother and give her some slack.
I am feeling overwhelmed and like I have failed again... hence probably why I have been drinking a bit more lately. I am feeling overwhelmed about having to lose weight, my singing career and the fact that I believe I am not a very good singer at the moment and my voice is kinda crap (which on recordings it's not LOL)

Ok. Right. Let's be rational.

You have more friends now than you have than ever, you have been going out more than ever, you have been seriously ill and have been doing brilliantly considering the NHS has left you with nothing including having no current psychiatrist, you ARE on a course for psychology so that is a step in the direction to your goal of becoming a psychiatrist. My goals have changed. I don't need fame to be happy. I don't need to be a size 0 to be happy and I don't need to beat myself up for being me. Being me is alright and being happy is what I focus on. Being a psychiatrist is what you need to focus on. Is there anything to really be angry or sad about? No.
There is stress about your ex's, yes but that is the past and you need to keep the door closed.
Cool. Note taken. Thanks to me for reminding myself. 


Right... so my strategy for feeling better...... is...

Ask yourself what you actually have, what you want to do, what you're doing for it... and what small steps you can take towards what you want to do.. don't hate yourself for not doing it yet. There is always tomorrow and the future to do what you want / love to do. You can do it. Have faith in yourself and make sure you smile. 
Try not to mask your sadness by drinking (I am guilty) or by drugs (not guilty) or other ways and live in the moment. 

That's all for now. :-)


EMJ