I've been noticing that since I've been sick, I have no tolerance for any kind of frustration and I can't handle having more than one thing to do. And it's not just at work, which is where I have multiple deadlines. Even at home, when it's time to cook dinner, I get so overwhelmed at the thought of making an entree AND a salad. I get frantic and just want to throw my hands up and run away from it. I mean, I DO the stuff, but I have to force myself to take one thing at a time, go through the steps and not just walk away. There have been times I've taken an Ativan because it would make me so keyed up I couldn't focus. I feel that since I've been on lithium I have made some progress in this area--before lithium even one thing to do would freak me out--but there is no way I'm like my normal self. Will I ever be? How do other people handle this feeling?

Hey Wobbly, I understand what you mean about just random anxiety or frustration sometimes when what you are doing should really just be a simple task. Like, going to classes. It really should be easy enough, just go and sit there--i dont even have to participate or talk to anyone--yet, sometimes the idea of just getting there is just too overwhelming and then i just flip out. Sometimes, unfortunately, i just go with the flipping out feeling, and breathe real fast and cry and it feels like i have to keep moving and everything spins...and i end up not going to class. But, what i have been trying to do lately, and it is actually my reccomendation for everybody (bipolar or no), is yoga. When i feel myself start to flip out, i try to just concentrate on my breathing and live in the here and now. In the past i have tried to incorporate yoga into my daily schedule, but lately i just havent had the time or the motivation...but it has definitely helped me in the past. Just thought i'd toss that idea out there. :)

I've been noticing that since I've been sick, I have no tolerance for any kind of frustration and I can't handle having more than one thing to do. And it's not just at work, which is where I have multiple deadlines. Even at home, when it's time to cook dinner, I get so overwhelmed at the thought of making an entree AND a salad. I get frantic and just want to throw my hands up and run away from it. I mean, I DO the stuff, but I have to force myself to take one thing at a time, go through the steps and not just walk away. There have been times I've taken an Ativan because it would make me so keyed up I couldn't focus. I feel that since I've been on lithium I have made some progress in this area--before lithium even one thing to do would freak me out--but there is no way I'm like my normal self. Will I ever be? How do other people handle this feeling?

No idea how "optimal" people cope...

Atleast 5 times a day I want to jump in my van and drive away and leave my entire life behind me, cause the whole bloody thing stresses me out at times...

My gf, my kids, my ex-wife, my family, my friends, my work, everything in around and beside my life stresses me out...

When you figure out how to cope, let me know ;)

Well, I'm glad I'm not alone. I guess I'm using coping mechanisms of telling myself to settle down and take one thing at a time, but what I really want is for the feeling to go away. I want to be my old self, just buzzing around doing my thing and not wigging out every time there's more than one thing to do. I'm tired of stressing, then using coping mechanisms. I just want to not stress out! Especially about dumb stuff that shouldn't even be stressful at all.
I'm going to try Curls22's method of concentrating on my breathing. I used to meditate that way and it's amazing what it can do. I should get back into that. But, argh! It's just one more thing to do!

id like to take a vacation---away from myself.

id like to take a vacation---away from myself.

If I can get ride of myself, I will join ya... So long it is somewhere warm...

Wobbly, let me know how the breathing thing is working out for ya. It IS something that takes some practice, but you've already meditated like that before, so it should come back to you pretty easily. If it doesn't work, i'll think of a plan B formulated just for you :)

When ever stress takes me, or I have an anxiety attack, I find that neurotic music helps calm me. Try to do something takes you away from reality; like play one of those totally unrealistic video games, NO not the new shitty ones that you need 3 hours of tutorial to figure out how to play, but one of the old ones where you have unlimited ammo and dont have to worry about anything.

When ever stress takes me, or I have an anxiety attack, I find that neurotic music helps calm me. Try to do something takes you away from reality; like play one of those totally unrealistic video games, NO not the new shitty ones that you need 3 hours of tutorial to figure out how to play, but one of the old ones where you have unlimited ammo and dont have to worry about anything.

LOL... You are so right... These NEW AGE video games require 10 button and you must read the 30 page document on how to move your guy around... Old school was the best school in gaming... SIMPLICITY RULES OVER ALL.

And yes, music is always a good for the soul... I put on my Reggae music and it levels out my mind quickly... Something so nice about reggae music to me... I think it is the bassline :D

The only new age game I like is Unreal Tournament. and maybe Unreal Tournament 2003. I don't know why I liked CS a lot. although the new one Condition Zero, wow you should have seen the tutorial. It was like 15-20 minutes long minimum. I felt like I just had a complete lesson on guerilla warfare tactics.

Man doesn't anyone listen to heavy-metal or nu-metal? I feel so alien listening to KoRn or Adema, or Staind.

The only new age game I like is Unreal Tournament. and maybe Unreal Tournament 2003. I don't know why I liked CS a lot. although the new one Condition Zero, wow you should have seen the tutorial. It was like 15-20 minutes long minimum. I felt like I just had a complete lesson on guerilla warfare tactics.

Man doesn't anyone listen to heavy-metal or nu-metal? I feel so alien listening to KoRn or Adema, or Staind.


LOL... Nobody around here listens to reggae nearly as much as I do... I am a REGGAE DJ and REGGAE FAN and REGGAE MUSIC COLLECTOR all in one.

Plus I am a freak ( such a nice term ) ... And I have ZERO Jamacian history in my life... So I am a super freak :)

lol...

Is it ok to be called a freak for my mental issues and self-injury? Sometimes people call me a goth, because of the way i talk so slowly and lifelessly.

Is it ok to be called a freak for my mental issues and self-injury? Sometimes people call me a goth, because of the way i talk so slowly and lifelessly.

To hell with them :D

Thats what I say!

except, its really us who are in hell. Maybe we're bound for heaven, since we've alrdy been to hell.

except, its really us who are in hell. Maybe we're bound for heaven, since we've alrdy been to hell.

Well... My favorite line, which I hear from people around me...

"God only dishes out what you can handle"

I think he made a mistake with me...

The only new age game I like is Unreal Tournament. and maybe Unreal Tournament 2003. I don't know why I liked CS a lot. although the new one Condition Zero, wow you should have seen the tutorial. It was like 15-20 minutes long minimum. I felt like I just had a complete lesson on guerilla warfare tactics.

Man doesn't anyone listen to heavy-metal or nu-metal? I feel so alien listening to KoRn or Adema, or Staind.


i love metal. disturbed, system of a down, tool, korn, adema, i don like staind tho. dudes voice aggravates me. i have to say disturbed is my favorite....had to be loud thoough. very very loud.

Only now do I really know what the meaning of "being born an accident" really means. Although I was born perfect, perfectly flawless, but even a diamond can be destroyed with a little bit of heat.