Dear Victoria, First, I would like to send you a huge THANK YOU for writing "Crazy for Life". My General Practitioner gave me the script and I just finished reading it. It hit home so strongly that it took me 3 attempts to finish because I got so emotional. I felt as though I was reading about some of my experiences. You helped me realize the denial I was putting myself through. You have also helped me realize that this is manageable and I can be independent.

I just turned 31 years old June 21st. In the last few months I've managed to sleep with my ex-fiance (commit adultery, would have been married for 2 yrs May 2nd), arrange then completely screw up marital counseling, meet a "new male friend" (with whom I have had sex), lose 2 jobs and have a seizure (for which I was hospitalized) all in the midst of thinking that there's nothing wrong with me except that perhaps the Effexor XR is too much. In the meantime, my husband filed for divorce, my parents flew down to the states to get me, and now I'm living in my parents' home back in Canada with my 2 cats.

There's family history with my biological mother having mental illnesses. I am an adopted child. I also know that my birth father's' family has history of depression. My story is a long one and could probably be a good movie...my question is this:

I'm in the midst of being diagnosed, there's a wait for most helpful programs and also for a psychiatrist... I have been calling every place I have been referred to keep busy and to keep relatively sane...

I have not "self-medicated" with alcohol either...which is a part of my pattern...anyhow,

Can you please give me ANY type of advice to help...my GP doctor and I are pretty sure I do have bipolar-disorder.... my birth mother was originally diagnosed with schizophrenia, then, later on they re-diagnosed with manic-depression.

Thank you very much for your time. ~Julia~

Dear Julia,

Thanks for your comments. It's a pleasure to perform Crazy for Life . It's as healing for me as it appears to be for the audience.

Wait lists are notoriously long and unfortunately all too common. But I'm thrilled to know you are taking the bull by the horns and actively seeking assistance while you are waiting. There are many different tactics I use to help myself. Below, I have listed just a few that work particularly well for me. See how effective they are for you.

You have already taken one of the steps I consider to be the most important: to be PROACTIVE in your treatment plan. The more you choose to take responsibility and be accountable the more control you have over the direction of your life, despite the obstacles you encounter.

After choosing to be proactive, I believe it is essential to train yourself to have INSIGHT into your disorder. For me, awareness into the illness and its' symptoms is key to recovery. Insight skills gives me chances to see the onset of a mood swing early on and intervene before enormous damage can take place. The process of learning self-awareness is what I call C .I.A.: Creating Insight Abilities. Some choices that help create personal insight are to:

• be proactive in recovery and learn from others and yourself
• be honest with yourself
• create safety nets and use them
• ask for help
• be kind to yourself
• learn about all aspects of the illness
• to examine internalized stigmas and fears about mental illness and medication

In addition to the above, the following three steps can be used on a daily basis to enhance mental health.

Three Keys for Surviving to Thriving:

• Keep… ReCognizing
  Learn to spot your unique early warning signs of onset, for example: binging on junk food, negative self-talk, constant fatigue. To detect the changes use: Body Scan, Journaling, Mood Diary, Thought Watch, Mood Food, Energy Alert
• Keep… ReDucing
  Discover ‘damage control' tactics that work for you to minimize discomfort during an episode. For example: I reschedule meetings that are not absolutely mandatory; I catch up on sleep if my sleep patterns have been disturbed; I avoid isolating
• Keep… ReOrganizing
  Create a long-term lifestyle that reduces negative stressors, increases positive elements to decrease chances of an episode. For example: learn to deal with interpersonal and family conflicts and express emotions in a healthy way; reduce work stress by making job accommodations or if needed change jobs; reduce financial burdens: pay off debts and reduce spending where possible; Adjust expectations and goals as health improves or fluctuates.

READING AND RESEARCH:
I read and researched as much as I could on the following subjects while I waited for space in groups and appointments with doctors. I continued my reading even while I attended counseling. The Internet can be a good source of information, but make sure the source is credible.

I read books about self-acceptance and self-esteem . The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Brandon and Healing the Shame that Binds You authored by John Bradshaw are both excellent guides.

I learned about self-compassion and began practicing it as best I could once I read Pema Chodron's book When Things Fall Apart.

I also researched and practiced cognitive therapy and mindfulness based cognitive therapy . ‘The Feeling Good Handbook' by Dr. Burns and John Kabat-Zinn's Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life are both very good places to start.

I always found one to one psychotherapy or groups were the best way for me to learn, but reading and working on these skills myself, gave me a distinct advantage once I began the group work or therapy. I continue to keep my skills fresh by reading or going to counseling.

Support from family and friends will prove to be exceptionally helpful too. If you have family members or close friends who you can talk with without feeling judged. Just spending time with them will be healing.

I hope some of these suggestions help you. Keep well on your road to recovery. Things take time, but when you are willing to participate fully in your own recovery, the bumps will be less and less uncomfortable.

Best of everything, Victoria