Handling Work (or any type) of Stress

[lagatta]

I'm a fairly functional person until I get stressed.  The problem is that work IS stressful.  Sometimes I start to emotionally spin ouf of control into mixed-episodes.  I try to contain myself and keep things in but I know it shows on my face!!   Despite the fact that I hate that it shows or that I might snap,  the biggest problem is that I go home in a mixed-state where the pain just seems too unbearable to take.   To make it even worse my OCD kicks in so that I start obsessing over the day's events.  Of course, things aren't bad everyday but when they are it REALLY affects me.  

Does anyone have any coping mechanisms/suggestions they can pass down to me?  

[bastet56]

I too have trouble working. I do fine for awhile then I 'decompose' as I call it. I get into mixed episodes and depression. That's why I am on SSD. It became too hard to come back from each episode and I ended up being hospitalized a number of times. I just can't handle the stress.  

[lagatta]

Right - I think I remember that post now!  I don't always find this website easy when it comes to searching specific posts.  Perhaps I'm just not good at navigating around this website.

I'm doing better though.  I just needed some downtime to get some perspective so that I could look at things more objectively.  I get way too wrapped-up in stuff and really need to learn to ground myself.  I work in a crazy workplace. I've lost some close coworkers that I could bounce ideas off, so I feel alone in my battle against the politics, back-stabbing and just general non-sense.  It doesn't help that my husband works out of town during the workweek.  I'm often alone with my thoughts.  

Have a good day!

[Narnia41]

I know exactly how you feel and I react exactly the same to work stress.  My only answer for myself is that I've decided to quit my job and look for something less high profile.  I think we have to be aware of our 'stress  vulnerability' with Bipolar, it really is a very big trigger, possibly the biggest trigger of all to mood episodes.

As ILAD says I think we have to learn what coping skills work for each of us.  Work stress drove me to drinking badly, and made my BP even worse.  

[ILADVOCATE]

Well I've posted a fair amount of suggestions before. Its a matter of knowing emotional trigger points and how to defuse them. Each person varies in what are their specifics. For some people its a matter of time outs. For other people its a matter of approaching family and friends and letting them know what's going on. Some people don't. It all depends. What is essential is to plan specific coping skills. For some people cognitive behavioral therapy can be of help with this.