looking for inspiration

[leighly94]

I'm pretty young, only 19, but I've been diagnosed since I was about 15. I love to write, whether I'm on mania or deep in depression, it helped me manage my moods. That doesn't seem to be working too well anymore. I'm not sure if I need an entirely knew way to deal with what I feel, or Im just in a rut, Which has never happened for this long before. What's something that helps you all cope and sort of keep yourself together? And If you don't have some sort of hobby that helps, what aspect of my life should I look further into to find something worth writing about?
~Leighly

[Puzzled88]

Writing is a very important tool for me as well. I was diagnosed when I was 16 - I'm 26 now - and I have pages and pages, tons of journals, notebooks, documents on my external hard drive (I had to start saving them there because there were so many!).

Remember that all writers get "blocked" - bipolar or not. When I can't write/express myself with composition, I have to remind myself that writing doesn't have to be planned or in a format. It doesn't have to be what I usually do. The beauty of expression is that it CAN and SHOULD be different.

A sentence, word or thought on a sticky note is still writing.

I'm having the same issue right now. I keep index cards everywhere and when I do jot something down, I try to date it.

Write about not being able to write. Write about how it frustrates you. Who knows, When you are finished, you might have a draft of an essay or you might find that notecard next tuesday and realize you have a story.

Don't be discouraged. And don't get rid of anything that you've written - It might help you see patterns and become more aware of your triggers, what did and what didn't help.

As far as other coping mechanisms, I do a lot of crosswords for several reasons: I don't have to focus on one idea for too long and vocabulary!

Puzzles - not the ones on the table - puzzles are really good.

If I'm at that point where I can force myself or want to be active, I rock climb. I'm afraid of heights but its a rush with a top-rope and its a vertical puzzle that I have to figure out.

Hang in there.

[persephonedemeter]

I meant long works in process.

[persephonedemeter]

Sorry for typos. In Medhelp, I'm lenient on myself,mespecially with a stylus and touchscreen that can be obstacles.

[persephonedemeter]

I love to write too. I think my comfort level in writing is pretty obvious with the length of my answers and responses:))) All I can say is that there are a lot to write about all around you and inside of you. I usually find that is so with me. Usually, What happens with me is that something will resound in me and I am intrigued enough to write it down on paper. It is usually something that starts out and starts taking root in my mind as sentences and phrases. What form it takes as a poem, essay, prose, or even a commenary depends on what comes up, and I just develop it and see what happens, then run with it.

Tha's  how it works for me. When something interests me, I usually write it down. It could just me a subject, phrase, a sentence, or an observation, I keep slips of papers in a jar with stuff like that for years.  I will occasionally dump them out on the table and look them over. Sometimes, I scribble more notes on them when I have more to add that coms up, but it still isn't there yet. Some things take a life of their own, others can be work, and others are long works of process. There were a few that I tossed out. there are times, things don't even make it to the jar, and just gets written down pretty quickly, but I usually let it sit for how long it takes for me to feel it is finished or finished enough. Sometimes, it depends or whether they are under a deadline.

[RonPrice]

There is no simple answer to your problem, but I'll post "my chaos narrative" and hope it helps---at this link:http://bahai-library.com/price_mental-health_autobiography_history