If you or a friend/family member is diagnosed with a mental disorder, it can be a tough thing to cope with, especially if it seems to just pop out of nowhere. If you don't know how to cope, here are some ideas.
1) Make a Journal your best friend. Pick a notebook or any kind of book that you like. Something you know you'd like to keep writing in. When a emotion strikes you that you can't figure out, pick up your journal and then write it down. Writing it down can help you gain some perspective and maybe some control over the emotions that you are experiencing. If you don't like the old fashioned pen and pencil type journal, use a online diary service like DIARYLAND.COM and type out your emotions. You can make your diary private or public, and maybe find someone to talk to that may help you. Who knows, maybe you'll become a famous writer one day with the material you wrote today.
2) Talk to a Professional. When things get rough, talking to someone who can offer a new perspective on things can really bring your emotions to light and can help sort them out in a non-threatning way. When I was going through a REALLY rough patch, I had a nice therapist that helped me see things differently and realize that being a perfectionist wasn't going to make things perfect and that some things I just can't change. Remember that going to a therapist isn't a sign of weakness, but a sign of showing strength proving that you want to make things better.
3) Volunteer. Pick something you like to do,and then volunteer to help others. It can help take things off of your mind and help you make new friends, which is good because you can then have a support system. I work for a local Rescue squad and we help the community which makes me feel good, but I also have great friends along with it.
4) Find a local support group. Finding and talking to a group of people that are going through a lot of the same things you are can make you feel better. Check your local yellow pages, or local mental health facility to find one near you. You can also check the resources here and find one through one of the websites listed, or through a national organization.
5) Research the illness/es. Knowing about the illness can help you see that you aren't crazy, and that you have a real illness that CAN BE treated. Use books, the internet, family, friends, whatever you can get your hands on to find out what causes it, what the treatments are, what medicines are used, etc. Maybe you'll find a treatment that you'd like to try and you want to research it before going to your doctor.The internet is a great place to check out new treatments.
6) Music. It's a great way to soothe your soul. Especially if you are listening to music that you can relate to, so go ahead and listen to something that makes you feel good.
