At what point do you tell your CC you're struggling?

[Arienette]

I've been struggling on and off. I don't want to tell my CC about every single mood shift and **** day though - because those are a part of every day normal life for everyone.

Over the weekend I dipped (I think due to drinking alcohol and a disruption of routine and a few personal issues) Now though, I am managing to manage a bit better because I am employing all my strategies to stay away from a crisis. When I last saw the psych she said I seemed to approach it very mechanically, and I can't deny it. I see myself like a machine.

If I don't stick to my routine, and eat and sleep and exercise and use my diary and have structure then things start to fall apart. Sometimes it's fine, but when a mood shift comes, it's much more difficult to contain when I'm out of routine.

I think i've avoided letting it get worse by using routine and techniques. But at what point do you tell them?

Because what I am worried about now that i live in on my own is losing insight and perspective into when i'm unwell. Before I had someone to tell me, things haven't been right for a while now - whereas I have taken to trying to just bottle things down and deal with it and what if I get too unwell that I lose insight and can't tell them. This scares me because depression scares me, and how i think when I'm depressed scares me.

The ups i'm not bothered or so concerned about, because people normally notice or it is evident before I get into danger.

Would you say, tell your cc after 2 weeks of low symptoms? 1 week? 1 week of warning signs maybe? or 2 weeks of warning signs?

I just don't know. and i don't want to be causing unnecessary worry you see.

(sorry i rambled a bit too long here - I think i got there in the end) xx

[chinahorse]

Id say you tell your cc before anything major happens, so if symptoms persist, you are worried and warning signs happen like not being able to stick to your routine.

As to insight can you make a list, maybe with the help of others of warning signs to become vigilant for? What about some sort of mood diary so you can see any patterns progressing over a couple of days?

Its true we all have bad days but usually most peoples base mood is a variant of ok/fine so any deviance from this is probably best noted. You dont have to say about all the ups and down but maybe more generally that you are feeling lower or higher of late or similar.

[Arienette]

Yeah that's a good idea. I need to figure a method of mood diary-nig that I will stick to. I've tried so many methods, even reminders on my phone and I just press cancel each time.

Thanks though. That's a good idea. X

[Arienette]

i downloaded the optimism app on my computer - hoping i manage to stick with it. x

[chinahorse]

Perhaps its about trying to make it part of your routine so at the end of each day you sit down and do it?

I hope the app works for you <3

[Arienette]

yeah i thought when my bed time alarm goes off, i could fill it in. Because i have alarms to help with routine, i think that might be maneagable. xx

[chinahorse]

That sounds like a very good idea.