Motivational Self-Care for Lemy Abelard from The Evillious Chronicles!
Hey, bipolar can be really hard to deal with, especially when it seems like there is no escape from the ups and downs. I found that having “mental illness cards” really helps with that, the basic idea is to have card(s) with each sort of “state” on it (like one for depression, one for mania/hypomania, for me I have one for paranoia, and so on), and on the card(s) are 3 lists, the first is a list of symptoms that indicate a given state, things you might think, say, or do, the next is things that you yourself can do to help with it, and the last is a list of things your support (friends, family, etc) can do to help you! I really do recommend this, and giving copies to people who want to help you out. But, of course, there’s a lot more ideas for you!
You were close with Rin, who was a talented singer, you might find listening to piano ballads reminds you of that friendship, and may help calm you. You could also consider practicing singing, yourself, as it could be a sort of tribute to her, and singing is a wonderful vent for emotions!
Toys were important to you, as well, and doing things that may be considered “too childish” by others can honestly be really soothing. You could try enacting scenarios and how you want to react in them with dolls, for instance, or build things to get some focus, and channel your energy into something. This can also be done with various video games, if you have them!
You might consider doing up your bedding in a similar style to how it used to be, reds, and soft fabrics can help a lot with that. Bundling up with some music, and toys can help with stress quite a bit, and help you feel safe.
You might also enjoy dabbling in makeup again! You used to wear some, and the act of applying it can be quite calming, plus it puts you in control of your appearance, which can really make a difference in one’s mood. You can get some fairly decent makeup from the drug store for a few bucks, I’d recommend glittery shades, with reds, pinks, and golds if you can find them!
You also used to be fairly skilled with a knife, and cooking could be a nice way to get that feeling back safely. If you decide to try your hand at cooking, try starting with comfort foods that make you feel at home and at peace. Soups are good for this, especially! This one might be a little tricky, due to gluttony’s role in your life, however.