Bipolar disorder is never “cured”—you can only be “dealing with it” or “not dealing with it”! Ever since I was diagnosed and began treatment, in 1995, the major thing my counselor and I have worked on is establishing some level of routine in my life. Pacing myself; getting regular amounts of sleep and exercise and regular meals; scheduling time for housework (!); balancing work and play, instead of going into 72-hour binges on a project; not scheduling three three-hour meetings back-to-back. All these things are challenges after living for over forty years on a roller-coaster!
My husband, on the other hand, has some very set patterns and routines; this is how he copes with his anxiety disorder. This has been one of the many ways that he is good for me, as I have adopted some of his routines. He also has a good sense of when I need to sleep, or eat, or take my meds, even when I am not aware of it myself – and we have a good relationship, so he can noodge me on this without taking harm. :D
I have ADD, also, and I do not expect ever to be very highly Organized. Too much routine would drive me batspit. At 57, however, I find myself desiring a little more organization and routine than I was comfortable with BL (Before Lithium).
