[ModernMech]

Sleep. Sleep sleep sleep sleep sleep is the key. I cannot stress that enough. Sleep and schedule. Wake up at the same time every day, no. matter. what. Don't stay out late just cause it's the weekend, don't go out partying just cause your friends are. Don't pull an all-nighter just to get an A on a test or meet a deadline. Once your sleep gets out of whack, a manic bout is not far behind, and that's 6+ months of your life turned into chaos. If you find yourself staying up all night, unable to sleep, that should be a huge warning sign.

I speak from experience. Lots of it.

[cassowary37]

Amen, and well said. I'm a psychiatrist and I worry the most about sleep, full stop. In a disease (or set of diseases, or whatever) that can make people feel so out of control, sleep is one of the best ways to take back control.

[bipolarengineer]

yes! i agree. i have lots of sleep issues. now i go to sleep early in the evening (nearly right after the sun goes down) and i wake up between 3 and 5am.

my biggest problem right now is work: i have had issues holding a job throughout my life. there was a 6 year stint that i was able to keep 2 jobs, but beyond that i usually quit due to what amounts to nothing in the end. have been trying to get a fully remote position as seclusion seems to help.