Dear questioner,
I am Sunshine, and I am grateful to have met you on Yi Xinli!
The questioner has shown great initiative in self-awareness, leading to a crucial topic: "40 years old, for more than ten years, I have been anxious. Is there a way to relieve it?" I am certain that the questioner has gained valuable insights and perceptions after facing the challenges of "bipolar disorder" head-on.
You deserve praise for being self-aware and sincerely wanting to change your fate.
We can definitely help you with this. The original poster's brief request for a topic for discussion doesn't contain much information, but we can pool the wisdom of the community here, which will bring more possibilities for the answer you want.
I have also considered this topic and am happy to share my insights for the questioner's benefit.
Let's get to the heart of the matter.
We must first sort out the specific situation described by the questioner. Despite its brevity, the sentence likely encapsulates a multitude of profound challenges the questioner is grappling with. While we may not fully comprehend the situation, we can strive to gain a deeper understanding and analysis by delving into it here.
You have bipolar disorder. You never feel interested and think life is boring. You're 40 and have been anxious for over ten years. How can you relieve it?
This brief description conveys the anxious state of mind of the person suffering from bipolar disorder. You have undoubtedly experienced a lot over the past decade, and you have tried many things, right? Things like medication, psychological counseling, self-redemption, and so on.
It's possible that none of the methods the original poster has tried have achieved the "perfection" they're looking for, such as marriage, family, career, etc.
If bipolar disorder is properly treated with medication, there is absolutely no problem maintaining a normal diet and lifestyle, leading a normal life, working, socializing moderately, etc.
It is important to determine whether the constant anxiety began concurrently with, preceded, or followed the onset of bipolar disorder. Additionally, it is essential to ascertain the nature of the anxiety. Is it primarily focused on bipolar disorder itself, or are there other underlying concerns?
It's also possible that other practical, interpersonal, emotional, or financial pressures triggered by bipolar disorder are causing this constant anxiety. Does this anxiety have a generalized effect, or does it only occur when encountering a certain event or problem? Does it affect sleep, eating habits, or normal life?
— In fact, when bipolar disorder can be well controlled with medication, and the mood can be relatively stable, after more than ten years, one can definitely accept and get used to it.
The relationship between the emotional response of "constant anxiety" and "bipolar disorder" must be established. There is a fundamental difference between the two.
If constant anxiety stems from an anxiety constitution/quality, it is undoubtedly another type of neurotic level of mild mental problem.
It is also possible that the current bipolar disorder is relatively stable, and the anxiety disorder has evolved to the forefront.
In short, after more than ten years of "battling bipolar disorder," I'd like to know how the condition is now. I can't draw a conclusion based on a brief description. I need a professional doctor at a regular hospital to diagnose the exact nature, level, and degree of the current anxiety and prescribe a targeted treatment.
— In fact, the emergence of any kind of "emotional response" has its positive significance and function. The questioner needs to identify what exactly is being referred to as "constant anxiety." What specific inner needs and desires are the questioner worried about?
If you rule out bipolar and just face anxiety, you can find some methods that suit you. Here is a brief introduction.
To address the questioner's desire to alleviate "constant anxiety," you should try this method and see if it works for you:
[1] Accept your "constant anxiety" and learn to understand it inside out.
For example, you need to learn to recognize and identify whether you are anxious. Is it generalized anxiety?
If it is mild anxiety, I want to know what methods the OP has tried to relieve it.
When we talk about ordinary anxiety, we're talking about the phenomenon of a rapid heartbeat and nervousness when dealing with an emergency. This is a kind of self-defense mechanism. Every time you feel anxious, you are pushing yourself to improve. If you don't adjust in time, the symptoms of anxiety will continue to worsen. Repeated anxiety at this stage will make you feel inexplicable tension and fear, and you'll start to think of the worst.
When one thing lingers in the mind, these are all common reactions of anxiety. This anxiety can and will pervade many corners of life, affecting life and work, and perhaps also social functioning.
[2] Given the questioner's circumstances, I advise trying this to relieve anxiety.
Rest more.
Anxiety is a sign that our brain is under stress. This leads to emotional instability and a worsening of anxiety. To get away from anxiety, we must get more rest and enough sleep. This allows our brain to relax and our emotions to remain stable.
Stay optimistic.
If you lack confidence and feel inferior and anxious when doing things, imagine yourself succeeding. Use these scenarios to restore your confidence, keep yourself optimistic, and tell yourself you will succeed.
Take deep breaths.
If you encounter or face something you have never done before, and it causes you inexplicable nervousness and anxiety, take a deep breath. This will relieve the pressure and eliminate the feeling of tension and anxiety.
You can also try self-relaxation "fantasy" exercises.
For example, imagine yourself lying on the beach, being caressed by the cool breeze, and tell yourself to relax your whole body on the beach and enjoy the beauty of nature. This is an effective way to relieve tension and anxiety and stabilize your emotions. (As long as it is a place of beautiful feelings in the questioner's imagination, it's okay.)
You can learn to distract yourself.
If you are distracted by "realistic pressure" and become upset, shift your attention. Do something you like, put the "worries" behind you, and avoid the "stressor." You will feel relaxed.
(6) In reality, anxiety is a common emotional problem that can seriously affect people's lives. Read books to help you cope, such as "Hello, Anxiety," "Out of Anxiety," "Controlling Anxiety," "A Thought Turn," and "The Handbook of Emotional Regulation."
If these methods don't work, it's time to seek professional medical advice. Be open and honest with your doctor.
The above is a response that combines the questioner's question. It is my personal opinion, and I stand by it. I hope it will stimulate further discussion and lead to more thinking. I also hope it will inspire and help the questioner. I welcome more in-depth exchanges. I pray that the questioner will soon overcome bipolar disorder/anxiety and find their own "mental antidote" so that they can enjoy life easily and happily!
I am here to tell you that you can overcome this.
I am sunshine, the world, and I love you! ?
Comments
I understand how challenging it can be to cope with bipolar disorder. It's important to find a support system that works for you, whether it's therapy, medication, or support groups. There is always hope for improvement.
Finding small activities that bring joy can sometimes help. Even when it's hard to feel interested, trying something new or revisiting an old hobby might gradually restore some drive.
It's tough when anxiety has been a longterm companion. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques have helped many manage their symptoms better. Maybe they could work for you too.
At 40, life can feel like a series of ups and downs, especially with bipolar disorder. Connecting with others who share similar experiences can provide comfort and insight into managing the condition.
Living with this disorder for over a decade must be exhausting. Sometimes just acknowledging your feelings and accepting them can be a step forward in finding peace.