My Warnings Signs When I’m Getting Unwell

Photo by Michelle Fleur

Part of my recovery journey is to recognise when I’m getting unwell - more specifically recognising the warnings signs that makes me unwell. So how do I know when I’m getting unwell?

1. Change of Sleeping Patterns

When my sleeping pattern is irregular for an ongoing two weeks, it’s a sign that I might be getting unwell. My sleep is very important for my Bipolar - if I don’t get more than 8 hours sleep, I honestly can’t function throughout the day.

2. Racing Thoughts

What you think, will what you be when you become. My thoughts are not clear, they’re racing and I can’t seem to stop them. They feel like they’re running at 1000km per hour. When I have racing thoughts too, I can have increased speed of speech too. Normally I talk fast, but when I’m having racing thoughts, my speech becomes extra speedy.

3. Hearing Voices

This is a big one for me. Sometimes I hear voices. Sometimes they’re male, sometimes they’re a female voice, or even a baby’s voice. On some other days, I can’t comprehend whether they’re female or male or a baby’s voice. It can become very frightening as well - the voices - sometimes they command me to hurt myself in different ways. Thank God I am good at recognising this warning sign as I have a lot of ‘experience’ dealing with this warning sign.

4. Increased spending on money

When I am unwell, I also spend ‘a lot’ of money. Clothes, shoes, bags - you name it. Even overspending on groceries as well! This warning sign I have to be really careful with as sometimes I feel I can’t “control” myself on this spending.

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