Avoid Aggressive Rapid Cycling with Coping Skills

Rapid cycling is already hard enough, but when it comes down to a never-ending feeling of aggression, you have to find coping mechanisms to get that anger out. Mental illness episodes don't always have to be difficult, it's just about finding the right coping skills to manage aggression from rapid cycling.

Notice Rapid Cycling Before It Gets Aggressive

There is a lot going on in my life right now that could trigger aggressive rapid cycling, but sometimes you can be triggered from normal day to day things. The key is learning how to tell if your body is revving up. Usually, there is some sort of sign that happen before things get too serious: anxiety, more or less sleep, easily annoyed and loss or gain of appetite (How to Pay Attention to Your Body).

Find Ways to Become More Aware During Aggression

I started writing to become more aware during my aggressive rapid cycling episodes. I would write everything that came to mind during my cycle. That way when I came back to reality, I could look back at what I wrote and saw where my mind was at that point. You can find lots of ways to do this such as writing, painting, vlogging, creating a journal.

Find Ways to Be Able to Feel Aggression in a Stable Environment

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me I should start working out to get my aggression out, I would be sitting pretty. Although exercise isn't my choice, it is extremely effective for most people. The coping mechanism I like to use is watching a lot of tv and movies. This may seem less productive, but it works for me to be able to feel everything towards the characters that I might not be able to express in real life.

Life is always going to be throwing things at you that could trigger you into rapid cycling, feelings and episodes, but you have to learn coping skills to be able to live a "normal" life. I know sometimes it's definitely hard for me to control myself, sometimes aggression feels almost welcoming, but I can't be running around causing havoc. It's important for me to see the joy of balance in my life.