@SusanaBA I totally agree with all those points and it's reassuring to read them and realise I actually do all of them to some degree or another.
I have a "Wellness Recovery Action Plan" which has also been invaluable since I first made it in 2013. It's helpful for me to identify signs and symptoms, have a well developed wellness toolbox, keep track of important info such as a contacts list including medical team but also informal supports like certain people who I am ok about being kept informed. I update it whenever things change, and have added to it many times. EDIT: it includes lists of triggers to either depression or hypomania and also my PTSD triggers. Which I add to as I come to understand and recognise them.
I make sure my trusted people and my support team all know where it is and what's in it. Parts of it are equivalent to an "Advance Health Directive" so that if I'm too unwell to say, the important people know what my wishes are e.g. treatments I will and won't agree to, what to do if I have a crisis, etc.
I really recommend making a document like this while a person is relatively well as it saves a lot of problems when unwell.
I also use daily a "bipolar monitoring chart" so I can see at a glance when things are changing moodwise, sleep patterns, meds taken - that sort of thing. My important people also know where to find that. Even during my long years of total isolation I kept these documents current and made sure at least 1 or 2 people knew about them. Which meant only my far away adult child and brother, but I was able to show it to any new doctors or therapists too.
