Curious what specifically makes other peoples symptoms worse.
I’m currently going through a mini-episode but haven’t exactly pinpointed what it is. I think being around more people and talking more than usual. Also I starting working out intensely. It seems like maybe this is a factor? I don’t know why it would be. So I’m isolating a bit and getting lots of sleep. Starting to feel better today.
What makes your symptoms worse, what symptoms, and what are the causes for you personally?
Stress or situations that induce stress.
I went to check out a sound production club in college yesterday cus I thought it would be fun as I’m into music/instruments. Turns out it was in an auditorium with like 50+ people there. We had to go around the entire room and everyone had to say what they played/what they were interested/why they were there. I was literally like 2nd to last. Forgot to bring any extra anxiety meds. I did ok but man I was mad I had to go through that. So much stress. This probably caused a lot of it…
Since becoming diagnosed I have become socially anxious too.
I am an academic and I find tight deadlines will increase the level or severity of my symptoms. I find that I am more sensitive to stress than I was before.
However, contingent on the type of stress , duration, and the way it has impacted me, sometimes I can recover quite quickly and in other circumstances, months
That’s great! Sounds like you understand your stress triggers very well. I hope I can get to a place where based on those types of stressors/durations you mentioned I can have an idea of what to expect from a subsequent episode.
Thank you 
But I trust you will. How long has it been since you were diagnosed?
Stress is the number one issue for me. I do as much as I possibly can to mitigate my stress load.
Anything that causes stress for me. Work, social situations, driving, etc.
In addition to mental illness I am also struggling with pornograhpy addiction. I think this influences my mental health quite bad.
Being aware of this probable connection between porn and mental health I am trying to abstain as much as I can from porn and I am feeling less depressed and have less brain fog when I am sucsessful.
I’m not against erotic material in itself, but for me it’s all or nothing, because I am unable to have a healthy relationship with it. I spend unhealthy amounts of time with it when I’m in the bubble, but luckily I have been able to abstain for several months as well and my mental health has improved in these periods.
Almost 7 years now
Weed, stress, lack of sleep, coffee.
Stress and marijuana, lack of sleep
yeah, those are also true for me. Stressful situations, lack of sleep, too much coffee…all of those are bad for the brain. I tried weed, but I hadn’t smoked in years when I had my first episode and I almost never used it after that either.
If CBD ever becomes affordable I’ll try that. But anything with THC I will never touch.
I tried some that had only 15mg in it and even that was expensive. I think I felt a bit more calm on it, but the dosage was too low and the product too expensive. It’s not even legal where I live yet. I just managed to get some in through the post from abroad.
Maybe they will start up full scale hemp plantations again like they had back in the 30’s and 40’s in the states. That might help the supply and pricing.
I’m so lucky that caffeine doesn’t make my symptoms worse. I drink a lot of it 
Also for me too.
Stressful communications or social stuff mostly
I must say however one thing that I feel has helped to most is journaling. In all sincerity without that and the ability to reflect and project what I think and feel, I believe I would have regressed
I use 400mg caffeine pills.