I was diagnosed with Bipolar type II and Borderline Personality Disorder. My life has been a roller coaster ride for myself and those close to me all my life. Things only started making sense after I was diagnosed and started studying these conditions really well.
I think getting to know yourself, your triggers, your reactions, your impulses, your urges, your moods, highs, lows, cravings, intense needs, emotions, etc. is the key to recovery. I still get my episodes. I still do crazy things. I still put myself in danger sometimes and I still do impulsive things but I have learnt so much about myself which makes it so much easier to cope with.
Once you are able to recognize your triggers and early warning signs it is easier to pre-plan a solution to those triggers rather than allowing them to throw you off the rails. You will still experience the symptoms but you can channel your reactions to the symptoms in a healthier direction.
You will find something if you think about it carefully that will help you cope when these things hit you. For example I like writing music, I like sketching, I like getting a massage, I like singing, hiking, tanning, writing poems, etc.
When a deep emotional craving that no one can fill hits me I write about it. I write a song or a poem and express how I feel in a creative way. I know that talking to someone will not really help when I'm in that head space because they won't understand. The only way I can truly work through the emotions is to write about it and the fact that I am doing something creative turns the negative episode into something positive which makes me feel good and proud afterwards when I look at the end result. Before I would go on a drinking bindge to try and cope with the intense longing and emptiness or even the hypomania which leads to feeling worse later as apposed to feeling better.
You can work out your own coping strategies and have the plans ready for each type if episode, crisis or emotional upset. Sometimes a strategy will involve going to the emergency room or phoning a particular person or going for a jog. There are so many things you can do but you are more likely to stick to your strategy if you write it down and keep it with you written in a document on your phone so that you can read it when an episode hits you.
I hope this helps xx