Letting our emotions out isn't easy at any time, but when we're having a rough day, it's even tougher. Yet I've found that setting those emotions free is an excellent way to manage bipolar. For example, if we're angry, that anger builds into a burning rage, waking the demons until they start to take over. So keeping the anger -- the emotions -- inside, makes things worse.

The same goes for other emotions. Irritation, frustration, unhappiness, and feelings of failure will all be harder to deal with if we lock them inside. They mess with the mind . . . and the mind messes with the emotions. Since bipolar affects moods, we become more frustrated and feel as if we're a bigger failure. Then we get angrier and the rage settles in . . .  and we've gone full circle without accomplishing anything.

But if we let go of the emotions, we can break that cycle. We'll go back to the beginning where we're having a bad day. When the anger sets in, what if we go into the back yard and throw an old shoe into the grass until our arm is tired? The silliness of what we're doing will hit us and the anger will leave. And without the anger, we'll laugh at ourselves for throwing shoes.

That doesn't negate whatever made us angry to start with. And it doesn't fix anything. But it can help our outlook on the issue. When others see us laughing, they'll join in, and we'll be more apt to talk to them about the original issue.

Bottling our emotions up and leaving them inside is a perfect recipe for disaster. Don't give the demons the recipe they want. Open up and let the words flow.