Author: Jamie Hopkins

Change is inevitable. Whether it be starting a new job, moving to a new city, joining a new sports team, or developing a new support system, the uncomfortable is going to set in. For many people in their early 20s, all those uncomfortable changes come in the form of one exciting milestone: starting college.

I grew up in a little town of 4000. Of course, I knew that everything was going to be different. I knew that I’d be away from everything and everyone I’ve ever really known. Where to do groceries? Which pharmacy to use? How to take the bus? When to put out the garbage? Who to ask for help? The amount of new information coming in can be extremely overwhelming. But when I find the answers to my questions, I’m all set and ready to take on this new chapter of my life. One thing that can’t be answered by my classmates, though, is how to navigate the sudden change of routine that comes with starting college.

I’m no different from anyone else who appreciates a structured, predictable routine to keep them on track. Having a solid routine in place does a lot more than just provide comfort in knowing what’s coming up throughout the day. Bipolar disorder makes masters of vigilance – I’m always looking for early warning signs and jump into symptom mitigation mode at the slightest hint of an upcoming mood episode. Knowing what to expect, and what not to expect, with a solid routine makes spotting those symptoms a lot easier.

I had absolutely no routine in place when I moved to start college. Knowing that I thrive in predictability made me incredibly anxious through the first few months of trying to figure things out. I desperately wanted everything to be exactly how they were in my hometown, but of course that was impossible. Everyone always tells you to step outside of your comfort zone when trying new things – nobody ever tells you that it’s okay to want comfort amongst the chaos. I know that I usually find success when I’m settled into a new environment and can plan ahead for what’s to come. If I already have a routine that I’m comfortable with, why make myself uncomfortable in trying to start something new? How often have you found yourself in a tough spot with someone telling you to find the light in the darkness? Why not when in a new situation, we find the same in the different?

Finding the Same in the Different

For 15 years of my life, virtually every single school day started with standing at the end of my driveway to wait for the school bus that would drive me down the same roads, picking up the same people, and dropping me off on time without fail. Now, suddenly, my first day of school was about to look so different. But really, there was still so much that was the same. Maybe I was going to a new school, not getting on the school bus, and not seeing all the people I always have, but I was still waking up at the same time and getting myself to class before the bell rang. I found that the more connections I could make to my old routine, the more comfort I felt amongst all the chaos. 

The town I grew up in is situated on the shores of a river – I didn’t realize the comfort that the sounds and breeze of that water gave me until it was gone. There was a fountain in the courtyard of my college, and from day one, I sat there any time I was feeling overwhelmed and needed to feel like I was home. When my friends or family and I would eat out, we’d always get shawarma at this little family-owned restaurant in the next town over. Once moving for college, I found a place that reminded me so much of that restaurant back home, and anytime I was feeling a little down, I’d go get some shawarma and feel a little bit better.

Moving away from the home you’ve always known to start a new life at college is daunting enough in itself. It was when I began connecting my new environment to my old routine that I finally began feeling a sense of comfort. Stepping out of your comfort zone means something different for everyone. For me, simply being in a new city was far enough out of my comfort zone to be able to grow and learn more about myself as a person. I didn’t need a new routine on top of everything else that was already so overwhelming.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you different, find the same.

The content of the International Bipolar Foundation blogs is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician and never disregard professional medical advice because of something you have read in any IBPF content.