I know this has probably been a subject many times before because we all want ways with which to cope with the extremities of our conditions. First the boring bit though (c'mon, can't have fun from the very start). I've never been a fan of medication and in hindsight I'm glad I never took it back in the old days. This is basically why I came up with coping strategies, and while they work for me I can't guarantee they'll work for you because everyone is different.
When hypomanic or manic:
Ah the joy! Ok, lets face it, it feels fantastic and I suspect its responsible for some of the most creative things we've seen in the world but it can lead to some bad decisions which haunt us afterwards. I find that limits are essential at this time, including isolating yourself, because this reduces the stimulus you have to work with and so you're unlikely to do something you'll feel really bad about later.
If you honestly don't want to isolate yourself then only go out with someone who you trust and is aware of your situation. Try to get them to come to you rather than going out to meet them, or be in constant communication via text etc till your with them and they will generally be an anchor for you.
When in the dark depths:
This one's simple. DON'T BE ALONE. This is the best solution, because what it does is introduce distraction technique. We are social creatures, regardless of what we may think, and just being in the company of people can help. Having someone occasionally ask if you're alright in a friendly way is surprisingly therapeutic. Being included is important, you don't have to contribute. As stated in the manic section above try to get communication between yourself and someone else when going from one place to another by yourself as it this can be one of the highest risk times.
Distraction is possibly the most significant thing I can think of and can take many forms. Essentially what you need is something that will connect with your core self and engage the base emotions, either happiness or anger are best.
For example, I'm fiercely defensive of my friends, they know I will do anything for them, so if I'm in a bad place all one of them has to do is say they need advice etc on a problem and I won't look at my own stuff because I'll be focused on what their needs are, thus distracted from my own issues.
Another way I have is having films or programmes I'll watch, the vast majority are comedys because laughter is very powerful, it tends to distract you from the way you feel (I guess this is another way in which Stephen Fry helps, we find his stuff funny otherwise we wouldn't be on this forum would we?). Personally I find Pixar films and The Muppets work, but anything you find simply amusing helps.
As I said in the introduction, I don't know if this will work for others and you'll have to tailor things to your own personality.
I can't think of anything clever to say so I'll be quiet
