Thank you readers.

Thank you commenters.

Thank you friends.

Thank you new friends.

Thank you family.

Thank  you husband and son.

Thank you dog.

Thank you coffee.

Thank you Claritin.

Thank you universe.

Thank you DBSA.

Thank you crazy ole self.

Thank everyone and everything, because it is all a part of what has led me to be able to be here today.  ( Read more... )

We all have a lot to learn.  Among all the people who have a lot to learn, I probably have more to learn, because I am a slow, stubborn learner, but I hope these entries have conveyed the ability to find the positive within the negative of mental illness.

There are certainly a lot of negatives out there, but by finding the positives, we can change ( Read more... )

Reader who most frequently commented:  Ginny with 18 comments in under an hour, and with a topic suggestion that netted 3 entries.  Thank you.

Total comments received: 80+ (accounting for bad math)

Total donations made:  $100 + an unspecified amount

Scary moments:  47 so far

Wonderful moments:  Countless

“How long does it take you to notice these symptoms?”

It depends on the symptom.  I am often not the first one to notice the changes in my speech patterns.  Usually it is a friend, or my husband, who comments on the rapidity or slowness of my speech.

I’ve learned to quickly recognize and remedy any sleep problems or paranoia, but it took many many ( Read more... )

“how can you tell if you are “slipping”? are there warning signs for you?”

Another great question.  There are definitely warning signs for me on either end of the bipolar spectrum, but the first one for either tends to be my speech.  When I am getting manic, my speech accelerates.  It isn’t terribly noticeable at first, I just sound excited, but ( Read more... )

One thing that I have learned through my involvement with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is the importance of self-advocacy at personal, local, state, and federal levels.  Sure, at the local, state, and federal levels, there is probably someone who will be advocating for something similar to you needs, but you won’t know for sure that ( Read more... )

Renee’s note:  And here’s where I jump the shark people.

In my life, there is a common thread, weaving together the fabric of my life.  To mix metaphors, it is the drum beat on my soul, pounding out the rhythm of my life.  To be less analagous (and poorly so) it is my bipolar disorder.

Since I was thirteen years old, I was aware of my mental ( Read more... )

In the two previous posts I discussed the importance of writing and social support to my mental wellbeing.  In this post I would like to discuss one that some of you may relate to, but others may, well, not.

Tool number 3:  Crafts.

As some of you know, I am a coauthor of a craft book.  Crafts have a great deal of history with me, and a not ( Read more... )

In my last entry, I went on and on about how writing is my number one tool for maintaining level ground in my bipolar disorder.  Medications would tie for this, but I feel I have discussed medicine enough, so instead I am going to move onto rediscussing support, which could never be discussed enough.

Tool number two:  Social support

They say that ( Read more... )

“You have done a great job presenting a lot of the problems with bipolar illness. Don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one post on any one topic. What are some of the tools you use to get yourself “flying right” again? Sharing these can help other people.”

Great suggestion, and wow, what a topic.

I’m sure everyone’s “toolbox” for dealing with ( Read more... )