Comments for Bipolar Babe

Comment on Time Zones by New Hope for Children and Teens with Bipolar Disorder: Your Friendly, Authoritative Guide to the Latest in Traditional and Complementary Solutions | Best Parenting Books

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:41:58 +0000

[...] Bipolar Babe » Time Zones [...]

Comment on Time Zones by Hazeldorf

Hazeldorf — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:21:11 +0000

I’ve kinda been there. I know it’s a crazy balancing act. you are great. You are strong. we are all there with ya.

Comment on The Hypo-manic Roller Coaster by Bipolarette Dana

Bipolarette Dana — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:59:41 +0000

“you still have the ability to move even when you are depressed” That is a well kept secret isn’t it?! I have always been surprised at how well the self talk can actually work. I’m so cynical and usually pessimistic that the idea that my negative brain can talk itself into rising above always seem a bit “out there” to me. Its so simple, and yet so effective.

I’m currently coming down from a particularly long and stubborn mania. I’m trying to focus all of my energy on coming down slowly and trying to avoid a major crash on the other side. I’m also trying not to beat myself up for the things I did while I was in the midst of the madness.

You’re so right about how horrible we can be to ourselves. I can never understand how people always forgive me for the things I do at the top and bottom of the roller coaster, yet I would forgive my loved ones for almost anything!

Anyway, great post! Hope things are fairly level for you today

Comment on Ice Cream by Roy Sadd

Roy Sadd — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:06:56 +0000

I find that after I have a bout of illness I find out that there are two camps of friends. One set of friends is uncomfortable with the subject of mental illness and are unsure how to respond much like your co-workers on the bus. And then there are people who get it and treat me the same no matter what has happened. I respect both camps as I know that all my friends wish me the best. A bridge partner of mine who “gets it” has been a great support through this last bout of illness I have suffered, he visited me in the hospital (which usually only my parents do) and even invited me to his wedding banquet while I was still in the hospital and out on pass. Friends like him who make me crack a smile are priceless.

Comment on Be a Mental Health Face online! by MIAWCanada

MIAWCanada — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:16:06 +0000

Hi Andrea,

Thanks for posting this info on your site! We’re now linking to you site on our blog (http://miaw-ssmm.blogspot.com) Looking forward to sharing your story/other posts on our blog too.

Thanks again!

MIAW Team

Comment on Acid Trip by Josh Zed

Josh Zed — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:21:17 +0000

Acid triggered my illness at 16 I saw many colors and then I saw the souls of my friends I was hanging with at the time. I tried to communicate with my friends souls on there level the sub-concious realm as I thought it to be, but I couldnt reach it. I experienced a trip that caused me to question reality for many years and I didnt see reality the same and I didnt want to be here because I saw a place that seemed so much better. I told my mother of what I was thinking then I saw a doctor then a pysciatrist and I was giving pills and told what I was thinking wasnt real so I took the pills but reality and what is or not was constantly still on my mind.

Albert Einstein
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

Comment on Be a Mental Health Face online! by Rickey Pita

Rickey Pita — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:26:18 +0000

I read some great books from bipolarreading.com – Break the Bipolar Cycle: A Day-by-Day Guide to Living with Bipolar Disorder, Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Disorder: The Ultimate Guide, Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder: A 4-Step Plan for You and Your Loved Ones to Manage the Illness and Create Lasting Stability

Comment on Restless by Babe

Babe — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:03:57 +0000

Thanks for writing Squash, I know how hard that can be sometimes, even to muster up the energy but I see you are back on the blog so that is awesome. I like that “Action breeds Motivation” but even at times I am so exhausted that making soup for myself is a chore in itself. The restlessness is gone and pure exhaustion seemed to remain, but feeling better today. It is such a rollercoaster. What kind of action are you using it to be proud of? I have exercised a bit more and my house is cleaner. lol Stay in touch! ANdrea

Comment on Restless by Squash

Squash — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:20:15 +0000

Keep your head up Andrea. You are always an inspiration for me. I slipped for a long time. My motivation gone. It still is. Have you ever read “Feeling Good” by Dr. Burns? I just started it a couple weeks ago.

Anyways his suggestion is that action breeds motivation.

I’ve been put on parnate cuz my depression is crippling. I didn’t respond to tegretol at all. It pushed me down. I haven’t had the relief of a “good” day in 5 months. But I’m having the side-effect of restlessness too.

I’m trying to harness it. Using it to take actions that I can be proud of.

But then you sound like you’ve been working on that too.

Comment on Therapy by J Peachy

J Peachy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:27:54 +0000

Andrea thanks again for posting this.

Maslow’s hierarchy identified human needs from food, shelter to self actualization. The ability to create is a huge need for me. Whenever I’m in a space; physical, psychological or social, where I cannot create, I notice that I begin to have problems. They may not all be large ones, however they can accumulate. I am conscious of this need and are always searching for simple ways to do free my creative spirit. While I like to paint or play drums; the time and effort it takes to enable those platforms can seem lengthy. Thus I’ve found readily accessible ways to enable creativity, whether it be; poetry, visualization or just tapping a funky rhythm.

Conversely, if I am in a negative mind space and I have an abundance of creative energy, that can cause issues for me. But just as important is its affect on other people. Those that do not understand who I really am, begin to judge it as a character defect, they then become distant. The same creative force that attracts me to others can be just as fierce in driving them away. Harm reduction is a key term for me, it applies to ourselves and for those around us.

Managing creativity is an art-form in itself and can be inspired by the need to preserve oneself.