Cute but true ...

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html

Bipolar Surveys for Research & Fundraising!!!

Just thought I'd pop up a quick blog to highlight this. I found it on Facebook of all places, but it seems like a great idea:

http://www.piphealth.com/Default.aspx?id=22&ids=234421&ref=fbmdf

I'm signing up, I'll let you know how it goes.

Mental Illness Metaphors ... Yay Or Nay?

I was directed to an interesting article today, about how using mental illnesses as metaphors (i.e: describing someone who washes their hands a lot as 'a bit OCD' or changeable weather as 'bipolar weather') can be damaging, in that it can demean or belittle the illnesses, making people think they're not as severe as they can be, & encouraging social stigmas against those with mental illnesses. It also raises the opposite idea that it can instead act to bring about discussion of mental illnesses & in that way increase understanding of them. Read the article & see what you think:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15213824

Also, the link at the bottom to bipolar disorder has a great section on treatment, including a 'self help' section for anyone who's not on drugs or just needs a way to get a better handle on it. It's pretty much the stuff I'm doing, which is nice for me - a bit of validation is always appreciated!

Status Update: September 2011

This won't be a long one.

September has been ... odd. I had a few days of depression at the start of the month (just after I reported on August being 'episode-free', ironically), & then to the end of the month I had a very peculiar week that I can only describe as being 'mixed'. Very high mood, but with the occasional moments of extreme lows. Lows as in anger, stress & sadness, so it really was all over the place. Though the lows were responses to situations, albeit rather exaggerated ones, in hindsight.

Still, nothing was going to happen overnight. So I'm still on the diet-watching tactic. The thing I've been thinking about a fair amount recently however, is the importance on not being bored. Boredom allows the mind to wander, to dwell, & to play all sorts of nasty tricks on you. & that goes for everyone, not just us poor folks with malfunctioning brains. So I've been keeping very busy indeed. I've recaught the acting bug, had a couple of commissions for my burgeoning costume-making business, & watched LOTS of dvds.Along with this I've been clubbing, larping & rambling. I have to say, fighting off boredom has been fun & certainly productive, but I think there's something to say for not being too busy as well ... :D

That's all for now, I'm off to watch more dvds & play WoW.

Interesting ...

I just had this pointed out to me. It's interesting ... it certainly seems to tie in with my findings on my own caffeine intake. But of course with bipolar it's all about balance ... not too much, not too little ... ir at least it is for me so far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15059266

Thoughts?

Status Update: August 2011

As you might surmise by my lack of posts, it's been a quiet month ... Well not exactly, there have been several birthdays, weddings, picnics & so on, as well as commissions to make & of course my job ... but in other regards, it's been quiet. Haha.

I'm happy to say that in August I had not one mood swing that I could attribute to my bipolar. Nothing whatsoever that felt out of control or out of perspective. Nothing! This is a rather happy realisation for me, because I honestly don't think I've had a full month feeling ok & stable for ... 2 years? I know that sounds like a lot, but I think it's right. So this is a good sign, but let's not get complacent ...

So I'm trying to improve on my healthy eating theory. As well as pigging out on salmon & watching my caffeine intake, I've started on these Graze boxes that you can get delivered to you through the post. Anyone out there tried them? What do you think? For those who haven't, they're filled with yummy natural nibbles like seeds, nuts. dried berries & fruit, & the odd chocolate button ... I jumped on them mainly for the seeds, which just aren't something I usually think to pick up at the supermarket, but they're designed to help you avoid the '3pm slump' that a lot of people get when they eat breakfast, lunch & dinner, & not much in-between (which is apparently not great for you) - hence the name 'Graze'. I've added a link on the right-hand side if you want to check them out (put in the code 1KNHPQ43 & you can have a free box on me).

I've done better on the reiki / meditation this month, but not as well as I'd like. So that's still ongoing.

That's all I've got to tell you  ... here's hoping this coming month is as uneventful!

Status Update: July 2011

A tad late, I confess, but we've all been a bit distracted of late in the UK, by these bloody riots ... big thanks to the powers that be that they seem to be over ...

So let's see ... I believe I had 1 upswing & 1 downswing in July (notice how I can't seem to use the words 'mania' or 'depression'? Curious ...). The upswing wasn't too severe, though it did run a bit extreme toward the end. The downswing ... 3 or 4 days of utter misery, followed by a couple of days of numbness. It also happened to coincide with what should have been a very happy event. Thankfully I didn't ruin anyone's day.

And what of the mechanisms? Well, the meditation / reiki is still not on track, but better than last month. It's something that took me ages to get into the habit, & not long to get out of. I fear it's going to be the same this time around. Food-wise, I'm monitoring my caffeine intake - neither cutting it out completely nor allowing myself as much as I used to have - & it seems to be working well. I've eaten salmon as often as I can, & my scientifcally reliable other half informed me that folic acid also helps with mood regulation, so with that in mind I've been nomming on marmite on toast (good thing I love marmite!).

I'm also keeping myself very busy with making stuff, writing stuff, & playing stuff in my spare time - it's been a bit hectic at times, & I may need to remind myself to take some time out to avoid getting too stressed! But generally, life is good.

So in summary, I'm still not episode-free, but they weren't severe. This pleases me. I'll keep up the experiment. Stay tuned ...