I get really lonely when I get sick. Even though I have a lot of friends, I still miss the company that comes with belonging to a social group. This happens because I work on my own. I think a lot about ways to get myself out in public and a part of a group. Here are some suggestions:
Toastmasters. Wow, what a great group of people. Toastmasters is a worldwide speaking organization. I was in a group for two years and still have friendships with the people I met years ago. If you’re thinking, OMG, I can’t speak in public! Well, that is what it’s all about. It makes you able to speak in public! It’s also a great way to learn how [ Read More ]
Here are some stories that illustrate a fact: bipolar disorder medication efficacy can change over time.
– Lithium: My dear friend Rececca- who has bipolar I- took Lithium successfully for over eight years. Two years ago she had a severe manic/psychotic episode without a major trigger. My coauthor Dr. John Preston calls them breakthrough mood swings. She spent the past two years on Lithium and Zyprexa. It was a tough two years, but she is doing SO well. I just talked with her today and I said, “It’s so great to have Rebecca back!” She said that her husband feels the same. People do get better!
– Zoloft: Another friend was on Zoloft for ten years. It stopped working effectively. She then tried Celexa. It worked for a while, but not as well as Zoloft. [ Read More ]
I did a presentation this week on the topic of parents of children with a mental illness. It was amazing to speak with Don Moore, a man whose daughter has schizophrenia. I learned so much from doing the event.
I am simply worn out- It’s about 8PM and all I can think of doing is going to sleep. I am SO not used to this that I’m not sure if it’s even normal. Bipolar ‘worn out’ is so different- when you’re depressed or have just come out of a mood swing, there is tiredness weariness and unhappiness.
This is just feeling tired I think. There is a difference between tired from reality and tired from an illness.
Does this make sense to you? Now that I can work so much more- [ Read More ]
Thank you so very much for all of your comments and kind words. As you can tell, I’m not able to answer each comment individually- though I want to! I read all of them- every day.
My new meds regime is still working- the depression has been cut by about 75%. Yes, that much. When I do have a down day, it’s pretty severe which is interesting. I just wrote about it. But I’m so thankful that I finally have some relief. This is my nephew David being silly. I am astonished at how much more emotional energy I have now- I can just hang out with him without feeling miserable. He says he can notice the difference.
I’m in quite a doozy of a downswing. I have many different kinds of bipolar downswings. This one is a sadness about my past down swing. I’m thinking of a person I once loved very much who ended our friendship when he got married. I remember my ex who got very sick this year and didn’t want my help. The music I’m listening to as I write this is making me sad. I’m at a library writing my latest book and when I look out the window I see so many happy people walking around the farmer’s market. Last night I went to an event that was a lot of fun, and yet all I could do [ Read More ]
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Tips to add spice to your social life…
