Information and opinions on Bipolar from HeyJude at BipolarConnect.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591 http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591 http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/37817/bipolar-mom Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:48:12 -0000 HeyJude Had a conversation with a friend the other day, and it got mee thinking about the many challenges associated with living with bipolar disorder with 4 children to care for.  Raising kids is not an easy task - add bipolar to the mix and it can be doubly or even triply difficult.    When I was diagnosed, my children were 4, 6, 8 and 9 years old.  My first hespitalization lasted nearly 6 weeks (common in the 70s... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/37817/bipolar-mom http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/34270/therapists Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:14:22 -0000 HeyJude Over the course of my illness, I have seen probably a dozen different therapists.  Some have been mediocre, some pretty good, some lousy, but I've found only 2 that have been worth their salt.   For the most part, I convinced myself that I didn't NEED a therapist at all, that it was a waste of time.  Presently, I have a therapist that is like an old friend.  Haven't seen her for three years until last week.  Now my... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/34270/therapists http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/32800/bit-journaling Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:03:02 -0000 HeyJude Today is a pretty good day...better than yesterday, which was better than the day before that.  My depression is waning a bit, it's down to sadness and fatigue.  Fatigue from fighting the depressed mood.  The old black dog of depression always takes its toll, but this time I'm doing some good things (thanks to BPC friends and my support group) that are helping.   It's amazing how the very small things, like a kind word of... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/32800/bit-journaling http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/32434/creeping Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:20:22 -0000 HeyJude Just in the past week or so, I've been experiencing a "letdown", like the wind has been taken out of my sails.  It's bordering on mild depression, and it scares me just a little.   For the past 3 months, I have been doing great - good focus, creative without hypomania, simply enjoying life, enjoying each day.  I don't want it to end - I want it to last the rest of my life.  It may seem a bit unrealistic but it doesn't... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/32434/creeping http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/32158/left-brain-brain Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:33:06 -0000 HeyJude Yesterday on the local news, the discussion was about the brain and it's two hemispheres.  Did you know that the brain has 100 billion cells - and that scientists and biologists, are still in the dark about many of its basic intracies?   It reminded me of a website that I shared with my support group a few years back.  It involves a fun, simple exercise to determine left-brain right-brain activity and... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/32158/left-brain-brain http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/31885/med-dilemma Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:58:58 -0000 HeyJude I've been wondering - has anyone actually discontinued meds altogether?  It's been heavy on my mind lately and I am considering reducing, if not eliminating my medications.  It's actually always been a goal of mine.   My doctor may disagree - I see him in July and will discuss it with him.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  We have a good relationship, and I know he will at least listen.   Because of... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/31885/med-dilemma http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/31231/coming Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:59:24 -0000 HeyJude Wouldn't it be good if we bipolars, like the gay community, could just "come out of the closet" and get on with our lives.  If only it was that simple!  Society isn't ready for us to be an integral part of their world.    Eric's recent post, in reference to his book, touched on this topic and it got my wheels turning.  He basically said that people's perceptions quickly change toward us once they realize we... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/31231/coming http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/30992/affirmations Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:20:00 -0000 HeyJude A friend of mine recently came out of a 6-month difficult depression.  With major med changes, good support from friends and advocates, she is doing better, although still a bit shaky.   An earlier post here mentioned "positive affirmations", so I decided to give them a go.  We have both been using this technique for about two weeks now.  It's making a difference for her, and for me.   We went to our favorite... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/30992/affirmations http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/30719/goose-story Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:43:26 -0000 HeyJude Here's a little something I'd like to share with my bipolar friends.  I think we should apply a bit of this story to our own lives:     This fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way.  It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/30719/goose-story http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/30438/periods-wellness Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:19:02 -0000 HeyJude Bipolars are fortunate in the fact that we all have times at which we are high functioning and are in a "normal" range of wellness.  I certainly count my blessings for this.  Many people with mental illness are not so lucky.  Some go thru life without the joys that we experience when we are well.   In the past, I wasn't very good at looking at ways to improve and prolong these periods of wellness.  Now... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/57591/30438/periods-wellness