Information and opinions on Bipolar from su1 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/7061 http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061 http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/59639/beating-stigma Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:07:06 -0500 su1 The biggest tool I truly believe we have in fighting stigma is in "telling our stories".  Taken from the Mental Health Commission of Canada's report entitled "A Time for Action:  Tackling Stigma and Descrimination":     Personal contact is the method Direct peer-based contact and personal stories, targeted at changing the heart - not just the mind of the listeners, was consistently identified as the most persuasive... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/59639/beating-stigma http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/52635/med-disappointment Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:30:35 -0500 su1 Trying out Geodon, for a month now.  The first week was amazing, best I've done in years.  Then stress hit & I crumbled.  Then a simple cold hit & I crumbled some more.  I do plan to keep on trying, but the only thing consistent with trying all these meds (for 6 yrs now) is that I am consistently unreliable.  Good days & bad days - that's as good as it gets.  Geodon helped me sleep 8 hrs of restful sleep... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/52635/med-disappointment http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/49095/meds-side-effects Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:12:57 -0500 su1 http://bipolar.about.com/cs/sfx/l/bl_side_index.htm   Pretty good site, listing side effects of all the BD drugs.   My favourite overall site is still http://www.crazymeds.us/.   But both are worth noting.   Sharon http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/49095/meds-side-effects http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/46745/1-emerging-website Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:35:05 -0400 su1 http://www.emergingintolight.ca/   Click on "Experiences" on the left. I have 2 photos posted and 1 poem posted, under poetry and art. No money in it, but some great exposure!   Sharon Uittenhout http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/46745/1-emerging-website http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/46354/geodon Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:03:37 -0400 su1 Just tried Invega (new version of Risperidone) and it is giving me every side effect known to man.  We're going to try Geodon next.  Has anyone had experience with this drug?  It's supposed to be very good regarding side effects & is working really well for a friend of mine, but my pdoc is finding it does not help his other patients as much... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/46354/geodon http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/46290/steinem-difference Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:51:56 -0400 su1 Just saw Gloria Steinem speak on Oprah recently, and quite enjoyed it.    She has suffered with depression in the past and also grief when her husband died.  She explained how depression is very different from sadness:   "Depression is when nothing matters, and Sadness is when everything matters."     Very true, I thought.         On the inevitable subject of feminism, she said... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/46290/steinem-difference http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/41643/discouraged Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:19:22 -0400 su1 I am discouraged at how long my recovery is taking.  I've been off for 3 yrs now.  I know I should be grateful for the progress I am making, but still, bottom line, I am not living a real life.  It's a disabled life.  Maybe there's a better med out there for me, but I look them up and get overwhelmed with all the possible side effects, having suffered so many already, over the years.  I've managed to come down on the... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/41643/discouraged http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/38295/antibiotics Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:08:52 -0400 su1 I recently read an article in the current 'Moods' magazine (it's Canadian) of a woman who developed bad acne while being on Lithium, so she was prescribed an antibiotic to beat the acne & this caused a big increase in her depression!  The magazine answered that yes, there is apparently a connection between symptoms of depression and anti-acne/antibiotic meds.  Now why isn't this connection common... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/38295/antibiotics http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/36926/physical-mental Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:07:59 -0400 su1 When in doubt, write it out.  LOL Yay, I can still joke, at least.   I feel hopeless.  I can't escape this illness.  I have 2 chronic pain conditions in addition to my Bipolar & when I get that perfect storm of all 3 acting up at the same time, it is SO overwhelming.  I had physical pain the last few days but thankfully it's toned down today, so I'm mainly dealing only with the resulting depression, which is... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/36926/physical-mental http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/36601/keeper Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:45:32 -0400 su1 Great fwd to send to those you love.   Best Wishes, Sharon   You're A Keeper     One day someone's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the> warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning> that> sometimes there isn't any more. No more hugs, no more special moments to> celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." > Sometimes,... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/7061/36601/keeper