Information and opinions on health from Of-Two-Minds about it at HealthCentral.com. 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/profiles/c/184715/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/184715/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/184715/index http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160925/poem-wrote Sat, 18 May 2013 21:26:33 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it       I just finished a creative writing class and we had to write poetry. I wrote this poem to try to describe the bipolar cycle.     Riding the Train   On a dark and empty train I am a solitary rider on a sad and lonely journey  through tunnels filled with shadows.   They take their seats around me And whisper words of anguish That break my heart and leave me Cold and in... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160925/poem-wrote http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160814/awhile Sat, 11 May 2013 02:51:10 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it A friend from the site messaged me to see how I was doing as I hadn't posted in a while. I am ok. I am crunched at work right now and I am finishing a couple of classes, but I do come on the site and read the posts. Just never know what to write or when to write. I have had some difficulties with my oldest daughter that I am trying to work through. Angry with me for pointing out as gently as I could that she might need to reconsider a hard... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160814/awhile http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/184715/160438/lives Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:13:33 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it Or maybe it is just some of us who allow our lives to be taken captive by spouses, family, work, even strangers sometimes.   I am 50 years old and I still have difficulties asserting myself, advocating for my own needs. I don't think it will ever change and I am tired of beating my head against the same walls over and over and over again, so I am giving it up for now.   I can't seem to communicate my feelings well enough to anyone... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/184715/160438/lives http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160172/spring-break Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:41:49 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it It is the last weekend before I head back to work. I got a lot of rest, but with a lot of rest comes a lot of guilt for being unproductive- silly, cause isn't that the whole point of a break? Just the weird way my brain is wired.   Just checking in with some of the BP issues I still struggle with on a daily basis. 1. Can a person get PTSD from stress? I can't deal well with any negative thing that comes up anymore. It's like my coping... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160172/spring-break http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160000/hard-couple-days Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:17:37 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it Tough day. I forgot to take my meds this morning and mind was wobbly from lunch on. First time I have done that.   Tough couple of days. Very tense IEP team meeting yesterday that made me want to rip my hair out.. and it is still not over. Need to meet with mother again. I had my annual evaluation today AND a classroom observation. An administrator and a professional education trainer in my last class today watching me for 45 minutes.... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/160000/hard-couple-days http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159788/feeling-back-wall Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:27:35 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it Okay, third try to write a post without it disappearing half through writing it. I am doing it on a word document, first, this time.   In a nutshell, hard week, little sleep, issue at work sent me home early yesterday, furious and at my wits end.   Am I overreacting, maybe, some would probably say I am, but really it was just the last straw for me, and being as tired as I have been, I just didn’t handle it well. I work really... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159788/feeling-back-wall http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/184715/159718/work-accommodations Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:54:03 -0400 Of-Two-Minds about it Today was more all-day teacher training which required a lot of collaboration. I was struggling. Brain was foggy, a little shaky, and just not up to working in a group. I tried and got through one exercise but I was in a lot of anxiety, having a hard time formulating complete sentences and get angry about the situation. Later, before going to lunch, I spoke to the facilitator. I expressed my concern about helping students who might have... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/184715/159718/work-accommodations http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159644/anxiety-traveling Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:08:33 -0500 Of-Two-Minds about it My youngest daugter lives in another state; she moved there 2-1/2 years ago when she got married. She has been attending college there and will be graduating in June with a BA. I checked on line today to see what it would cost to fly there, get a motel room..etc. Affordable. School will be out for the summer, so I definately have the time.   What's the problem? The idea of it fills me with such anxiety.   I spent a few days away... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159644/anxiety-traveling http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159560/stuff-struggle Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:47:31 -0500 Of-Two-Minds about it Some days of hypomania. Professional trainings, getting to know some of my co-workers better, unable to keep my damn mouth shut, too open about my life, shared the bipolar diagnosis, now I feel vulnerable. Fighting with my husband, he said something to me that hurt me, I can't let go of it, I am angry, the walls are up, he doesn't get it, acts like nothing is wrong. Now this is just me, just my concerns, don't mean to offend, cause doubts,... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159560/stuff-struggle http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159360/awareness-mood-shifts Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:23:52 -0500 Of-Two-Minds about it I have had a fairly stable mood cycle for a few weeks with an upward shift last week characterized by feeling less pressured by job responsibilities, moments of razor sharp focus, vivacious social behaviors, trouble sleeping, etc.   Then, last night, I felt off. After an afternoon of decluttering my house and my workbag, my brain began to sputter. It was hard for me to focus in on things. Today, just a few minutes ago, in... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/184715/159360/awareness-mood-shifts