Lynne is an abstract painter and writer from Ithaca, New York. She wrote for HealthCentral as a patient expert for Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder.
I don’t know how many nights I have lain awake worrying about something I did, something I need to do, or something disastrous that’s about to happen. It’s amazing how everything seems more ominous and hopeless in the dark. When I know at the beginni...
I usually get so anxious before any gig where I have to make a public appearance that I suffer for days and sometimes weeks ahead of time. Yet last night I had to host the reception for a solo show of my work in a local gallery and loved every minute ...
Does social anxiety disorder keep you from going out with friends, joining clubs, or working out at the gym? Does it limit what kind of jobs you apply for, or perhaps keep you from leaving a job you hate because you are fearful of facing the challeng...
It’s always interesting to see what scientists are coming up with in terms of new studies. Results don’t always give useful information, and when they do, it will often take years before that information can be used to provide help for individuals su...
This week at our bipolar meeting, we talked about problems dealing with money, and in particular, going through bankruptcy. I remember the first time I had to file bankruptcy in the early 70s when my small business failed. I felt such a sense of sham...
I am bipolar and suffer from various anxieties, and I was thinking recently about the effects each of these conditions has had on me throughout my life. It’s not always easy to separate the two, since anxiety and depression often go together. But I h...
Last night I woke up four or five times feeling vaguely anxious, which is pretty much the story of this past week, even though I have nothing in particular to feel anxious about. At times like this, the superstitious part of my brain starts thinking, ...
Several women I know are perfectly fine most of the time, but once a month they experience heightened anxiety, irritability, and other mood changes. When such symptoms occur according to hormone cycles, they are considered the result of PMS (premenst...
Recently there’s been a lot of talk on the message boards about problems with bipolar spouses written by the non-bipolar spouse. These men and women are trying to be faithful and helpful, but it some cases it seems they are fighting a losing battle. ...