Dearest swheaton, I HATE THIS TOO! On behalf of all of us, I hate this monster disease that has its way with us with no warning and little recourse.

I'm so glad you came here, now, and told us what's happening to you. I was never one of the insiders anywhere I've been, always odd by comparison--then I got sick ... and now I guess many think I whine too much or should suck-it-up without bothering them.

But DocJohn blessed us when he set this place up. I've found so many folks who suffer daily as much as I do and more, and a couple of them I have lots in common with ... so we hang on to each other, hardly a day goes by that we don't send a note or photo or just hugs. Some I get to meet in person on rare trips, some I talk with on the phone, but I know someone will not let me be out of touch too long.

We can swap coping skills, little tricks that help if we pull them up before we're in real crisis. We used to do these things much more actively to support each other in the Bipolar Forum than we've been doing lately.

Music helps me a lot. I have NO talent, but I love some music so much it's better than most antidepressants! Doesnt last as long, so I have assembled a great number of recordings. Feel good films, too. And I have paintings and photographs and other art things around that connect with a time or a place or a person that was so special they come back, like the smell of fresh snow or hot coffee in memory.

I'm passing along a non-photoshopped picture of some street cats in Europe. It's a snapshot, a moment, and the photographer was part talented and part lucky. I have hundreds of photographs ... wouldn't want to wear out any one of them's charm.


I know your have dearly beloved felines in your family, which is why I picked this particular photo. My Charlie is about this color but is a Manx, so can be jealous of some critters magnificent tails.

There are occasional moments when Charlie is all I stick around for, because of the mix of physical & mental stuff--but mostly it's this forum & knowing that I make a real difference to a couple folks here.

I also have an overworked guardian and still believe in miracles. This sort of oddness I'm very grateful for.

* hugs galore, * swheaten!
Please keep coming back, get to know us better.
Roads