Questions: Bipolar version

I'd like to ve to write a inclusive positive mental health bill and get it though the legislation and into law before the jokers knew what hit them.

Opppps
Forgot to ask a question

What is one change you're like to see in mental health care?

No diagnosis ever made in the first half hour session.

how do you feel about psychiatry as a whole?

Positive but I know that my experiences have been much more positive than most (for the last 15 years or so; before then I had a number of bad ones). So positive with the caveat that this is very dependent on my having my specific providers, including the specific hospital I know and feel safe at when needed. I know it can be much, much different with a different set of circumstances.

How many therapists have you seen?

I've seen four. One before diagnosis who I lied to about everything(I couldn't help myself),My therapist now who is an angel and led me to my diagnosis, and one who doubted my diagnosis and just thought I was a spoiled brat. The fourth was a very insightful couples counselor. He actually nudged me into looking at my mental health before I was diagnosed, and I blew him off. If I'd listened I could have saved my relationship and saved myself a bunch of trouble.

Oddest thing a care provider hAs ever said to you?

I apparently don't blink enough

Question: Do you think you have black and white thinking?

Definitely not. I think in the technicolor rainbow. Everything is everything.

What is your greatest personality trait

Kindness
Is your current med cocktail working for you?

no, which is why I'm IP. coming off AD as may have driven me into this mania also reducing ritalin for same reason. trauma issues triggered this mania so who knows maybe meds are fine. on lithium which is being increased and clonazepam high doses for now plus high doses of olanzapine to bring me down. seems to be helping so far but has only been two days. still scattered and racy

what would be 1 peace of advice you would give to your former self

Say yes more to great opportunities that would leave me with wonderful memories. When I was backpacking around the world age 22. I was depressed much of the time and turned down so many opportunities as I was in bed or couldn't be bothered doing anything.

sorry I posted before without a Q.

How quickly have you switched from dark mania (maybe mixed) to euphoric mania...if ever.

Very rapidly.....sometimes when mixed I shoot up for a day or two and then back to mixed. It is torture and I usually wind up on a lot of meds for it.

How are you responding to the time change?

Haven't noticed a difference yet as we don't change clocks until tonight.

What is the best movie you've seen about Mental Illness?

Bellevue Inside Out (it's a documentary).

Not a movie but awesome:

What is your favorite book about mental illness?

in australia...the state i live in doesn't have daylight savings. switching can cause havoc i just hope i don't go down again

I am doing better than usual with the time change....we'll see.

Do you get along well with your siblings?

Most of the time, my brother and I get along, but we bicker here and there. We've fought (normal brother and sister fights), but currently, everything is fine.

Do you tend to get more depressed around the holidays?

Not depressed so much but very stressed and overwhelmed by the pressure of buying the right presents. My immediate family are great so the social side is easy unless I am unwell. Work gets busy too which can be stressful. (retail) Still, I love summer and swimming in the ocean so I love this time of year.

What made you laugh out loud recently (or in the past if not recent)?

An episode of Big Bang Theory when Howard tells his pregnant wife Bernadette that Willy Wonka would roll her into the juicing room.

What is the best book you've ever read?

that would have to be the railway children!

I became so obsessed over that story- so full of wonder and magic and emotion.. and everything!

shame the movie actually sucked and they left a lot out of it

do you prefer tea or coffee?

I drink both everyday! But I would say coffee. It's a joy.

Do you find thanksgiving or Christmas to be more stressful?
(In my house thanksgiving is like nuclear war on moods. I seriously take a week off to deal)

christmas.

will you be alone this christmas?

No will be spending the big day with my parents and sister. My Sister is cooking the meal. Then on Boxing Day (26th) my Brother and Sister In Law and my Nephew along with my Sister and I will go to my parents for Christmas round 2 :-) :-)

Question: What exercise helps with anger or keeps your focus? I just tried Boxercise omg amazing lol!

It absolutely will! I try to do sports four times a week and started kickboxing about half a year ago. Stabilizes me a lot but when I am really in a bad period I won't go.

Forgot about the question, haha.
Do you have problems remembering past events even though it has been just a few days since they happened, especially if your mood has changed in between?

I sure do...sometimes I laugh about it and sometimes I cry.

When you are in a big crisis but don't want to go to the hospital, what is most helpful to you?