Questions: Bipolar Version 2

No I try and avoid it to keep my teeth healthy, plus I don't really crave it.

When were you diagnosed Bipolar?

oficially at age 15, but people had their suspicions since I was about 9.

do you remember what life was like before your bipolar diagnoses?. do you try and forget about it, or does it help to remember

I remember oh too well about my life before bipolar. I don't forget about it as it is part of my identity/history. I sometimes crave it more often than I care to like to. My professionals say its unhealthy as I wasn't well most of that time but I miss it all.

Question: If you could chose a career what would it be? It can be anything!!

A philanthropist!
(With lots of cash to give away.)


Do you get emotional support and understanding from family?


WC

More like acceptance. I'm left alone.
Favorite snack?.

Acceptance is important!

Favorite snack: Sharp cheddar cheese

Favorite table or card game?

I like Spades a lot.

Does the weather affect your moods?

It's been so cloudy and rainy lately, it definitely brought me down. Are you currently employed?

No, but I would like to be. This disability review is taking forever and I want to work, but I am afraid it will impact their decision.

Are you on disability?

Yes.

Have you been fired because of your bipolar symptoms?

no, as I've never held a job

where are you at the moment in your bipolar cycle

Mild mania not hypomanic just a little happier than I have been.

Favourite film(s) of all time?

lion king,

E.T
steuart little
and the final rocky.

all 4 i've watched multiple times

since I find it hard to focus on movies, it's a bit of a success I can watch these

what was the last thing you watched about mental illness (does not have to be about bipolar), and what did you think of it?

I think it was Girl Interrupted. I really enjoyed it. It was about the life of Susana Kaysan in the 60s, Things were a lot different back then. Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for her role in it. It was a great book too.

Do you read any self-help books?.

Sometimes. I have one called "The Bipolar Handbook" by Wes Burgess, MD, PHD.

What's your oddest book you own?

It would have to be my copy of Lord of the Rings, I had that forever.

Can you tell when you are having an episode? (Mania/Depression)?

girl interupted is a lovely movie.

it was the first movie I watched that really got me in to music of the 1960's. the soundtrack of that movie is beautiful

well.... kind of

I can say, "I feel something might be happening," and excuse myself,

but can never really put my finger on what until it's actually happened

do you have a theme song?

a song you can listen to and think... yep, that's me

I suppose I have 2 theme songs.

" what if", by emilie autumn, and also "beauty from pain", by superchick (also taken from the album with the same name)

do you have a tallent?. what is it

I can sing use to be able to sing opera type music but would need loads of lessons to get back up to that level

Question: What sort of things do you do that actually makes you depressed even more rather than cheers you up?

1 of the things I do, is when I feel nothing, I trigger myself with a movie, or a peace of music.

I know it's bad, but I used to be under the impression that it would at least lift your mood a little (I mean if you're feeling lowest of the low, it makes sense, right?)

or not... It makes me feel worse, but I can never seem to stop it
letting myself go- I know I should keep up with self care, I know I should look nice, but what's the point?. it's not like anyone's around to see

sometimes even thinking about looking nice depresses me
watch the news- I always want to hear these nice stories about how a doggy gave birth to puppies, or how people have helped someone get the funds for a treatment, but always end up being dragged in to stuff- the darker side of the news

relatedly, dwelling on things I don't care about

example: we're due for another election on june 8th.

will I be voting?. no. do I care about it?. no. so why do I bother thinking about it?

putting myself down at every oppotunity

probably others, but those are the ones that come to mind

when it comes to friends, do you have more online friends than real life?. more real life?, or is it equal

I have both online friends and friends IRL.
My IRL friends may be relatively few, but we are close. It's hard to keep up friendships when lots of limitations are involved.

Do you ever feel "stable?"

yes, and it's usually at those times you start questioning yourself and asking.. is this all a dream?. is your MI real?

then it all comes back to hit you in the face and you think.... yes, this is real. this is my life

what is the most important thing in your life?

That's a great question!

The most important thing in my life is keeping my 3D life in alignment with my spiritual beliefs/values.

Do you ever feel full of joy? When?

when I watch the lion king.

I don't know what it is about that movie, but it makes me feel so good.

you just want to sing along for 1, the acting's great (I can almost recite the entire movie), and the instrimental peaces just give me chills!

do you like the lion king?

(why not!)