Bipolar Questions Version 4

I fall asleep at midnight usually, and am up at 2:30am for the day. I have been trying ambien but it only works for about two hours. My sleep has been like this for two years.

What's your favorite soda?

Mello Yello.

Do you have difficulties with the holiday season?

Yes, but I’m not sure why. I find the whole thing stressful and chaotic, but comparatively, I have very little to prepare for than most other people.

Q: When the clock strikes midnight tonight, where will you be?

in my bedroom watching the countdown on tv (and hopefully rita ora, or some other awesome pop star seeing in the new year)

last year they did a robbie williams concert and it was fab

how do you feel about 2019? (that is, do you have hope, or feel it will be a bad year, etc)

I do have hope and believe that 2019 will be amazing.

What are you looking forward to in 2019?

Feeling I'm mostly better from the strep No more fever at least, but the diarrhea from the antibiotic is not fun, and I have to keep downing fluids to not get dehydrated.

I dread all the weight loss stuff for the new year, with the ED. Everyone is on a diet. Calories, amount of exercise, weight lost, actual weight, wanting to lose weight, calories, foods start dominating my FB feed, but I have 1 sister who only updates on FB and she is the mother of my 2 nephews, so I like reading what's going on with her & her family, especially the boys. New years and diet stuff constant while watching live TV, and I like to watch Discovery ID live because I like the shows but not so much to DVR them. Often, I will play a tablet game that requires minimal attention while listening and sometimes watching the TV. Mostly, I listen it. I like shows that have more narration I've found because of just being able to listen a lot. Diets galore on women's magazines. Well, that's pretty much year round but more prominent this time of year; you cannot buy a women's magazine without weight loss tips in it; even cooking magazines tend to have low fat/lower calorie versions of recipes somewhere in the magazine. I guess maybe if I looked at a boring one about gardening or something, but I don't know. I tend to pick up back issues of magazines at the library, where the Friends of the Library sell used books, DVDs, puzzles to raise money for the library; usually the magazines are free or 25 cents a piece.

And who knows what member of my family will decide to diet? At least one usually does: the sister posting on Facebook (though she cannot exercise too much because of recent knee surgery), my mother, one of my aunts & her husband. One or all tend to resolve to lose weight, especially my mom & this one aunt because the aunt lives next to my grandmother (their mom), and my mom does a lot of shuttling and care for my grandmother now.

Hugs to all needing them

Long overdue endings and much needed new beginnings.

What's the last thing you did just for the heck of it?

Attended a drum circle.

Do you take naps during the day?

No, almost never. I can't fall asleep. On the very rare occasions I have, I usually woke up disoriented and "hungover" feeling.

Do you like to dance? If so, to what music?

Yes, I love to dance to disco music.

Are you stable? If so, for how long?

I am not super stable. I am working on it. My new pdoc and I have tapered/discontinued 4 meds and I am now on just two psych meds. I enjoy the fewer side-effects. We will continue to work at finding stability.

Do you have a NYE and/or a New Year's Day tradition? What are they?
If not, what are you doing for NYE and/or Jan. 1st?


WC

not doing anything.

eating chicken and pretending it's still 2018 (which shouldn't be too difficult to do, seeing as every day for me is the same almost.)

question: what happens to your christmas cards after christmas?. if you throw them away, how long after christmas do you chuck them

If they're still here come January, they must have been really good Christmas cards. Generally, they get binned by the 27th at my house.

Are you a "trip to the beach" kind of person or a "trip to the museum" kind of person on vacation.

I’m more of a “trip to the state park” kind of person. If I had to choose between the beach and the museum......hmmm, it would depend who I was with, but probably the beach.

Q: Have you ever been in group therapy? If so, was it helpful?

yes.... and no.

I find working in a group distracting and feel unable to contribute much (I think because I just struggle with people)

question: did you hear many fireworks at midnight?, or is it quieter where you are

Not in my immediate vicinity. I did hear young people banging on things at exactly 12 midnight, though. Yesterday was extremely rainy in my area. Actually, from at least NYC to Philly.

How long after (or before) midnight did you fall asleep last night?

I had ECT yesterday so I passed out around 10pm.

How long does it typically take you to adjust from writing 18 to 19 whenever you have to write the date?

Consciously, I can make the switch right away. Unconsciously, about two weeks.

If you have pets, do you let them sleep on the bed with you? If you don't, would you?

I usually fall asleep in the den and my dog falls asleep by my side or in my lap. My cat usually falls asleep on top of me as well.

Do you have any big plans for 2019?

Yes, I'm going to Italy with a church group in February. Really looking forward to it.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? If so, what's your resolution for this year?

No resolutions. they just lead to depression for me.

What meds/supplements do you take besides your bipolar meds?

I take Maxalt RPD 10 mg PRN for migraines, Vitamin B Complex 50, Vitamin D 2000 mg, and a multivitamin.

Do you have any pets? If not do you want any?

I have 2 cats. I am so blessed even when they make me so frustrated..

How many hospitalizations have you had?

at least 10/ 11, I think

5 for actual attempts on my life, some for self- harming, and others just for bad MI management in general.

question: how long has it been since you have attempted- and if you've never attempted how long has it been since you've had " those thoughts?".

I have never attempted. The last time I had those thoughts was in 2008.

Q: Have you ever experienced a doctor not believing you?