Bipolar Questions Version 4

Thats interesting, I also had an uncle that did the same. Unfortunately we never got to go visit though.

Yes I shared with basically everyone when they let me out of psych last year and i was still somewhat on the manic side. Plus Im fairly certain almost all of my coworkers know after the police brought me to emergency a couple of months ago and I had to go back to psych. We see all of the paperwork plus I work with the Nurses and Doctors, its a smaller hospital. That is the one group I swore I would not tell so being forced through all of that really sucked especially since I would say that was definitely my worst episode and behavior yet.

What is your favorite part of being bipolar? (No thats not a joke, I know there are benefits too!)

favorite part about being bipolar, is that the meds make me so creative!

before diagnoses, I really wanted to wrrite stories/ poems, but couldn't because nothing would out of my head

now however... I write loads

all thanks to my diagnoses

can I add, that mania gives me some great ideas for stuff to write about, too- a lot of my latest stories are based loosely on stuff I've done while mannic

question: do you ever make fun of your condition?. not in bad stigmatising way, but can you make jokes about it and laugh at them?

Yeah, I can make jokes and laugh about them. I can also laugh about other people's jokes. You can't let everything bother you IMO.

Who is your biggest idol? (The person who motivates you the most.)

My parrot and husband motivate me most. I try hard to take care of them as well as I can. They need me, just like I need them. My husband is my greatest hero and love. As for famous idols, I have extreme respect and admiration for Bryan Stevenson, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders, and many other people who truly seem to do their jobs with passion, strength, and caring for others.

What or who gives you hope?

Hope... some how some way hope comes, sometimes it's really realizing that we're all on our own Journey and that I have made it through all my times that I believed at some point I wouldn't.. perhaps it is something but I am unaware if so.


Do you attempt to prepare for rough times if able to? Like if your cycles are pinned down?... (I have issues with that, but am told it's possible to predict).

not really in advance I'll just say something nearer the time... something like, it's best I am alone for now

question: what's for dinner this evening?

I had roast lamb yesterday.

and it was disgusting with disgusting sauce

tonight I'm having toad in the hole

question: does small talk make you feel anxious? (it sometimes does me, as I fel they are stuck for things to say)

Small talk is stressful. Especially meeting new people.

Q. Most difficult season to deal with mentally?

Winter. I get SAD that starts around daylight savings time. Winter is just rough mentally.

Have you ever been hospitalized and if so, for how long?

5 times varying from 6 days to 15? days (for psych; a couple others for medical)

What is the strangest thing you've purchased while manic?

Well, nothing like Kay Redfield Jamison's snake bite kits. My issues with money when manic weren't so much with buying odd stuff as much as suddenly buying plane tickets to far off places, like Hong Kong and Thailand from Taiwan (suddenly quitting my job and losing money because of prematurely broken lease and work contract) or San Francisco from the east coast, without my husband. I do recall buying some mighty skimpy clothing on a few occasions, and once I bought one humongous bottle of vodka.

What are your top four hypo/manic symptoms, in terms of severity, that you have experienced?

1. My mind gets scattered and it’s hard to think or do anything that has steps. It’s really hard to hold a conversation.
2. I start a billion projects but quickly abandon them in a heap
3. My sleep disregulates. I start sleeping in 3-4 hour chunks here and there
4. I have trouble telling what is real and what is just in my mind. I tend to get in trouble everywhere I go, but I don’t really understand why.

What are your top 4 depression symptoms, in terms of severity, that you have experienced?

1. thoughts of suicide (I can never get depressed without thinking about it)

2. less appetite/ other physical psymptoms that are not usually their

3. no energy to do anything but sit

4. blank mind/ confusion.

question:

where is the furthest you have ever traveled?

Hawaii.

Favorite sport?.

In one business plus pleasure trip (8 day period): Newark Intl (NJ) to Taiwan (via Japan) to Guam (brief lay over) to Hawaii (few days visiting my brother) back to Newark, NJ.

In terms of furthest distance from home in NJ, as the crow flies: Ko Samui, Thailand to Newark Intl (NJ).

Did you ever travel while hypomanic/manic?

no.

what are the 3 most important things in your life at this moment

3 Most Important Things in My Life Right Now:

My health, My H's health, my mother's health.

Do you have a sleep disorder?

1. Keeping my job
2. Keeping my mind clear and calm
3. My dog and cat

What is something you eat that other people might think is strange?

Whoops, sorry WC. I overlapped you.

No, I don’t think I do. My sleep disregulates when I’m having a hard time, but it usually goes back when I take my meds.

Q: what’s something that you eat that others might think is strange?

Something I eat that others may think is strange?
Escargot.

How is your hand-eye coordination?

quite bad.
question:

how many people in total know about your diagnoses

More then I’d like. I haven’t offered that information freely except to my closest friends, family and a few select doctors.

Have you ever lied about your diagnosis or downplayed it?

No. Either people aren't told, or they are and they know the situation. Obviously some people who know haven't seen my worst, so I don't go into that, unless necessary. Some have seen my worst, or near worst. That's life! I've been on disability for years and had multiple hospitalizations and ECT. It's obviously not mild.

Do you get as much physical affection as you need/want?

this is a tough question to answer, as when I was living with my mother, she didn't really do anything like hug, kisses, anything like that- most of the physical stuff she did to me was abuse- which makes me associate physical contact with abuse and horrible people.

that said one of my wishes in life is to have a mother who loves me, someone who can hold me close and give me a hug when I need it, hold my hand, give me kisses... though I suppose I'd also be scared of the contact- I really don't know. I don't live with my mom now, and sometimes I will be asked can I hug you, and I won't object to it, it's just.... I don't know really. confusing situation to be in.
where is your safe place, and why is it your safe place

That is a two part answer. I’m most comfortable and at home on my sofa in my den with my pets when I’m having a hard time. When it’s really bad, I can just hear my daughter’s voice and hear her talking about anything (even the weather) and know that it will be okay. Most of the time she doesn’t know I’m doing badly. So I guess I have a safe place and a safe person.

Do you have a safety plan? If so, have you ever had to use it?