[Merlin]

Hello everyone,

I have decided to restart the bipolar support chat. The first meeting will occur at 7 PM MST on April 4th, 2018. You can find it in the community calendar and determine when it runs in your time zone. It is currently a biweekly group.

It is a 90 min chat focusing on Bipolar Disorder. The first half hour will be a check in, allowing members to discuss how their fortnight has been. The next hour will focus on a topic, either chosen ahead of time or determined by the group.

The chat will allow adult discussions and all sub-types of Bipolar are welcome.

Thank you,
Merlin

[Wild Coyote]

Thanks for your dedicated service at PC.

WC

[Unrigged64072835]

Thanks Merlin!

[recoveryguy]

Hi Merlin,
I look forward to joining.

[su4mentalhealth]

Thanks for the update, looking forward to join in

[Merlin]

Hello, my name is Laura, though I also answer to Merlin.

I have lead the Bipolar Support Chat in the past and am glad to restart it. The chat will run for approximately 90 minutes on Wednesdays at 7 PM MST/MDT every second week.

Adult conversation is allowed, however please limit the adult discussion to the effects of your illness, such as hyper-sexuality, or medications side effects. I don’t want to hear about your favourite positions. https://forums.psychcentral.com/chat...hat-rooms.html.

The chat will start with a 30 – 45 minute check in. I will ask members, by username, how they are doing, how their last couple of weeks have been and if there is anything they would like to talk about. I will finish the check in by describing how I am doing.

I will try to address every member in the room, but if anyone is late, they may not get the opportunity to participate in the check in.

After the check in, I will start a discussion. We may discuss topics that the groups has brought up, or I may bring in a topic, such as early warning signs, to discuss. All members, whether late or on time are invited to the topical discussion.

I will take notes during the discussions and post a summary of what we’ve discussed in my Bipolar Support Chat threads in Chat Announcements and the Bipolar Sub forum. You are also welcome to submit topic suggestions in these threads.

All Community Guidelines apply while in chat. https://forums.psychcentral.com/rule...uidelines.html. Please use the self-care tools -- such as placing other members on Ignore whom you don't get along with -- while in chat.

[Merlin]

On April 4, 2018 we discussed coping strategies. The following coping strategies were suggested:

• Scheduling/To-Do Lists
• Deep Breathing
• Mindfulness Meditation
• CBT – thought records
• DBT – distress tolerance
• Mood Tracking
• Distraction

[cinnamonstick]

when is the next session? sorry if i overlooked this information somewhere.

[diamondprincess]

Originally Posted by Merlin

On April 4, 2018 we discussed coping strategies. The following coping strategies were suggested:

• Scheduling/To-Do Lists
• Deep Breathing
• Mindfulness Meditation
• CBT – thought records
• DBT – distress tolerance
• Mood Tracking
• Distraction

Could you tell me when the next session is?

[Quebec01]

Dear Merlin,
This is such a good initiative. I'll try to join next time the chat comes around. This sounds very interesting.
Thank you for giving members this opportunity.
Take care

[PhotographerRaven]

Will there be more scheduled chats anytime soon?

[diamondprincess]

Originally Posted by PhotographerRaven

Will there be more scheduled chats anytime soon?

Yes, they are usually held on Wednesdays. You can check for the next date here:
https://forums.psychcentral.com/calendar.php

[PhotographerRaven]

Hi Is this a live chat ?

[palerefraction]

Originally Posted by cinnamonstick

when is the next session? sorry if i overlooked this information somewhere.

Originally Posted by diamondprincess

Could you tell me when the next session is?

The next Bipolar Support Chat will be this Wednesday, the 16th. If you view the Calendar tab up in the top navigation bar it gives you the calendar for the month Like Merlin has said, it will be at 7 PM MST/MDT. You will have to convert that to your time zone. Hope to see you both there!

[TiredofPTSD]

Thanks for the information Merlin. I look forward to your chat. One subject I'm dealing with is being on SSDI and working - the stress of keeping my income below the allowed amount in non-challenging, but stressful job. How do you keep your dignity after working FT with the illness and all of a sudden, you can no longer work, then can only work 20 hours while having to pay your bills? I realize this has more than one topic, I guess the main one would be accepting the changes in one's bipolar and how it affects our lives, dreams, relationships, etc. Thank you, TiredofPTSD.

[Amethyst_Stargazer]

Thanks for this info, I'm glad I came across this just now.

[Friendlyfire]

Hi, when is the next session?

[Merlin]

The next support chat will be May 30 at 7:00 MDT.

[Merlin]

I have decided to reduce my chat to one hour biweekly, rather than one hour and a half.

[Jnewton78]

I am newly diagnosed with bipolar feeling like my diagnosis is defining me as a person. Any ideas how to combat this?

[bassrunnin]

When is next chat session?

[Jnewton78]

I am looking forward to it!

[Merlin]

The next chat is July 25th.

[djolivas]

Hello how does this support chat work?

[bizi]

I think people go to chat when ever they want to and some people go to the support room if any one is in there. At least this was how it worked for me last year.
I don't know how it is working these days because I have not been to chat in a while.
iI am free to chat with anyone who needs to chat.
bizi