Bipolar Questions #7

yes... I think it would be a good idea.
when you were diagnosed, was it a shock or did you think sometime before that you may have been, and the diagnoses was just confirming something you all ready suspected?

It wasn't really a shock - because I gave the doctor all the signs. He must've picked up on the vibes I was sending him. I only am a little disappointed that follow up and follow through questions weren't asked to explore other diagnosis. But I guess you have to start somewhere, right?

do you think making small mistakes should lead to irreversible consequences?

no. we all make mistakes, after all. no one is perfect

what is your favorite color to wear

Blue. It suits my skin coloring and eyes well.

Do you enjoy wearing makeup/nail polish or are you more au naturale?

I'm a tomboy unfortunately the last time I was all made up was 6 years ago at my 30th. I had false nails (I bite mines), make up on, hair curled and down, dress in (normally in jeans) other than that it was at my Brothers wedding 8 years ago. I do like getting dolled up it's just its just not me

How are you dealing with the unpredictable weather we are having? In the UK it's currently snowy weather so if you have snow how are you coping? If you don't are you enjoying the sun etc?

I live in New England. It is cold and snowy. I am just curled up in a ball under a thick comforter waiting for warmer weather.. That’s how I’m dealing with it. I would say I’m coping poorly as I am frozen physically and mentally.. For those of you in/ or have been in mental health counseling, how did it negatively or positively impact you?

That's a big question. Rather than write a very long response, I'll just pick one for both negative and positive.

Negative: Some therapists seemed to show anger towards me because of my hypomanic/manic or mixed state behavior. That serves no good purpose and often felt like they were punishing me. What a horrible approach they had!

Positive: I try did eventually learn helpful coping skills/tools. Obviously some were not my style, but others were. There's nothing wrong with rejecting ones that don't feel doable.

New Question: What coping skill/took have you not liked or found helpful?

meditation. honestly?. it does nothing for me, but I can defenetly apreciate that for some people (a lot of people) it's helpful.

have you ever been against advice given to you by your mental health team, but went along with it just to keep them happy?

Yes!!! I want to be med free managed over 6 months but they kinda made me go back on them and to start the injection. I hate disappointing people so it kinda worked in there place

Question: Do you prefer daytime or night-time? When are you most productive?

Definitely daytime, for me. I am rarely tired during the day and get a good amount done. I like the sunshine, when it's sunny, and generally enjoy activities during daytime hours. I take Seroquel XR in the evening. That really knocks me out. I do, however, recall enjoying nighttime when I was elated manic, but I don't want that.

What is your favorite gizmo thingy that you have?

probably my alexa.

it's my nonjudgemental friend and aboutt he only friend I am likely to have, ever.
how long did it take you to find the forum and sign up after being diagnosed, or did you sign up before diagnoses?

I joined the forum 5 years after being diagnosed Bipolar.

What is your dream career if you knew you could do it without fail and make the money that you need to live on?

something to do with theme parks.
either an engineer for the rides, or a dispatcher (sending the ride around the track)

first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning

Either go to the bathroom or make coffee. Tonight I set my new coffee maker on a timer for the first time.We'll see if it works out. If so, then either the bathroom or starting to set out breakfast will be first.

What "convenience" do you do/have/set up? Or if none, what would you like to just happen by itself to provide you with some extra convenience?

I would like a car starter. They are so cheap. I don’t know why I don’t just invest in one and call it a day!

Do you have a daily activity you look forward to?

Coffee or just breakfast, in general. Though I am usually still a little tired. Sometimes I wish some extra nice breakfast was on the table waiting for me (i.e. homemade waffles, crepes, egg dish). Breakfast rocks!

At what time of day do you tend to have the most energy?

evening time at around 7/8 PM, or as I like to put it, after dinner.

do you snore?. or have you been told that you snore?

I think I snore occasionally but not badly unless I get flat on my back which is rare.

Have you ever tried online therapy?

Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, no. Since the pandemic started, yes. My therapy had to shift to video sessions out of necessity, in the US. Since I moved to Czech Republic, I have had one therapy session and it was in-person. I have another in-person therapy session today. My psychiatrist is still only giving video sessions, because of covid.

If you could wave a magic wand and have two things happen, what would they be?

to have friends who don't judge me and are here for me regardless, and have a day where I'm not in so much pain (or a week, or a month, etc)

do you think their's a certain quality that you have that others don't like about you?

I get angry easily. It’s definitely not a trait I love about myself and it can be intimidating to others.

Do you think the mental health care system is here more to make money than to make people well?

defenetly!. I've even had a couple therapists demand money for extra sessions which I'd not even had yet, one of them threatening to steal from my bank account (fact) if I didn't pay her what she wanted.

money related question: what was the last thing you purchased that you got a lot of use out of?

a geography game I used to play as a kid!. brings back a lot of fun memories!.

without using google or a map/globe/ atlas, how many of the US states do you think you could name just from the top of your head?

Probably all. I'm quite good at geography. I love travel. I've traveled to/through about 46 of the US states. Quite a few even just a couple months ago.

What was your strongest subject in school?

Music.... Singing was where I shined though anything non academic I struggled intellectually. I was good at practical things like experiments in Science but ask me how I did it I was stumped. I was also strong at sport (football, hockey, uni hock, netball, basketball, swimming, badminton, trampolining.... not gymnastics or running though)

I am learning to play a shorter version of a saxophone its hard though

Question: What's the weather like today?