Questions Bipolar Version #8

It sounds stupidly simple, but I wash my hands far more than I did before the pandemic. I also take more time to read newspapers rather than watching television news.

If you could attend one professional sporting event in person, which would it be? Which team or player would you be most interested in seeing?

A Giants baseball game! I love going to games when I've had the opportunity. Player...hmmm...probably Buster Posey because he excels as catcher.

Do you believe in aliens?

If you mean from UFOs visiting earth, not really. However, I can't say I don't wonder if there is life similar to us (or some creature walking on two feet) in other universes.

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Go to the beach but I don’t do it often.

If you had to leave night with only five items and leave everything else behind forever, what would they be?

Well I assume mum would have her 5 items too, so I won’t say her.

My cat, my wallet, gee that’s all I can think of. Everything else I have is replaceable. I’ve been homeless and had nothing so I’m not attracted to anything except my family. My wallet cause I’d is hard to get ID when you have nothing. Oh wait, my hearing aids so I can hear. I guess that’s 3 things, cat, wallet and hearing aids. I guess that’s it.

Good question, made me think. So I’ll repeat the question what 5 things would you grab or leave behind forever?

I, too, will assume my partner is along for the ride, but you already started a great list, Nammu.

The five things I'd take with me are my dog, wallet, glasses, meds and car. I really am a simple person, too. When I moved to Germany, I didn't ship anything over. I just had two huge suitcases, a large duffel bag, and a carry-on. The rest I sold or gave away, and stored only a little with a friend. I started from scratch in Dresden. While it was a bit scary at the time, having done it, it remains apparent how little I truly need in this world. I'm not naive, though; I realize the fact I had some cash aided me in my transition.

Of all the literature or non-fiction you've ever read, which book has had the greatest impact on you? Why?

Ooooo meds, yes definitely meds!!!

Oh I get a chance to hawk my favorite book! 1177BC, the year civilization collapsed by Eric H Cline. It is a non fiction book but brings history alive and is a real page turner. Many things that happened then are happening now. It links the past to the present. I love this book. Many of my favorite, or maybe that’s the wrong word, memorable books have been non fiction but this one blows them away.

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve seen?

Oh, so many beautiful places! I suppose southern Portugal. Hard to choose one spot. I traveled there several years ago. Also, though I never stepped foot on the ground, what I saw from the plane of Alaska during a plane ride to Asia was marvelously spectacular. Gorgeous mountains and water ways. I am not sure exactly what part I saw. The pilot flew quite low. Another time heading to Asia, I saw the aurora borealis from above Alaska. I would like to someday visit Alaska, but it is now even further away than ever, for me.

What is something about the area you live in that you wish was better?

God there are loads I can't single one out

- Drugs
- Theft
- More buses
- People (delivery deivers) know my address
- Deprivation

These are my top 5 I think

Question: How do you cope with negative feelings like crying, sadness etc etc

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Usually save it for therapy. Sometimes I manage to let myself experience it in the moment but that's a work in progress. We've worked really hard on this for many years in therapy.

Are you able to nap if you want to?

No. I've taken 2 naps in my entire life since the age of 3. One was after surgery and the other was in 1992 after a few weeks of very little sleep and a lot of new relationship sex.

I'm so envious of people who can nap, because I could use one most days.

Where are you with your covid vaccination - still waiting for your first shot, had your first shot waiting for second, or had both already?

I'm fully vaxxed! Both shots.

Do you prefer living in a large space or a smaller one?

I live in a small house and it's too small. But my old house was too big. So 2 small bedrooms would probably be perfect.

What would you want people to say about how you lived your life?

I would want them to say "She kept going"

Do you have a mantra that you repeat to yourself?

It’s temporary, nothing lasts forever
When I learned that lesson down to my inner soul my life got easier.

Is there a special song that means a lot to you? Along with my manta of its temporary Dust in the Wind reminds me too, that nothing lasts forever.

Not really. I'm not a very musically orieinted person, probably because when I get manic music is where my psychosis goes.

Do you have a favorite dog breed?

I love golden retrievers. They are just so adorable and sweet.

What do you do when you start obsessing about something before you sleep?

This may not make complete sense, but I issue a grand "STOP!" demand. That actually works, on occasion. If not, I try certain types of distraction and sleep hygiene. Often I'd go and get a yogurt to eat and then put on my sound machine to help interfere. If that also doesn't work, I take an Ativan. Last resort, but it usually finally does the trick. By the way, welcome to the forum, mssweatypalms!

What has been (or is) one of your frustrations, in terms of therapy?

@mssweatypalms:

Welcome aboard! Jump in, the water is warm!

@Soupe du jour's question:

The only therapists available to me, being Canadian and too rich to afford free therapy and too poor to pay for it myself, are para-professionals at community organizations.

They tend to be well-meaning women who have just read the same self-help books and watched the same TED Talks i have years ago.

They charge on a sliding scale at least but still i don't need to pay $45 when i can read David Burns' "Feeling Good" (CBT) as easily as they can.

I also find they're full of gimmicky mnemonics and other nonsense and just basically lacking in the expertise i'm looking for.

My question:

If you're female, are you comfortable in skimpy clothing or do you worry it's attracting the WRONG kind of attention?

I wore a skimpy sundress to the grocery store this morning and i'm just not comfortable with my breasts so exposed.

I got out one of these giant man's white dress shirts i favor for Summers to protect my fair skin from the sun and am wearing it over the sundress. That way i can take the shirt off once i'm in the secluded dog-park and have privacy.

I also have the grocery delivery man arriving soon and if i have a skimpy sundress on he might get the wrong idea.

Sigh!

The problems of being female!

Nope I don’t feel comfortable in skimpy clothes. Even my bathing suit covers more than most. Have you ever lived in a mobile home? If so did/do you like it.

I lived in a small mobile home in grad school. I loved it. It was cozy.

What is your favorite place you have ever lived in?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour This may not make complete sense, but I issue a grand "STOP!" demand. That actually works, on occasion. If not, I try certain types of distraction and sleep hygiene. Often I'd go and get a yogurt to eat and then put on my sound machine to help interfere. If that also doesn't work, I take an Ativan. Last resort, but it usually finally does the trick. By the way, welcome to the forum, mssweatypalms! What has been (or is) one of your frustrations, in terms of therapy?

I just want to mention that along with the STOP technique I also envision a big, bright red and white stop sign. It helps! Also helps with rumination.

When I lived in Germany I had an apartment that looked out on vineyards that stretched as far as the eye could see. There were also 365 steps that took one to the very top of the vineyard (back before I got old, fat, ugly & out of shape!), where there was a 200 year old restaurant that overlooked the entire town (a small suburb of beautiful Dresden). I loved that apartment!

If you somehow came into a considerable amount of money, would you invest or spend? How would you invest it, or spend it?

Answer:

If i came into some money i would invest it for after i'm 65 and the bulk of my income disappears as i don't have a pension. Right now i'm looking at having a very modest income after 65 and i just pray i don't end up a senior eating Ramen noodles breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I would put it in a retirement savings plan (Registered Retirement Savings Plans or RRSPs they're called, here in Canada). You get decent performance but the big plus is the tax deferment.

Presumably your pre-65 income tax bracket is much higher than your post-65 tax bracket so it's a really good deal. I re-invest the tax deferment (called erroneously a 'tax refund' by the masses). So my savings are growing by leaps and bounds!

Tho i did buy a nifty new pair of decagonal glasses and a high-end pair of shoes, stylish and functional with great support for my aching feet. Baby got a new pair of shoes!

Question:

Do you feel it's better to apologize than to ask for permission?

@whatever2013, I'm not entirely sure how to answer your question. Or rather don't quite understand. Do you mean better to just go ahead and then apologize, if necessary. Or, ask permission so you know if you should go ahead, so as not to have to apologize for doing the wrong thing?