Questions Bipolar Version #9

breathing. lol... I seriously can't think of anything I do that would be clasified as exercise.

have you ever accidentally broken something, then wished you still had it?

I break things all of the time, especially since going on carbamazepine (Tegretol) about 11 years ago. Of course I broke things I felt sad about. It can be extremely frustrating. I have also broken some things that really upset my husband. Once or twice he even started to cry. He often tells me "Try to be more careful!" Um, well, I'm not deliberately being destructive. An accident is an accident. The last time I broke things was about 2 weeks ago. They were two of my brand new dinner plates.

My clumsiness has actually eased, despite still being present. I used to take more than twice the dose of carbamapezine. My American pdoc lowered it about 5 or 6 months before I moved to Europe. That was because I started to have frequent falls, including down stairs. Twice I had to go to urgent care for x-rays. That's since stopped.

What is a side effect from one of your medications that is annoying but not very terrible?

Dry mouth from cogentin.

What's the worst side effect you've ever had from a medication?

It's hard to determine between lithium toxicity that landed me in the medical hospital and severe double vision combined with akathesia for 4 weeks from Abilify. I think the Abilify was the worst because I was dependent on my mom to get me anywhere I had to go until my vision was better (and I had to go on disability for that time).

Have you kept any goals you set last New Year's?

no because I didn't set any. I tend not to do that, partly because, well, because Ijust don't have anything in life that makes me happy anymore (or might make me happy) so what's the point!

yeah, I know, not really the way to be but sometimes you just gotta face facts..
if you could get rid of 2 things from this world (anything), then what would you want to get rid of?. (explain your reasoning if you want!).

Autocratic type people (including sociopathic types and highly self-centered types). Also, global warming, though I'd hope after the first was rid of, that the latter would be slowed more effectively.

What is something you can do this week to be kind to yourself?

watch a lot of cartoons- they are always fun.

how many diffrent mugs/ cups/ glasses have you got in your house

I don't know how many but quite a few.

What do you drink the most during the day?

I don’t drink nearly enough. Usually 16 oz of Pepsi and an equal amount of water.

What’s your favorite movie of all time? Did you see it in a theater?

Nothing special but I like Apollo 13. I think it is my childhood desire to be an astronaut coming out. I don't think I saw it in a theater but I'm not sure.

Flannel sheets or cotton?

cotton
when you wake up, do you lie their for a bit, or do you just get up and start your day

I usually lay there a bit and review my dreams. For the most part my dreams are like sci fic fantasy movies and pretty entertaining

Do showers perk you up?

I suppose sometimes. Other times, if I'm really doing a long shower washing my hair, shaving my legs, etc., it can be tiring.

When was the last time you took a bubble bath? Or bath in some kind of bath salts, etc.?

I took a bath with a cherry vanilla bath bomb last week. I love those things.

How often do you wash your hair?

I wash it everyday - which "experts" say is bad for your hair but if I don't wash it every day it gets unmanageable

What's the weather like where you live?

cold, rainy and bad

0 degrese for the last few days, currently 7

favorite christmas tradition

Cookie making? And eating. Actually, right now I'm unsure of others since after our move things will be slightly different. I used to most look forward to when my husband and I opened presents (after a nice dinner) on Christmas Eve evening, while sitting near our burning fireplace. Now, we have no fireplace, and will likely spend the evening with my husband's sister and her family. I haven't enjoyed Christmas day since my mother was alive. In fact, my siblings and I started to dread it because of our dad's worsening drinking...and then his eventual move to assisted living. My brother has created a HUGE mess at my father's house (he lives there alone). My sister's house is a hoarder house, thanks to her husband and eldest son. When I still lived in the US, my husband did not want me hosting large holiday meals.

What is something you do differently on the holidays than you did when you were younger?

Oh Christmas is totally different now. When I was a kid we got to pick one present to open after a formal dinner on Christmas Eve. Then we went to a candlelight church service. Then Christmas morning was presents and a big family gathering that rotated between aunts and uncles. Then two days later but before New Years a big family dinner with the other side of the family. Now, I just buy gifts for my daughter’s family. They come over a day or two befor Christmas Eve. And open them. Mum and I eat a small meal and watch a Christmas movie, with an eggnog or two. And this year there will not be any big family meals.

Do you celebrate New Years?

We used to have dinner with my mom, family member and I. But the family member died last year so I imagine it will just be dinner with my mom and I and I don't know if we'll do anything special.

Do you eat special foods on New Years?

In my family in the US, it was always always a ham dinner and the appropriate sides. My maternal grandmother always made a molded gelatin dish called "Sunshine Salad" with lemon gelatin, crushed pineapple (and some juice & water), and shredded carrots. She and I were the only ones who liked it. My siblings make fun of it, to this day. I have the mold, but my husband doesn't like it. It was a 1950s retro recipe. She'd make it on other holidays, too, but it went best with the ham. My family was also obsessed with pies. We had many after each holiday dinner. One I particularly liked was called "Graham Cracker Pie". It had a graham cracker crust, a caramel-like custard in it, topped with meringue. Old-fashioned. My mom created a family cookbook soon before she passed away. We're all happy we have that.

In Czech Republic, the New Years foods are quite simpler. Probably because everyone is either drunk or getting over being drunk. A traditional dish to eat is lentils, usually with ham in it (or a ham slice on it) topped with a sunny-side up egg. Lentils represent good luck/fortunate I think because they sort of resemble coins. Most all Czech restaurants/pubs still open at even 3 am on New Years day will usually have this dish, and maybe only this dish, to offer. It's easy to digest on a queasy stomach. As for other stuff, many families make and consume lots of open-faced sandwiches or similar canapes. Leftover Christmas cookies for dessert.

What is something you plan to do in 2022?

I don't know.

currently dreading the new year because, well, I don't know what to do with itt.

how do you view new year?. is it, new year, new start?, or do you look back on the last year and think about how good/ bad it's been?. mixture of the 2?. other?

To me it’s not a big deal like changing all the clocks. I only celebrate by saying to mum at midnight if we’re up, happy New Years and watching the fireworks on tv. So it doesn’t really make much of an impact. I don’t do resolutions and or go out. The weather here doesn’t improve until late March or so so it doesn’t feel like a new year.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

2 pairs of sneakers, one pair snow boots, 2 pairs of church shoes, 3 pairs of sandals. So 8. Wow, I didn't think I was that much of a shoe person.

Do you have a pet that sleeps with you?

nah. no pets here.

did you ever have dreams of what you wanted to do with your life when you were older?. what were they

8 is my lucky number. yay