Questions Bipolar Version #9

A new one to restart the count.

The last question was:

what song always gets you out on the dance floor?

The White Stripes- Fell In Love With a Girl

What's your favorite style of dance?

"I Want You to Want Me", by Cheap Trick. Also my favorite song when in the car, where I "car dance" to the amusement of other drivers near me.

What do you do or where do you go when you want alone time?

I always have alone time. living alone makes that easy.

favorite commedy film?

What about Bob? There's probably something more recent but I'm not coming up with it

Did you give out candy to trick or treaters?

Yep about 25-27 kids. Mostly older.

When you were a kid did you eat the crusts on your sandwich’s?

Yes, it wasn't a choice. One of my babysitters used to tell me it would make my hair curly which confused me since I had curly hair already.

What is the best costume you've ever worn, Halloween or otherwise?

The cowgirl uniform I had in a play I was in during middle school. That was so fun.

Favorite song lyrics?

I honestly don't know. Music tends to be difficult for me as it triggers OCD.

Have you gotten/will you get a COVID booster?

I won’t until they open it up to anyone for I’m not eligible right now. I’d like a booster though.

Do you watch British sitcoms and drama series?

Nammu, mood disorders are a qualifier for the booster. I don't know why but it is. And they didn't ask why I was there when I got mine so you probably could get one anyway.

I love Call the Midwife.

What is the worst side effect of your meds?

Currently, none, really. I just had my Seroquel XR lowered by 50 mg, to 550 mg, making it a bit more weight neutral. I've since lost a nice amount of weight. However, I'm definitely no stranger to severe med side effects in the past. Weight gain was quite bad (especially in terms of blood work results), but I think one long bout of akathisia was the greatest torture. I also had bad hyperprolactinemia on two antipsychotics, with one causing a pituitary microadenoma. Other notable ones were double vision and dystonia, but they were stopped quickly by med adjustments. Also permanent mild kidney damage and hypothyroidism from past Lithium use.

What has improved for you, since taking bipolar medications (or just "over the recent years")?

A: A complete turn around in quality of life -- I feel the ability to have control of my life for the first time ever.

Q: Do you have a mannerism/ritual/quirk about you? What is it?

I am fidgety. I constantly mess with my medic alert necklace and the strings on my hoodies. It makes some people uncomfortable.

What is your favorite soup?

I’d have to say my homemade borscht. I make really good borscht. My second favorite would be the soup from a Vietnamese restaurant in Austin, Texas. I used to go as often as I could for their soup. It’s a both with very fresh veggies.

What’s your favorite candy?

It varies. Right now fruit flavored tootsie rolls.

What do you keep your thermostat at in the winter?

(up to) 21.5 C

are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I'm a shy extrovert :P

Do you like/need a lot of structure in your day or do you do better just winging it?

I can wing it, sometimes, but generally prefer structure. Certainly if I've been away from the structure a while, I yearn for it. On the whole, it keeps me healthier. It gives me a bit less to think or worry about.

How have you changed since your childhood/teens?

I've developed assertiveness. I need more but I had none years ago.

Have you ever accidentally downloaded malware?

This is probably obvious since I asked the question but yes, I downloaded malware accidentally the other day and have spent a lot of time trying to sort it out since.

Have you started Christmas shopping?

All done! Except for a gift card. Ohh the malware, yes a couple months ago I clicked the wrong article and poof! I took it to a computer store to get rid of it.

Have you been in a theater recently?

According to a google search Mary Poppins 2 came out in Dec. 2018 so that's when I was last in a theater. So it's been a while even accounting for the pandemic.

Have you known someone who had COVID?

My nephew and his girlfriend. But we don’t socialize with him. Last time we saw him was the Christmas before covid and his mother nagged him into visiting his grandma.

Do you ever stop to look at the stars ⭐️?

Yeah, I would right now but it's cloudy. Last night was beautiful though, I love it when it's cold and clear out.

Favorite way to be active?