Questions bipolar version #10

A: In others: Gossiping; In myself: staying in toxic situations

Q: What would you say is the biggest "quality of life" improvement you've made in the last 2 years? -- Examples could be like traveling, more socializing, trying to be more open minded, Reading more etc.

I started attending a small group (Bible study in my church's lingo) again after a long COVID break. We've been waiting for a while because the group leader had surgery with complications but it will resume soon I think. I also staarted IFS therapy. And we kind of stopped it when I was severely depressed but I'm ready to resume.

What is one thin you learned from the pandemic?

I was absolutely blown away by how many people were taken in but unscientific bs and how many acted out. Really saddened me. We are no more civilized than we were during the black plague.

If you suddenly got a large sum of money would you change your life?

I suppose so. After finally getting the renovations completed on our house, Hubby and I would do more traveling to perhaps figure out where we want to settle long-term. When we would, we would want a slightly bigger house. Hubby would love to live near a lake or sea. I would want that to be in a town that's bigger than our current one. Preferably, the place would be an English or French speaking one. That would be easier for me. In any case, we still plan to do this, but our future home needs to be a humbler one.

Is there a town, city, state or country you'd rather live in than your current one? Where and why?

I wouldn't mind living in the city where my sister lives. We tried to move there 2 years ago but the price of housing was too great. Someday I will move there when my mom is gone. I don't like to think about that so for now I'm very happy where I'm planted.

What temperature is it when you turn on AC?

Depends on the humidity. At a low humidity it might be 76 or higher especially if the wind is blowing. But at high humidity the temperatures could be as low as 73-4. I cannot tolerate high humidity. Today it’s 82 and high humidity so yeah, the AC is on.

Do your meds make it hard for you to tolerate heat!

Not my current meds. When I was on Haldol it made it harder to tolerate though.

What's your favorite book?

2 series, both children's books (and I do love other adult books)...The Laura Ingalls Wilder books and The Anne of Green Gables books

Are you afraid of snakes?

Yes, even the types that wouldn't potentially do harm, like garden snakes. I'm not afraid of most other things, though, including insects and spiders. My dad was bitten by a copperhead snake in his youth and hospitalized as a result. Perhaps that was a factor.

What is your main hobby?

I have a few that I've lost touch with over the years. I like to read (most anything and everything) and, if I can get back into something resembling decent shape, I'd like to take up hiking again. I used to do ten, fifteen, twenty mile treks, some over the day, some overnight.

Same question: What is your main hobby?

I admittedly don't really have a hobby. It's kind of sad. My husband keeps on trying to get me to take up cooking, but I LOATHE cooking. I think he just wants me to eat healthier. 😆

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I'll let you know when I figure it out!

Do you know enough about a family ancestor (or ancestors) to tell their story?

I'd say so. I think I could say a great deal (with stories) about my parents and my paternal grandparents. Also my maternal great grandmother. As for a long ago ancestor, there is some bit written about one who first settled in New Jersey in the late 1600s, from England, buying land for a farm plantation. That farm is now a local rural history museum named after him and a later owner.

Do you do more snacking during the day or evening? What are your go-to snacks?

I'd have to say apples 🍎. I'm trying to cut down on my evening snacking since I've gained weight.

Are you depressed 😔?

No, stressed 😩

Do you do summertime activities, like go to festivals, fairs, and swimming?

When I can. I've done a bit of all three, though music festivals have been my favorite in recent years.

Have you ever been unable to afford your meds and gone without?

Luckily, no, but early on in my bipolar disorder treatment my monthly med co-pays were quite steep. Probably around $500 or so per month. At that time, many of the meds we all know well were still not yet available in generic forms. Later down the line they began to be, and/or I was prescribed ones that had been, or found coupons that helped more. I'll also say that early in my treatment I was still on the payroll at my last job. Either at times full-time, or part-time with private short/long-term disability or full private disability. Those payments were nearly my full-time pay. I had excellent benefits. When I went on SSDI, the income obviously went down, but luckily also the copay amounts. This was all in the US.

I now live in Czech Republic. I still take many generic forms, but also medical/drug costs are much cheaper than in the US. They are throughout most of Europe. I think my monthly medication co-pays are max the equivalent of $10 for all of my meds combined, which includes a couple name brand forms.

What do you spend most on each month? Housing, food, medical care and meds, other?

I'm not really sure; it varies per month. This last 2 years medical probably with all my breast lump issues and tests/procedures/surgery. I include insurances in there too.

Do you miss your therapist when they are on vacation or take it in stride?

Sometimes, but it depends on the therapist. Right now I don't have one, but always had in the past. Who I used to miss most was my old long-time psychiatrist in the US. He would take long vacations, especially in the summer. I was rather dependent on him for many of the years. Also a bit of transference love When I stopped seeing him I really grieved.

What is a funny situation, or other story, you experienced with a past therapist or psychiatrist?

Funny in retrospect, but not particularly helpful at the time: During my first IP visit, one of the psychiatrists on duty decided that I might be on the autism spectrum because... drum roll please... I hadn't gotten laid in a while. He took a conversation about romantic relationships (or in my case, lack thereof), extended it to sex and made it his smoking gun that I had autism. It's funny now, but, along with several other things about that IP visit, it delayed finding my bipolar diagnosis by two years.

Oh, and this same psychiatrists responded to an obvious joke about seeing "pink pixies and purple elephants" with a deadly serious "Are you seeing pink pixies and purple elephants?" Fun times.

I like this question! Let's keep it going!

What is a funny situation, or other story, you experienced with a past therapist or psychiatrist?