Questions bipolar version #10

Besides my husband and close family members, yes. I did tell my old long-term psychiatrist (in the US) that I loved him. I was unwell when I did, but it was the truth. I had a powerful transferance love for him and in most ways he was even more caring than my own father, towards me. We haven't communicated for a couple years, though, and likely won't again. I believe there was also a notable countertransferance.

What sounds do you often hear out your windows?

The robins are the first birds I hear at dawn, and the last birds to sing when the sun goes down. They are the hardest workers in the bird kingdom. They are also among the first bird's to return in the spring...a sure sign that winter's done. They're our official state bird. Beautiful song meisters!

Do you have a favorite bird? Explain why you love this specimen.

@buddha

Just to note that every advertised diet says that "dieting" is a bad word and that their approach is a "lifestyle change". This does not differentiate WW: they are all like that.

My recommendation, if you are willing to spend money on weight loss (WW costs money), is to invest in a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) for a few months. NutriSense, Levels, and there are other competitors of theirs offer that. It is very convenient: you wear a CGM (putting it in does not hurt) and you get real time individualized feedback through a smartphone app. I had NutriSense last year and learned certain things about my body, such as not eating watermelon for breakfast alone and not starting a big meal with a lemonade. CGM shows your own body's individual response to carbs and food in general, and the approach teaches you food combining (adding protein and fiber to carbs when you do want to eat carbs) and food sequencing (not starting a meal with carbs). You also get to observe the positive response to simple interventions such as walking for a bit after a meal.

Moderating glucose response is not the only or ultimate goal and you can trick a CGM into showing good numbers by eating unhealthfully, such as subsisting on bacon, but it is one of the several overarching goals of a healthy lifestyle. And people respond to carbs differently. There are people who spike to yams but are fine with regular potatoes. With a CGM, you can learn what would cause a spike in YOU, which is not something that WW or any commercial diet program can teach you because such programs lack an individualized approach and a way to measure individual responsiveness.

I normally do not write in favor of CGMs because of their cost, but since you are already paying money to WW, I thought that you in particular might become interested in wearing a CGM.

If you decide to choose one of the CGM companies to try it, note that NutriSense add free support from a registered dietitian for the first month, which is enough to learn to read the graphs and charts and interpret the data but not enough to conduct many experiments in a supervised fashion.

I have not used Levels but I am subscribed to their email and thanks to their recommendations I switched from cooking oatmeal to cooking chia seeds, hemp seeds and flax seeds in almond milk (almonds+water, nothing else). This means going from a meal that can spike glucose to one that cannot and that also contains healthy fats. I do not know whether oatmeal spikes glucose individually in me, though: I did not test it last year and this year I cannot afford a CGM, but I decided to go with a general recommendation and at any rate, I realize that those seeds are much more nutritious than oatmeal. The cooked seeds are quite tasty and provide a decent replacement for cooked oatmeal.

I hope I am not not being too insistent with recommending an approach that costs $$: do subscribe to NutriSense and Levels for free and you will learn a lot of helpful info, even without wearing a CGM!

I think I’d have to say the cardinal. They’re so pretty and bright. The last few years at mum’s house we had several that came around. They brighten up the dreary winters too.

What’s your favorite breed of dog. Why

I'm not really a dog enthusiast, but of them I probably like golden retrievers the best. They usually seem a quiet and gentle breed, despite their size. They are usually friendly, obedient, and well behaved.

How neat/clean (or messy) is your house/apartment?

My living places have historically been extremely messy. Currently I am in the cleanest living space I've ever been in and I'm proud to be contributing. It took a lot of adjustments, and I still feel like doing a mass clean every so often instead of wiping counters twice a day is more efficient, and I'm sure it is, but I'm willing to adjust if it means less stress on my partner.

What is your favorite type of scenery on a long walk?

The ocean when it is not still.

Q: when did you learn to swim, if you know how to swim?

1964, the community pool

Have you been in a movie theater recently?

Two to three weeks ago. We saw the Wes Anderson film "Asteroid City". It was good. It was at a nice movie theater in an huge fancy mall.

Have you ever seen back to back movies at a movie theater? Or even more than two in a row? Do you remember what movies?

I have a vague memory in highschool of seeing 1 movie then just not leaving the theater and seeing another, but I can't recall what they were, haha.

When I was younger I saw two back to back in a drive in - it was in 1999, star wars, the phantom menace, followed by Austin powers, the spy who shagged me


Do you have any unpopular opinions or beliefs that you're not ashamed to share?

I believe harm reduction is worthy, while it's popular to think only abstinence matters. I even saw a t-shirt that said, "Harm reduction saves lives."

Are you a homebody or do you feel pressure to go out? Why?

(just butting in to say I'm with you on that belief Jane)

I also think harm reduction is wonderful and pragmatic.

Regarding harm reduction, I think education is still a top priority for law enforcement and first responders as well as users. There are multiple videos of police officers "ODing" on fentanyl courtesy of a touch, an errant breeze and in one case, just being in the vicinity. I've had the unfortunate distinction of seeing a fentanyl OD occur and rendering some first aid. They had none of the signs and symptoms I saw in that OD and copious amounts of Narcan in the officers' systems produced no effect.

They were having panic attacks after freaking out over the fentanyl in their vicinity. The officers' probably had that fear hammered in to them. Fentanyl is a dangerous drug, yes, but it's not a video game style "insta-death" if you so much as touch it.

Which brings me to the point that scares me. If our community LEOs and first responders are being trained to be this scared of a drug, how have they been reacting to the users?

I like to go out and see the world. If I'm a homebody for too long, I get bored out of my skull. I need some variety in my life!

Have you ever had an ugly encounter with an authority figure that was directly related to your mental illness and/or their perception of your mental illness?

Yes - it is common here to see mental health staff who are just not invested in clients well-beings. Or in some cases, have active animosity toward clients. There are something called "group homes" in this state, which is supposed to be a transition from homelessness to housing. In reality, it's mostly older guys who have lived there for years. It seems as if housing never comes. For most it doesn't, I hear, and in my situation I have no point of reference because I was the only one to get out (who wasn't kicked out).

I never figured out why these individuals got into the field. The shaming for being unclean or unable to perform everyday functions, the threatening to kick clients back on the street, the sense of false hope, the food stamp robbery, mismanaged and controlled social security payments, the absolute disrespect by some staff is incredible. It blows my mind that someone could not only treat someone who has difficulties in all those things like that, but go out of their way to work over these people that they already disrespect.

I think it comes down to mutual understand. It's just not there. Not there at all. "Group homes" in particular are unfortunately very bad conditions. I was lucky to get out. The only one to get out. And it took me 3 years, getting my own job, and being white and well spoken. It is rigged and God bless everyone who is living in one.

Are there any English words that rub you the wrong way? What are some favorites as well?

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience in a group home, insideoutsider. That's just dreadful! We have group homes up here too. I dated a guy who worked in one for youths. He said the staff who have worked there for decades are so burnt-out they take deep drags of their cigarettes and nothing comes out.

Answer:

I have a terrible time with the word 'lazy.' It's because i have a lot of trouble with inertia due to depression and the physical weakness that results, age (56), gender (woman in menopause), and just a general tendency to enjoy stillness, peace, and quiet. I'll go to any lengths not to describe myself as lazy but i know some nasty neighbors who don't understand may well call me that behind my back.

I like the word 'integrity' above all in the English language. I feel it is the most important characteristic to have. I also like 'equanimity,' 'pyrotechnic,' 'exquisite,' 'elegant,' 'classy,' 'lovely,' and terms of endearment.

What's your question, @JaneOnceMore?

If you cook, how did you learn?

Mostly by watching mum, pbs and cookbooks. Then experimenting. I’m quite a good cook when I put my mind to it. But it’s just me and I don’t enjoy cooking, so mostly I don’t. I get meals delivered m-f at noon. For super I mostly have salads.

If you live along do you cook?