Questions bipolar version #10

English is my second language. I also used to speak French and German but it was so long ago. I used to be fluent in both. Oh well.
I keep a lot of staples on hand at all times. Canned tomatoes, canned beans of various sorts, Tetra Pak low sodium chicken broth are always in my pantry.

Do you feel more cheerful when you turn on the light in a dark room?

Absolutely! During daytime hours, I like my house to be bright, with curtains opened. Only at night do I like darkness, and then I like it very dark. Light changes during seasons definitely affect my moods and can even trigger episodes.

Most all of my hospitalizations for mania were in the spring and summer. My native New Jersey tends to be far brighter than in Czech Republic. One factor is that New Jersey is a coastal state that has many sunny days (unlike Seattle where other factors play in), while Czech Rep is land locked. Czech Rep's lowish altitude is mostly surrounded by high mountains of neighboring countries. And it's latitude, also plays a part. This also influences weather, which influences light. Prague's latitude is similar to Vancouver, Canada. New Jersey's is like Madrid, Spain, where there are slightly more daylight hours. [Sorry, I love geography.]

What about winter months do you enjoy most?

It may not be popular but I like snow. I don't like living on this particular road with this particular driveway when it snows but I do enjoy the non-driving parts. I am sad that this is predicted to be a warmer winter with less snow this year. We didn't have much snow last year either.

Have you had flu and/or COVID boosters this year?

Yup. I live in a high rise and often do games and out to eat with the gang so I need all the protection I can get.

Have you ever had good things happen and wonder when it might end?

Yes, just recently I had and right now I am having moderately bad things happen to me for a change and I feel relieved, thinking that it means "here we go" and I do not need to worry about yet worse things waiting for me right around the corner.

Do you have an orderly desk where you use the computer or is it s mess (an artistic mess, of course)?

Generally, yes, but not to any extreme point. I haven't been in a work office for some years, but when I was, things were in good order. I actually only had some paperwork. Most of my work was in electronic form. My electronic files (and emails) were very well organized, I must say. They had to be as I dealt with extreme numbers, much of the time. Nowadays, my kitchen is my main "work area". It's organized and I have many tools of various sorts. I could surely find almost everything with a blindfold on, which helps with efficiency and speed. Cooking and baking are passions of mine.

Approximately how many books do you have? What percentage have you already read?

I have about a dozen books, I’ve read about half of them. Before I moved here I had hundreds of books. Many of them research books on symbols, ancient art, and goddesses. Those I hadn’t read so much as perused. Many languages books about the English language and collections of old English poems and short stories. Those are the books I’m really missing. I had hundreds of well read fiction, mystery, thriller and sci- fi. All of it gone because I moved into a tiny place. I have very little room here for books. I now mostly read from the library and use google. Which is ok but not the same.

Have you had to downsize?

Oh yes. In 2016 I had to move from a 2-2 to a bedroom shared with a roommate in a 2-1. A lot of my possessions had to go which was heartbreaking, but I made a good friend over it: a young woman came to buy some small kitchen items, liked me, stayed to help me move and because a good friend. I cherish the relationship with her. Since then, she has married, has had two kids and now is pregnant with her third. Unfortunately for me, they moved to Pittsburg.

Second time I had to downsize when I moved from that room to a furnished studio so I gave away my bed and bookcases. But that also was for the better because eventually I moved from that furnished studio to my current very nice 2-1 apartment and bought a really good bed with the firmest possible latex mattress. I like sleeping firm.

How about you? Do you like firm or soft sleeping surfaces?

Firm

Have you changed your name on this forum? No need to share the old one if you don't want to. ( I did but I don't remember what it was before)

I had gone through several names until I settled on the current name which is the true me. At least the true current me.

Do you frequent any other forums as much as this one?

Yeah I was a senior staff member on another forum until a couple of years ago. I now post under a new account because I don't like all the attention and responsibility at this point of my life.

All started on Gamespot forum in the 90s or early 2000s.

Pretty much have always at least had a membership of some sort of forum.

How about you?

Yeah I was called Hooligan for a number of years here

Have you thought about changing your username?

I changed it once.

Do you like watching fantasy movies

No. I've never enjoyed fantasy.

What is your favorite holiday food?

Ohhh that’s hard, I’d have to say green bean casserole

Are you watching the dog show tomorrow?

No I'm not.

Are you anxious or excited today? Why

Anxious. I am very anxious about money after I hit the deer and have insurance costs, rental car costs so I can go to my anxiety-provoking high risk breast cancer screening and appointment with my doctor, the cost of a hotel rooom while I'm in the city getting my tests done, etc. I'm also very anxious about my appointments although I know it will be fine.

Then again, I'm also excited. My sister's family is coming up tomorrow for our holiday meal and so I get to see my nieces. They are getting older and I don't see them enough anymore.

Does your pet sleep with you?

No, but he comes in my bed while I’m reading to say goodnight 🌙 then he goes and does whatever he does all night.

Same question, does your pet sleep with you?

I don't have any pets right now, but when I had a dog, she slept really close to me.

Did you have any bipolar symptoms kicking up during this Thanksgiving holiday?

Thank goodness, no. This would be the time of year for it though.

Have you had to change your meds and/or change the dosage recently? For any reason.

Yes, I am doing one trial after another in an effort to arrive at a solution whereby I do sleep but not too much and my mood is stable. I am experimenting with meds combos and different dosages. The one I am currently trialling is Geodon 40 mg plus Seroquel for sleep.

Have you everhad a period of at least a year without any changes in medications or dosages?

No. Not even close.

If you could spend January anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Yes, currently I’m in year seven of stability. Prior to that I had a doctor who didn’t believe in doing on medication on top of another or not cleansing the body of the half life before trying new meds. It was very helpful in knowing just what was which medication and reducing cross poli medication pollution. It was hard but very helpful. He took me off everything and and I was completely clean before starting with the first medication. I’m doing better than I have since starting the bipolar merry-go round in my late teens.

You’ve been over medicated by zealous doctors determined to medicate the illness out of you

Oh yeah. And I cherished being numb out of my mind for a few years. Good break. Until it wasn't.

See Beyond's Q: If you could spend January anywhere in the world where?

I would go to Dubai. My college classmate has bought property there and sent me amazing pictures. I would like to explore the land and get together with her.

If you could teleport yourself in no time (no painfully long air travel required), where would you spend your next weekend on a whim?