Questions bipolar version #11

I’m proud of all 3 of my kids! I have a 24 year old, a 20 year old daughter and a 5 year old son.

Are you looking forward to Christmas?

Eh, I could take it or leave it. I used to get in to decorating and the making of cookies but since my back doesn’t like it I’ve stopped doing that. Oof one year I made 16 dozen Norwegian cookies, dipped in the deep fryer one by one. Now I buy cookies and go to my daughter’s for dinner.

Have your Christmases's changed over the years?

Yes. We used to go to my parents place, but haven't since I've disowned myself and they've decided it's now a "pagan" holiday anyway. Now we just go to my husband's mom's place and hang out with his family. It's SO stressful though! Smallish house, barking dogs, loud kids who want my attention, his mom yelling at loud kids to be quiet.... I usually have a panic situation and have my husband take me home early.

Do you find the holidays stressful?

December is generally a little stressful. It’s Christmas and on top of that it’s my son’s birthday and my daughter’s birthday. Yikes. It’s a lot of presents. From a financial perspective it’s a drain.

Are you satisfied with your current med combo or is there something better you could be taking?

Well... I'm the most stable I've ever been. I'm not happy with the sexual dysfunction side effect I have from sertraline. Seriously, the ONLY side effect I get from it because other than that minor annoyance it works fantastic! Ugh. Talking to my psychiatrist again about it and seeing if there's something else we can try or do or SOMETHING. Ordered the first adult toy I've ever bought online today in desperation. Hoping that'll help things out a bit because I'm DYING HERE. I haven't been able to have an O in like two months now!

Sorry for all that TMI.

Anyway. Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

I have three ear piercings. I had a nose piercing, but I kept ripping it out in my sleep.

Have you ever been arrested?

A: Yes. Only once though.
Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures? [anything you like that other may judge you for liking, or general not highly liked -- like watching a mediocre rated movie, eating certain foods, playing a specific game, etc. ]

I play Candy Crush a lot. I know that most people were done with it about 5 years ago but it keeps my hands busy so I can focus on watching things to relax. I'm boring I guess

What are you most afraid of?

Being fired. During a manic episode. Touch wood. It absolutely never happens!

What’s been something that has happened this year that you will remember for a while to come?

I bought an almost new car. A 2023 with less than 6000 miles on it. It’s the newest fancy car that I’ve ever had and I negotiated it by myself. I expect that this is the last car I’ll ever own. I expect to quit driving before needing a new car, in about 15 years or so. I’ll remember this for a long time.

Same question

Not being at work for 12 weeks. Being able to get my mental health back on track. Only now more recently does life feel bliss. I go back in 3 weeks. Eek.

What type of device do you normally use to browse on mysupportforums?

My phone.

Do you have kids? If you don't, do you want them eventually?

I have 3 kids
24 - boy
20 - girl
5 - boy

Same question

One. 13 year old daughter. She's great!

How much sleep do you usually get a night? 🌙

Lately it's been ~10/night and a 2-4 hr nap during the day

same Q

4 hours on average, plus a 1 to 2 hour nap in the morning because my morning meds make me sleepy.

Are you bitter about your mental health diagnosis?

I don’t know if bitter is the right word but I sure as heck don’t like my diagnosis that’s for sure….

Do you take your meds religiously or sometimes accidentally skip some?

I wouldn’t say bitter. Resigned, and most days accepting of it.

Can you believe it’s almost thanksgiving? It was just spring. Where did summer go? Does time go by much too fast for you?

I've been taking all my meds, everyday, for a while now for a change. I take more seroquel than I'm supposed to though because I like the way it makes me feel. But everything else is exactly as prescribed.

Time goes by quickly yes, but it's okay. 😊 There are so many future things I'm excited about. I'm surprised time doesn't go SLOW. Lol.

What are you excited about in your future?

Christmas. Going to make it extra special for my boy because my partner’s family that we usually spend Christmas with don’t want to do anything.

What are your plans for Christmas this year?

No plans yet, will probably go to my daughter’s for Christmas Day. Other wise, ehh, hiding from the cold dark season. Might go to the free tuba thing.

Do you have Christmas routines or traditions

Christmas tree goes up December 1 along with all the decorations. Usually it’s my small family with all my partner’s family but they don’t want to meet up this year so me and my family are going for a short holiday down the coast. Yeehaaa.

What is one thing you are grateful for today?

My SAD lamp is helping my depression and I don't think I'll need more seroquel, at least not yet.

Have you ever used a SAD lamp and did it help you? Mine has never helped this much. I'm surprised.

I've tried, but I think you have to sit in front of it for longer than I could. Somedays felt like I was in school again but not the fun classes where you cut worms up or start fires in the woods.

Can you whistle? (What kinds of whistling can you do?)

I can whistle a happy tune but I can’t do a wolf whistle but thankfully I don’t need to be able to….

What’s one thing you do well?