I’m slightly down today- well, probably more than slightly. I had a weeklong hypomanic episode last week and I knew this would happen. I still always hope it won’t. It has been 13 years and every time I have mania I go down almost immediately- and yet I still think things will change! What has changed is that I know how to manage these mood swings 1000x better than I use to.

It’s just sad and so unfair. I wonder how you’re feeling as you read this? Or maybe someone you care about is not doing well. I’ve been on both sides.

I can say with all certainty that this is just a mood swing. There is nothing wrong with my life. I need to figure out what triggered it, though I think it was just the sunny weather. It happens every year.

So, I’m at my house feeling down and crying a bit. Believe it or not, this is when I think of my own books! My mind has trouble taking care of itself when I get depressed, so I just remember what I wrote.

- It’s an illness. The depression will end.
- Get up! Get out! Get it Done!
- Call a friend and plan a meeting tonight.
- Get out in the sun.
- Praise myself for what I have accomplished today.
- Go to karaoke tonight and get some work done- I like to work in noise!

There is a lot I can do and I plan on doing all of it! My goal is to go to bed feeling better than I do right now.

Julie

PS: It’s still not fair.

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