I always say that I wish I could work full time. I really,really love to work full time. I mean 40 hours a week- the normal stuff. I keep thinking I can do it. Intellectually I can! Yesterday,I gave a two hour talk to a great group on the topic of Seasonal Affective Disorder. I spent a few hours prepping for the class. It was all of the logistic stuff I can’t stand- getting books ready- copying my handout. But gosh,it wasn’t rocket science! After I gave the talk,it was around 4PM. I felt like I had been on a ten hour walk. IT WAS RIDICULOUS!
But this is what happens to me. My body gives out- I think it’s the adrenaline of working for eight hours. My other friends with bipolar disorder experience the same thing. It doesn’t happen all of the time,but it’s definitely a work thing when [ Read More ]
If you’re new to this blog,you can look at the top of the blog entry to see if there is a number next to the comments button. I don’t know why they make it so small! It’s easy to add comments – and I do read them all before they are posted. Lately I’ve added my own comments to each posting.
Your opinions mean a lot- especially to the other reader,so please add as many as you like. I appreciate opinions different than my own and especially like it when readers offer suggestions to a reader’s question.
It’s a devise used to see if you complain too much and don’t even know it! I used to be a major complainer. It was terrible for all of the people around me- and it wasn’t so great for me either as I was unhappy all of the time. Complaining comes from negativity which is a totally normal symptom of depression. As I’ve written in all of my books,negativity kills relationships- and so does the specific negativity called complaining!
This morning,I woke up in a bad mood. This is rare for me. I usually wake up slightly depressed- in a ‘poor me’ sort of way. This morning I just wanted to punch something. I have two choices when this happens. I can let the anger of this morning turn me into a complainer all day,or I can recognize it and treat it [ Read More ]
I really want to answer the comments I get under my blog entries,so here is one from today!
Hi Julie,
I was recently diagnosed with bipolar.I am now taking Lamictal. The only side effect Ive had is sleeplessness. I ’sleep,I cant sleep,I quit coffee. I quit drinking coke. I have done everything to sleep. I get maybe 3 hours if ’lucky. I’m new to this drug on my first week so I am on a low dosage. 25mg. for the first 14 days. Does this get better?? Do you sleep finally as the dose gets bigger! UGH!!
Hi Deborah,
There are so many different side effects with each drug. The drugs can even cause opposite side effects such as making one person sleepy and the other revved up. I have not heard of Lamictal causing sleeplessness,but it’s certainly a possibility. Also,that really is a small dose. It’s very good to start small and [ Read More ]
I am back from a two week trip where I learned a lot about myself. First of all,I thought that having free time meant having a vacation. It doesn’t. Free time means that I’m always worrying that I should work more- and I get upset that I’m sick all of the time. A vacation- I just had one for the first time in probably 10 years- is different. One day with my friend Pam,I just walked around San Antonio,Texas and didn’t think about my work at all. I enjoyed the beautiful setting of the River Walk and the company of my friend of over 20 years! I think that is the definition of a vacation from bipolar disorder as well!
Julie
PS:When I got really sick in 1998,I was a mess and lost most of my friends. Pam was in the Peace Corps in Paraguay,[ Read More ]
I am very hard on myself when I have a tough day and can’t work. It’s hard for me to remember that this is a serious illness. If I had asthma,I would know there would be some times that I couldn’t run – or if I had MS,there would be times when I would feel tired. And yet,with bipolar,it’s hard to see it as an illness. It is just so darn personal. I had a super tough day today. I was sick. That is the truth. I have to go easier on myself. Bipolar Disorder is an illness and I had to take a sick day.
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