“I fight for my health every day in a way most people don’t understand. I’m not lazy. I’m a warrior.” – HealthyPlace.com   

If you have bipolar disorder or any other affliction you can consider yourself a warrior.  Type in the Comments section the diagnosis of an ailment, physical or mental affliction that you battle every day. 

You might have a speech impediment, cancer, Tourettes Syndrome, anxiety, Lou Gehrig’s Disease or any of the numerous monsters I didn’t mention, you are a warrior.  You become a force to be reckoned with the moment you say “(insert your illness)” will not get the best of me”!  Of all the mental and physical ailments we have in this world, no matter your story, these monsters are extremely difficult to overcome.  And just getting out of bed, taking one step at a time, breathing in and out, YOU ARE A WARRIOR.

Preparing for Battle

Speaking as one of the brave Bipolar Disorder Warriors, I know if I go into battle, I must be prepared.  As a warrior, I need the right weapons in order to pull myself out of the pit of despair when I am depressed; keep the argument with my boss from growing into a full-blown manic episode; or letting my proper sleep hygiene disappear among the stars.

In this blog post, I am going to introduce the number one weapon I use as a Bipolar Disorder Warrior.  That weapon is prayer.

Bipolar Disorder Warriors and Prayer

The Power of Prayer

“Suffering provides the gym equipment on which my faith can be exercised.” – Joni Eareckson Tada

If you are a Christian, there are several weapons that you could use in the midst of the battle.  Remember the Armor of God?  My favorite weapon I like to go to, over and over and over again, is prayer.  Some of my most challenging fights have been won with the battle implement prayer.  Prayer taught me just how much I didn’t know about anything and especially just how much I am unfit for the battle.  Prayer directs me to the Source of Power.  That is why I pray to the One who knows everything and is Most Powerful, too.

I have been a Christian longer than I have had bipolar disorder.  When I received the bipolar diagnosis 11 years after the symptoms surfaced, I had no idea how to respond as a Christian.  Even though there is a history of mental illness on both sides of my family, that subject was never brought up at birthday parties or during the giving of gifts at Christmas.  But that didn’t matter due to the fact the Christian exposure I received at church as a child, once maybe three times or more a week, actually helped me when I was in compromising situations or when I have suicidal ideations.

Bipolar Disorder Warriors who Pray

Believing I am a Mental Health Warrior

I do not always believe I measure up as a Bipolar Disorder Warrior.  I bet some of you think that way, too.

In the midst of the roller coaster of moods, OCD, ADHD, and severe anxiety, I always expect for the warrior feeling to show up.  And of course I should expect to feel like a warrior.  God made me.  He knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  He knows the number of hairs on my head.  And those statements above are facts from the Bible, let yourself believe. 

Sometimes the belief in my prayers is likened to a direct line (without any busy signals) to the Creator of the Universe.  Other times, because I am human, I feel all I will get are busy signals or the voicemail.  I know from years of seeing God work that He will give me an answer in due time.  Whether it is yes, no, maybe, wait awhile, God will answer us in His perfect timing.

When God turns me around to stand in front of His holy mirror, I see myself as He sees me.  Standing in front of God’s mirror, I feel immersed in all of God’s power and strength. I also feel loved.  There are no personal judgements glaring at me.  I feel peace like none other before.  When I see myself the way God sees me, I become that warrior, yes, even the warrior with bipolar 1 including psychotic features, one who will walk tall and shout loudly to share God’s love for a mentally ill middle-aged woman.

At that point is when I know I am ready to face any problem inside my head or out.  The Bible says when I am weak, God is strong.  He will fight for me.  God will give me whatever signals I need to make prayer the first thing I reach for when the challenges begin!

What is the first thing you reach for when in the middle of a challenge mentally or physically?  Write your answers in the Comments section below.

Warriors Praying

Call to Action

Share about a time when you felt like a Warrior.  How does it feel to be a Warrior?  How do you conjure up those warrior feelings when the going gets tough?  Put your answers in the comment section below or email me at [email protected].

Going Furtherhttps://lifeconquering.org/anxiety-2/

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/faith-in-life/prayer/prayer

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/

My Anxiety diminished by Prayer

Life Conquering and Psych Central (Mental Health Discoveries)

The post Bipolar Disorder Warriors and the Weapons They Use in Battle appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

I excitedly began scrolling through chose best bipolar disorder blogs.  There was the bipolar blog from Psych Central.  The psychcentral.com has a specific blog that I contribute to called Mental Health Discoveries.

Health Line’s 2018 Best Bipolar Blogs Award to Life Conquering

Scroll, scroll, scroll.  Oh my goodness!  The first thing I saw was the Life Conquering logo on the left then a marvelous write-up of my blog on the right.  I did a double take.  I was so excited!  I am just super honored to be on the Best Bipolar Disorder Blogs list.  My passion, hard work and patience have paid off. 

Life Conquering a Mental Health Organization and Blog

The award is displayed on the landing/front page of the Life Conquering Blog.  Scroll down to the end of the page and you will see all of my blog awards.

2018 Best Blogs – Bipolar Disorder

Blog award dedicated to a Father and a Veteran

This weekend is perfect to dedicate this award to my late father, Don Pierce.  He was diagnosed with a mental illness called PTSD after serving in the Vietnam War as a Military Police officer.

Vietnam Soldiers War Memorial

I miss our times on the back deck talking about the latest in politics, cranking up the 70’s music station and asking questions about his tour in Vietnam.  My dad did not die in combat.  However, he died due to a combat-related medical issue.  I miss him.  I wish he were here on my tough days when I feel alone and the bipolar is overwhelming me.  I know he would not mind me leaning on him for strength.  Dad always had great advice.

I will see him real soon in Heaven which takes the sting out of the missing part of his absence in my life.  That makes me smile.

Scripture references to know you are saved

Romans 10:9, which says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

Ephesians 2:8, which says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith.”

References

https://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/advice/faithdoubt/how-can-i-be-sure-im-saved.html

https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/best-blogs-of-the-year#8

https://lifeconquering.org/

PTSD, Veterans and VA Funding Service Dogs Go together like Cats and Dogs

PTSD Suggestions for Someone Who is Struggling

The post Best Bipolar Blogs Awarded to LC and Dedicated to Veteran Father appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Is it a mental illness?

Have you ever noticed strange mental health or even physical symptoms that begin without any reason?  What do you do?  Shrug it off and pretend it was never there or be proactive and do something about it?  Below are suggestions as to what you should do if you think you might have a  mental illness.  The first thing is deciding between a therapist and a psychologist.

therapist and a psychologist

Do not be afraid of change

When I finally realized there was something wrong with me, I went straight to the people I knew I could trust.  Over the nearly 11 years that I have been diagnosed having bipolar disorder, I am on my fifth psychiatrist.  Now, I am seeing a psychologist after two therapists and a counselor.

Please be honest with yourself.  Listen to what the provider has to say and then research, research, research.  I was researching all the time and still are just to know my illness better and to see what needed to be done about it medically and therapeutically,

Now researching is not a way of elevating yourself over your doctor, therapist or psychologist.  It is a tool for you to be more informed.

Preparing for the first visit

1. I would write down a list of your strange symptoms, while they are fresh in your memory.  Include dates as well as times, special events, life-altering situations (death, baby born, loss of job, divorce, going back to school, new house).
2. Get as much information as you can about the mental health of family members.  Go as far back as you can.  I found out ta few years ago hat I have a family member on my dad’s side who had bipolar.  He also committed suicide.
3. If you have family and good friends or even close co-workers, ask them if they can shed light onto your situation.  How are you different?  Personality?  Behavior?

4. 

   therapist and a psychologist

5. Time to make the appointment with a therapist or psychologist.
6. If you are unsure of which provider to choose (therapist or psychologist), take a look at the link above titled, What is the difference between a therapist and a psychologist?  That link will explain the difference between the two as well as the pros and cons of each.

Each therapist and psychologist have their own methods as well as their obvious differences.  You may be unsure of which provider to go to.  Go to the link at the top of this page that will take you to a site to help you chose.

Going Further

How to Handle Your First Psychiatric Appointment

The post Therapist and a psychologist – making that first appointment appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

You might not know that your mail carrier has PTSD; the barista at your favorite coffee shop has anxiety; the secretary where you work has depression; and the list goes on.  You might not think this is possible, then you need to read these 17 facts.

Here are 17 facts that prove mental illnesses are more prevalent in out society then we might have thought.  It is important for you to know and realize that mental illness is unfortunately growing.  As the science behind mental illness recovery and the medicines that are prescribed, more of the mentally ill will have the confidence to hold down a job; worship outside of their home; travel; have children; in other words, have an actual life.

17 mental illness facts

1.  61,500,000

The number of Americans who will experience a mental illness during any given year.

2.  $100,000,000,000

The economic strain on our country due to the untreated individuals with a mental illness.

untreated mental health

3.  70 – 90%

This is the percentage of individuals who are mentally ill who improved with some sort of therapy.

4.  800,000

The number of individuals who die by suicide globally.

 5.  25%

This is the percentage of mentally ill individuals who feel that others are compassionate or understanding to the mentally ill.

compassion and understanding

 6.  350,000,000

The amount of people worldwide affected by depression.

7.  79%

The percentage of all U.S. suicides carried out by men.

8.  40,000,000

The adults in America who suffer from anxiety disorders.

anxiety

9.  7.5%

The amount of college students who reported feeling depressed to the point where it negatively impacted their ability to function.

10.  22

According to a 2013 report by the DVA, this is the underestimated number of veterans who died by suicide each day.

veteran suicides

11.  10%

The percentage of children and adolescents who were disrupted in their day-to-day lives by a mental and emotional disorder.

12.  3,500,000

The figure of Americans who suffer from schizophrenia.

schizophrenia

13.  60%

The percentage of adults who didn’t receive mental health assistance in 2012.

14.  6,100,000

This is the number of bipolars who live in the U.S.

bipolar

15.  21%

“The percentage of mothers polled in a recent Baby Center survey who stated they have been diagnosed with postpartum depression. Approximately 40 percent of them did not seek medical treatment.”

16.  5,200,000

The post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) adults who suffer with this disorder in a given year.

PTSD

17.  7

“The number of people who die by suicide per hour in the Americas.”

References

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/01/mental-illness-statistics_n_6193660.html

http://www.worldbipolarday.org/

If you are contemplating hurting yourself, click on this.

The post 17 Facts about mental illness which proves it is more prevalent appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

World Bipolar Day 2018

Life Conquering Blog for Mental Health is aligned with WBD’s mission.  Life Conquering uses a blog and other social media sites to encourage people with a mental illness and to educate those without in order to tear down stigmas. If you have not stopped by Life Conquering Blog, here is the address: https://lifeconquering.org/.

I encourage all Life Conquering Blog followers as well as frequent visitors to participate in the celebration of World Bipolar Day 2018.  You may or may not know someone with bipolar.  Take this next week leading up to WBD to brainstorm ideas how you can make someone with bipolar be comfortable in their own skin and feel accepted in their environment.  Then again, you might have bipolar.  Think of some ways you could thank someone who has stood by your side and show them your appreciation.

World Bipolar Day 2018

Once you brainstorm some ideas, email me at lifeconquering@gmail.com and share with me your thoughts.  But don’t just think of something and not do it.  Step out of your comfort zone and MAKE A CHANGE FOR GOOD!

Below are some websites and blogs that you can share with your friends, family and co-workers.

References

http://www.worldbipolarday.org/

https://lifeconquering.org/

World Bipolar Day 2018

.

Is bipolar an excuse for bad behavior?

Bipolar Roller Coaster – A Not-so-Lonely Ride

Twelve bipolar GIF’s

The post World Bipolar Day 2018 appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

The fuel for the fire

The bipolar and narcolepsy are like blazing infernos which keep me from making it to the pinnacle of all good sleepers: to obtain good sleep hygiene.  Things like bipolar anxiety and bipolar depression either keep me awake the majority of the night or toss and turn while sleep eludes me like a bluegill effortlessly  escaping from the fisherman’s aptly baited hook.

Where do you fall asleep?

Narcolepsy is a condition where you will almost immediately go to sleep when in a relaxed environment – anywhere.  You know, the board room meeting with the nice leather chairs and cool air surrounding you like rain on a cool spring day (zzzzzzzz); the hot new movie you have been planning on seeing since last year (zzzzzzzz); sitting in your car at a long stop light (zzzzzzzz); waiting for your coffee and danish while sitting at the coffee shop in those over-sized chairs (zzzzzzzz); or sitting on beach chairs at your child’s baseball game (zzzzzzzz).

Sleeping at the coffee shop

I, personally, fall asleep at the drop of a hat just about A-N-Y-W-H-E-R-E.  During graduation; at the movie theater; on a date, during a long phone conversation, the hair salon, weddings, funerals, football and basketball games.

The results of having zero good sleep hygiene

I am unable to function properly if I do not have this treasure of mine which is more precious to me than gold. For instance, if I stay awake past my bed time, I will feel that next morning as if a heavy weight has been attached to my eyelids.  YAWN all day. Due to missing sleep, extreme tiredness and no motivation, it is like a domino affect.  I will skip working out.  Make poor choices for breakfast.  I will be unable to practice any personal hygiene.  Why?  Because it is too damn hard!  I will fall asleep at my laptop while the daily news repeats, repeats, repeats.  No creativity for me!

yawning all day

The solution I was taught in a med-check session with my psychiatrist has helped me cope more times than I can count with my sleep problems.  In the next blog, I can show how you can get more sleep, feel rested when you wake up in the morning, stay awake throughout the day and learn how to go to sleep at the right time.  Sounds good to you?  Sounds like my cup of Sleepytime Herbal Tea.

References

https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/narcolepsy-and-sleep

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955

https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/sleep-hygiene

http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits

The post How to obtain good sleep hygiene – and no, we are not talking about deodorant and brushing your teeth in your sleep appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Step out when you are ready to encourage others with your story.  Reach out to safe places such as the local chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance in your hometown or state.  There you can share your journey with mental illness.

12 Bipolar GIF’s

1. My moods cannot be controlled as if scheduling them on a calendar.

Oh, how I wish I could control my moods that way!  I will never be depressed in the morning or the afternoon or evening.  Or when it is raining.  Or when my husband goes to work.  My racing thoughts would shut up when I go to bed, get a massage or get a shower or bubble bath.  I will have just the right amount of mania to help me tackle the cleaning. Or to have it when I am at the grocery store so I can get out of there fast.  

You get what you get.  Manic, hypomanic or depressed.

Bipolar is a brain disorder, too.  I am incapable of stopping or starting the bipolar roller coaster that is going on inside my head.  The chemicals in my brain fire or do not fire due to bipolar.  I take medicine to help push or pull my brain in the right direction so I can function.

2.  This is a pretty good illustration of my bipolar moods every day.  It is rare that I would go a day without my moods shifting in any direction.  As you see in the cell phone GIF, this represents just how quickly my moods can change. 

Just recently, I spoke with a woman who has bipolar, too.  She was explaining how long she goes between episodes.  “Wow!  Good for her!” I thought.  For me,I have ultradian cycling most of the day or mixed episodes. This basically means my moods change a bunch.  

3.  This is what it looks like in my mind during a manic episode. I am   constantly thinking and talking to myself.  The ideas are coming in like a meteor shower.  I feel alive.  Excited.  I can climb Mt. Everest by myself.  I am signing up for all kinds of opportunities without any time to dedicate to them.  Buying all kinds of shoes and purses.  And talking to people who I have been avoiding for months.

4.  Sometimes, I act out at the grocery store when I am manic-y with rage.  It does’t take much.  I may be standing in a mile-long line, the person in front of me is not going fast enough, the item I want to purchase is not available or the aisle I want to enter has a shopping cart jam.  Sometimes words actually come out.  In the state of mood I am in, I do not care it I am heard.  And sometimes they are all trapped in my mind, unable to scream out due to prayer.  Yes!  Prayer.  Needless to say, I do a lot of praying while at the grocery.  .

5.  This is me when my thoughts flow easily and are also coherent and organized when I am writing.  They basically make sense, I am creative with boundless energy. I can stay up all night writing.  I feel young again.  I am a writing scholar.  Dreams and delusions flood my mind about the present and the future.     

6.  This describes the sum of the various parts of my mind and body when I am in an ultradian cycle.  I tend to flip-flop between each pole.  The frequency of which the moods change could happen in months, years, weeks, days or hours.  I have managed to switch from depression to mania in mere seconds multiple times.  Tears falling from my eyes,staining my cheeks.  At the same time, I am laughing like I’m mad.  It scared the shit out of my husband.  Now that says a lot, because he is a real tough guy. 

7.  This is when I cannot write PERIOD.  I cannot form sentences, paragraphs – not to mention thoughts or ideas!  This is happening a great deal lately. I started drafts of about six or more blog posts from the beginning of February up until now.  NONE of the drafts have been completed and published.  Today, I was depressed most of the day and it has taken me all day long to work on a post.  It still will not be finished in time to publish.  The depression always stunts the growth of the creativity.  

8.  When I have a bipolar road rage moment, I sound my horn, loudly and proudly.  That is really as far as it goes in the real world. Now I might drive more aggressively to my destination, let the incident stew  in my head and even tell my husband with grandeur what happened once he gets home from work.  I’m so glad brains are private and horns are loud.  

9.  This is me when I am in a mixed episode.  During a mixed episode, you experience both mania and depression at the same time.  Whenever I am mixed, I cannot make up my mind what I want to do because both poles are tugging at me  What I usually do in a mixed state is just sit there and stare into nothing.  

10.  This is my psychotic brain everyday.  Hallucinations in all five senses.  

Delusions that never go away.  Paranoid in my own house and outside my house.  I do not like going to bed for fear of what will be done to me.  And I had a psychotic break.

11. GIF’s of people who have bipolar. They look just like all the other people around them.  They are moms, dads, brothers, sisters, painters, teachers, doctors, chefs, actresses, pastors, secretaries, judges, counselors, you name it.

Carrie Fisher

  Bradley Cooper

Delonte West

 Ernest Hemmingway

Amy Winehouse

Catherine Zeta-Jones

References

https://giphy.com/explore/bipolar-happiness

https://giphy.com/search/bipolar-road-rage

https://giphy.com/search/bipolar-laptop-rage

https://giphy.com/search/bipolar-psychotic

https://giphy.com/explore/carrie-fisher

https://www.google.com/search?q=Delonte+West&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=_fzgt2CwnGrgkM%253A%252Ct5xKnBBdP5bTyM%252C_&usg=__jESq5PPSCwbeka_oCHX0dBxWZ1o%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVrJSQh9jZAhWGxFkKHW3LAJoQ_h0I7AEwEQ#imgrc=_fzgt2CwnGrgkM:

https://giphy.com/search/bipolar

https://www.google.com/search?q=&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:Cep_1D9-Ej6-LIjh7fxmsqxxWfC2wUdq4qofVYLDEtaus8C934AWJvTAe4JggZEf0nKDlGZKTlyRnSgMpk9KoabNmnCoSCXt_1GayrHFZ8EaCahbf-d0iJKhIJLbBR2riqh9UR_1v3tvg4Ge48qEglgsMS1q6zwLxGUuun4xIohuioSCXfgBYm9MB7gEROj0sdy1hOrKhIJmCBkR_1ScoOURONtQiD_1lizMqEgkZkpOXJGdKAxHJ1g1dSqn4nyoSCSmT0qhps2acEXlRqNrT4iFe&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid7avYidjZAhVxT98KHT6PDacQ9C96BAgAEBw&biw=1242&bih=602&dpr=1.1

https://www.google.com/search?q=amy+winehouse+images&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrzv2xitjZAhWMnFkKHWaxAmUQ7AkIQw&biw=1242&bih=602

https://www.google.com/search?q=&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CZzrilRRvssCIjjSpNBonKPzEbJPTq7yU9kLY4z9wc4vVSjLTj375rwcddAPdFPN1JhcH6_1kHr3txRQXiyZ8b4iTCSoSCdKk0Gico_1MREWZ4hnKMa1miKhIJsk9OrvJT2QsRM8gZ2URU0FQqEgljjP3Bzi9VKBEG8pT1ysNM_1ioSCctOPfvmvBx1ETbm4zCNRSp0KhIJ0A90U83UmFwRjTFyQ5259kcqEgkfr-Qeve3FFBETx1NYnkhJ1SoSCReLJnxviJMJEQlXlFLc60xJ&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjWpvrwjNjZAhUIPN8KHQWpChoQ9C96BAgAEBw&biw=1242&bih=602&dpr=1.1

The post Twelve bipolar GIF’s appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Bipolar an excuse?

In my research, I was completely shocked at how far the door swung in one particular direction from so-called “fact based” organizations.

1. “Mental Illness is not an Excuse to be an Asshole” Psychology Today
2. “Stop Equating Mental Illness and Bad Behavior” National Association for Mental Illness Rhode Island
3. “Is Mental Illness an Excuse for Bad Behavior?” HealthyPlace
4. “Mental Illness or Personality Traits?: The Roots of “Bad” Behavior in Your Partner” PsychCentral
5. “When is Mental Illness Just an Excuse for Bad Behavior” Kings River Life

In my experience as a bipolar 1 as well as having friends with or without a known mental illness, each mental illness publication listed here is stigmatizing the mental illness community except HealthyPlace.

The bad

During my travels with bipolar, I have done a whole slew of things that caused pain, embarrassment, loss of integrity and much more.  The one manic symptom that I go to is risky behavior.  Right smack dab in the middle of the mania, I am on a high like none other.  I can seriously sit here and say when I embarked on those risky behaviors, I was not in my right mind.

bipolar an excuse

If you have ever felt depressed, you understand when I say “I was in a deep pit”.  “I could not get out of the pit.”  “No manner of encouragement of the sincerest interest could get me out.”  If you suffer from depression, you have been there when you were unable to speak at work; unable to focus on the dinner party you planned; so full of anxiety that you cannot leave your desk at work even to go to the breakroom

I have had mean thoughts.  The voices in my head have told me mean and hurtful things.  Somethings I have acted on while others just slipped out my left ear.  I have also had inappropriate thoughts and acted on them.  The risky behaviors were alluring and I did not mind participating.

The good

I know what you must be thinking.  She is just delusional and dead wrong about bipolar behavior.  The activities I mentioned are all just bad behavior therefor I must be a bad person.

But what you do not know about me is that those behaviors did not describe me some 25 years ago.  If you were to speak to anybody in my past (meaning eight-teen and younger), the people that I saw in school who were just acquaintances I knew back then would be more than surprised.  Shocked.  Dumbfounded.  Disbelieving.  Astonished.  Stunned.  Stupefied.  These behaviors did not describe the person I was in middle school and high school.

I believe the only person who knew me back then (at least what I dared to share) was my best friend from elementary school, Beth Patterson.

You see, before the bipolar picked up steam and started to show itself in public, I was quiet and shy.  Kept to myself.  Didn’t speak much.  Almost awkward in my own skin.  Felt inadequate.  Then the bipolar exploded into my life in my twenties (the good with the bad).

behavior an excuse

1. From shy to loud. And I mean very loud.  When I laugh, people can hear me in the next county.
2. From withdrawn to open. This was my catalyst in me meeting all the men I was eventually with.
3. From not talkative to talking a bunch and VERY fast. One time I heard what I sounded like on my husband’s voicemail.  I was talking so fast that I was incomprehensible.  Sometimes I have no idea I am doing it.
4. From awkward to self-assured.
5. From inadequate to unstoppable.

grace

So, is bipolar an excuse for bad behavior?

I believe if the person is actively in a bipolar episode and they act out and it is not their regular behavior, then yes.  If the person is outside a bipolar episode and is not being affected by previous episodes, then I don’t think so.

The bottom line is, there has to be grace for the bipolar person in order to answer the question “Is bipolar an excuse?” in the affirmative.  None of us are perfect.  We all have our faults.  Bipolar is a mood disorder.  However, that makes it sound like child’s play, doesn’t it?  It’s not.  It is a cobra ready to strike.

References

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/panic-life/201412/mental-illness-is-not-excuse-be-asshole

https://namirhodeisland.org/stop-equating-mental-illness-bad-behavior/

https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2012/07/is-mental-illness-excuse-bad-behavior/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/wellness/2011/05/mental-illness-or-personality-traits/

http://kingsriverlife.com/10/08/when-is-mental-illness-just-an-excuse-for-bad-behavior/

Going Further

https://lifeconquering.org/bipolar-1-episode/

https://lifeconquering.org/ultra-rapid-cycling-bipolar/

The post Is bipolar an excuse for bad behavior? appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Well, this morning has been successful in one way and a total failure in another in bipolar land.  I was able to type a draft last night for Blasting News where I am a contributing author.  I just got an email indicating that my article I submitted is being published.  Ya-hooo!

On the flip side I just tried to edit a blog I also drafted last night and get it read for publishing today.  I can’t tell if I have two different topics or just one or five.  It feels as if I am walking through a corridor of Laffy Taffy.  I just feel like this blog is all sticky and I am unable to fight through the bands of taffy in order to see clearly.

A day I didn’t see coming

Have you ever had a day like that?  Hmmm.  It happens to all of us.  We feel inadequate at our job because we feel like we have just forgotten the entire manual on their job.  While waiting tables you break almost every coffee cup you touch.  The copier is jammed every time you go to use it.  You just now noticed you have a coffee stain in a very prominent place on your suit.  And the meeting you are chairing is set for five minutes from now.

Life happens, doesn’t it?  On these days I usually can’t get a topic to write about.  My words do not flow.  And if I were to look at the main ideas coming from my head down my arms to my fingers to type onto the laptop, it would look like a game of Pick-up Sticks.  Just ideas going all over the place, intersecting in bizzare places.

On these days, I want to give up.  At least that is what I used to do.  I gave up.  I too a nap.  I chatted on social media.  I did everything except address the problem.  Now I want to F.I.G.H.T.!  No more wimping out.  I am resolved not to let this mental illness get the best of me.

Just now as I write this blog about fighting against the battles of life, I am sleepy from staying up later than usual.  I would like to take a nap.  However, I know all the work that needs to be done will swirl around in my brain, keeping me from sleep.

Stay in the game

As you go about your day, whether you have a mental illness or have a flat tire on the side of the road, FIGHT to stay in the game.  Don’t check out!  You have a lot to learn from yourself today.  But if you you don’t fight, that is okay too.  There is always tomorrow.

A Call To Action

If you have a success story or a failure story where you learned to FIGHT and as a result learned something from it, please email.  I would love to read the story as well as the lesson learned.  [email protected]

Going Further

http://www.pendulum.org/bpcoping.htm

22 Mindfulness Exercises, Techniques & Activities For Adults (+ PDF’s)

Bipolar Roller Coaster: Nineteen Jobs since College

Anxiety-Provoking Staplers in the Den of Work Life

The post How do you deal with a bipolar brain that is made of Laffy Taffy? appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Until recently, I felt as if I have been “playing” at writing.  Now that I have some major news blogs who want me to write for them, it is as if I have finally arrived.  Things are coming together.  But not without my ball-and-chain, bipolar.  I cannot impress on you enough how difficult it is to write a simple sentence on some days.

Recently I have had mixed episodes.  This is where I experience both depression and mania at the same time.  I am in the middle of a tug-of-war, literally.  On one side, depression tugs me this way and the other side is mania pulling me the other way.  I believe it is one of the worse bipolar symptoms.  Right now I am having auditory hallucinations.  But I can still write.  With mixed episodes the tug-of-war lands me in the desert of do nothing.

Blasting News!

I shared some news with you last week concerning my writing on the internet. After writing an article on Dancing With the Stars, I was told for Blasting News! I can write on any topic.  I might use this blog as a way to stretch my writing legs by writing other topics.  They told me to start out writing three articles a week.  I will need to eventually increase that number to 10 articles per week.

Internet Writing

The Mighty

I am also writing for The Mighty.  It is a blog that promotes the latest information on mental health on a personal note.  When I submitted my first article to The Mighty, I was told they were unable to publish my article because they were so far behind.  But I was hopeful!  Not even a week later, I received an acceptance email and an offer to be a contributing writer.  I really like The Mighty.  Even though this is not a paid gig, it is a fabulous way of getting Life Conquering in front of a larger audience.

Mental Health Blog

Benefits

On both blogs, I have a profile and the website for Life Conquering will be posted on the article or the profile.  I know one blog, or maybe both will include a short bio along with the website’s address.  Their membership numbers are in the millions.

Creating Exposure

I know I have mentioned this before that getting my bipolar and mental illness blog’s name out there will boost my social media and website exposure.  Why is this important?  And why does it matter to you?  Every person who likes or follows me on my website and on social media is building my platform for my book about bipolar.

Social Media

A Strong Social Media Presence equals a Strong Platform for a Bipolar Book

A platform is important in the book publishing industry.  Yes!  Among the blogs and articles I am writing every week, I am also writing a memoir.  I need to show my editor and the book publishers there are people interested in my information that I put out there on the internet.   If people are following me on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Penterist, Google+ and of course my website, this means potential readers  of the memoir which means money in their pocket.

This is what I need from you: if you are not already following me on social media or Life Conquering Blog, please go to the sites below and click FOLLOW/LIKE!

Thank you for your encouragement and support,

Amy

https://lifeconquering.org/

https://www.facebook.com/lifeconquering/

https://www.pinterest.com/lifeconquering/

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LifeConquerin

Tweets by lifeconquering

The post Learning to Write despite Bipolar Episodes appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.