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Bipolar and Depression Quotes
2007-07-15 09:01:00
"In the night of the soul, it is always three o?clock in the morning, day after day."~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Crack-Up"Seven years ago I had an attack of pathological enthusiasm. I believed I could stop cars and paralyze their forces by merely standing in the middle of the highway with my arms outspread."~Robert Lowell"I was much further than you thought, and not waving but drowning."~Stevie Smith"The aggravated agony of depression is terrifying, and elation, its nonidentical twin sister, is even more terrifying?attractive as she may be for a moment. You are grandiose beyond the reality of your creativity."~Joshua LoganSince I always believe in ending on a positive note...here are a few quotes and a poem about hope."We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."~Martin Luther King , Jr."The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, ...
More About: Depression , Quotes , Bipolar , Polar

A Photograph is Worth a Thousand Words
2007-07-14 09:01:00
So, it just came to me...when I'm hypomanic, I should practice my new photography skills rather than talking at all. Which reminds me that dootz of SurfCountry suggested that I tell the story of what happened at my photography final.Although I had an "A" going into the final, I was quite worried about the written examination. All of our other work had been photographic assignments, which I genuinely enjoyed. Although the grades weren't important to me--at this stage in life, I care more about learning--I hadn't taken the class pass/not pass because I didn't want the teacher to think I am a dilettante.Still, I hadn't taken a final exam in almost 40 years, and one of the reasons why I majored in history as a UCLA undergraduate was because I preferred writing papers to taking written exams. And I don't ever remember having to take a multiple choice and true/false exam in college.But because Santa Monica College is a community college, most professors give multiple choice exam...
More About: Personal , Life , Parenting , Photography , Words

Warts and All
2007-07-13 09:01:00
As most of you who have been reading my blog these last few weeks know, I've been hypomanic. The worst symptom has been "talking too much," and I've got to admit that although I try to control it, I'm not always successful.The most surefire way to control it is to refrain from being with people. But after spending months alone during a depression, the last thing I want to do is to be alone just because I'm a bit too talkative.In a way, I think it's just one of those symptoms that people may not like, but there's a part of me who truly doesn't think it's all that bad. When I'm depressed, I may not see my friends for five or six months. So...when I'm hypomanic, I don't see that it's all that terrible if I talk a bit too much.For a few years, when I noticed I was talking too much, usually after the fact, I would call and apologize. I'd say something like, "When I thought about our lunch together, I realize that I dominated the conversation. It's a sign of hypomania ...
More About: Bipolar , Hypomania

Some Thoughts on Bipolar Mood Disorder
2007-07-12 09:01:00
I started this series in response to a comment by Carla who's medication resistant, undergoing a depression, and in need of advice. I felt compelled to write to her because I know what it's like to be diagnosed as bipolar, fail to get better after taking tons of different medication, receive little to no help from psychiatrists, read the most depressing stuff online, know that medication-resistant patients are the most difficult to treat, and try to survive while experiencing the devastation of a depression.While my advice is for Carla, it's really much broader than that. After a decade of being very ill with bipolar mood disorder--and believing what my psychiatrists said, which is that it's biochemical in nature and there's not much I could do to "cure myself" other than find the right medication--I no longer adhere to that philosophy at all.Now, I must state upfront that I come to this illness from the depressive side. It's quite possible that if my initial depressive ep...
More About: Depression , Thoughts , Healing , Bipolar , Wellness

Dear Carla (Part 3)
2007-07-11 17:24:00
Dear Carla,I'm responding to the question you pose in your comments to part 2. After a number of years of experiencing depressive episodes in April and October, I decided that the seasonal element was important even though my doctors didn't. I researched Seasonal Affective Disorder and I read Winter Blues by Norman Rosenthal M.D., one of the the foremost experts on SAD. These days, you can find all this online. When you read more, you'll learn that some people experience summer depressions like yours; others experience spring-fall ones like I used to, and there are lots of different combinations as well. I tried using a 10,000 Lux light but it didn't help. But for some people, light therapy is very effective.A few years ago, I read that in addition to the change in seasons, these depressions may be caused by "anniversaries" of events. The trigger for the April depression was obvious. That's when I started college in 1968 and within five weeks, my first depressive episode...
More About: Depression , Bipolar , Part , Part 3

Dear Carla (Part 2)
2007-07-11 09:01:00
Dear Carla,In my first letter to you, I briefly mentioned my experience with medication. Although you and I have been labeled medication resistant, I want you to know that from what I've read from readers to this blog, as well as having studied this illness now for 14 years, most people have some degree of difficulty with medication.The real problem is that most of the drugs that are prescribed for us weren't developed for us. And the clinical testing of these drugs has been abysmal. But that's a huge issue and one that I address in a lot of depth in my forthcoming book: Bipolar Depression Unplugged: A Survivor Speaks Out. I'm not saying this in an attempt to sell my book, rather it's just that I have written pages and pages on this and can't repeat it all here.However, the second aspect of the treatment of depression--aside from medication--is a slew of lifestyle issues. In my own case, I finally realized--and wished I had understood this earlier-- that my depressions ...
More About: Healing , Part , Wellness

Dear Carla (Part 1)
2007-07-10 22:00:00
I just received a comment by Carla on my earlier post, which I feel I need to respond to right away. She's undergoing a depression, is medication-resistant like I am, and would like advice. I am going to write a public letter in case it helps anyone else.Dear Carla,First of all, although I was deemed medication resistant early on, it wasn't actually true. What was true was that the four mood stabilizers they commonly prescribe--Lithium, Valporate, Tegretol, and Lamictal--didn't work. Years laters I took many more cutting edge drugs, which were supposed to have mood stabilizing effects but they didn't work either.Over a period of ten years, I saw five of the very best psychiatrists in Los Angeles. What was interesting to me was that it was only the last doctor--my current psychiatrist--who suggested that the stimulant Adderrall might end a nine-month depression in a day.While he also said it shouldn't be a long-term strategy, it is the only medication that works for me. I t...
More About: Depression , Bipolar , Part

Bipolar Wellness Walker (Part 3)
2007-07-10 09:01:00
Again, I'm writing about times past...At the time of these debilitating depressions, I often thought of ways to try and feel better. Although it's difficult for people who have never experienced a depressive episode to understand, it's the most horrific experience to have so little energy that you can barely get out of bed.And yet, once the depression is over--and if you cycle into a hypomania--it's almost impossible to imagine ever feeling so lifeless.Still, at the time of these depressions, I used to come up with ideas for items or support services that would help me. In a debilitating depression, I knew it was very important for me to sit outside in the sun. And I often would do that...just go outside (I live in Los Angeles where the weather is sunny most of the year) and at the very least, just sit in a chair and feel the sun on my face.I also knew that exercise is important--even if I couldn't do it. During a depression, I wondered why we bipolars don't quality for ph...
More About: Depression , Disabled , Bipolar , Part , Wellness

Bipolar Wellness Walking (Part 2)
2007-07-09 17:54:00
Just to clarify...this is a story about a depression that took place many years ago...So...I'm feeling terribly depressed and I can't get better. The medication my psychiatrist has been prescribing isn't working, and neither is acupuncture, St. John's Wort, or any mega-vitamins, minerals or amino acids.Swimming somewhat helps but I can't afford to join a gym with a pool and my brother has taken away the key to the communal pool (a facility for the people in his non-gated but affluent community) gate because I was late in returning it (he also has a pool in his backyard).I've spent weeks searching the Internet for success stories and can't find any. I do find the study that I wrote about yesterday. I've decided that I'm going to try and "walk away this illness." My problem is that I'm having difficulty breathing (my reaction to the mixture of medications I'm taking), my face looks like Edvard Munch's painting, The Scream, I have no energy whatsoever, and am barely a...
More About: Depression , Exercise , Walking , Bipolar , Part

Bipolar Wellness Walker (Part 1)
2007-07-08 17:41:00
When I?m depressed, exercise is one of the last things I feel like doing. Years ago I asked my psychiatrist (who I saw for four years) whether exercise would help alleviate depression. He said, ?There is no evidence to support that it does.? Of course, he has since been proven wrong. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center studied 156 depressed patients 50 and older and found that after 16 weeks, those who exercised showed significant improvement compared to those who either took medication alone or those who combined medication and exercise. In a six-month follow-up study, Duke psychologists found that depression returned in only 8 percent of the patients in the exercise group, versus 38 percent for the drug-only group and 31 percent for the drug and exercise combined group. And Dr. Robert N. Butler, President of the International Longevity Center at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City, said, ?If exercise could be put in a pill, it would be the number on...
More About: Exercise , Walking , Bipolar , Part , Wellness

Transitions
2007-07-08 01:43:00
I'm reading this wonderful book, Tran sition s : Making Sense of Life's Change s, by William Bridges, Ph.D. He's one of the seminal people in the field. I know that I don't deal well with change and because my son will start a four-year college in January, and I want to help him with his adjustment, I've decided that I need to improve my skills in this area.I will discuss this book more in the future, but for today, I just want to quote a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that Bridges quotes in his book. Longfellow evidently wrote it when he went back for a visit to his hometown of Portland, Maine.ChangedFrom the outskirts of the town,Where of old the mile-stone stood,Now a stranger, looking down,I behold the shadowy crownOf the dark and haunted wood.It is changed, or am I changed?Ah! The oaks are fresh and green,But the friends with whom I rangedThrough their thickets are estrangedBy the years that intervene.Bright as ever flows the sea,Bright as ever shines the sun,But alas! ...

More Bipolar Lyrics
2007-07-06 17:08:00
The following are my lyrics to Red River Valley, an American folk song. They describe how I felt when the therapist who saw me for so many years, told me she was leaving. If you don't know the song, I'm linking to this great site, National Institutes of Health, which provides lyrics and audio for hundreds of songs.The Loss I Never KnewFrom this practice you say you are leaving,I will miss your insight and low fees,You have been there for me in the clinches,If you'd just diagnosed my disease.You know manic-depression's a bummer,The symptoms are not always clear,Still, my highs and my lows were so disparate,Yet you missed them for more than eight years.Now that I know you'll be leaving,I am sad but I am angry too,We are ending where we might have started,And I mourn the loss I never knew.
More About: Humor , Music , Lyrics , Bipolar , Polar

Bipolar Blowin' in the Wind
2007-07-06 09:01:00
As many of you who read my blog with regularity may know, I play a number of instruments. Some, I'm fairly good at; others I play badly.Over the years, I've taken up different instruments during hypomanias. So, I've played the banjo, accordion, ukulele, harmonica, electric guitar, and now the Autoharp (I've got one just like the Chromaharp that's pictured above, which is available from the Harp Doctor in case you're interested).When I was a kid, I played the violin (in the sixth grade), the piano (for a few years in junior high school and I was quite awful) and the guitar for many years (I play fairly well).During prior hypomanias and depressions as well, I've written lyrics to songs I like. Since I mentioned a few days ago how much I like Blowin' in the Wind (by Bob Dylan ), I thought I'd share my lyrics. Some of my lyrics are funnier than others. I wrote this one, which is quite sad to me, a few years ago during a long depressive episode.Talkin' To Your Shrink(Sung ...
More About: Music , Lyrics , Bipolar

Siblings
2007-07-05 09:01:00
On Tuesday, I spent most of the day with my mother. I knew I wouldn't be able to see her on Wednesday, which was the Fourth of July. We had friends over for dinner. It's difficult to include my mother in holiday celebrations these days. And besides, with my son leaving for college in January, I want to make sure that the focus on these last holidays is on him.My mom's assisted living facility had a party, decorations, and special food. Although I'm not sure that either of my siblings, both of whom live in Los Angeles, visited my mother, they hadn't dropped by when I called her caregiver in the early afternoon.It would have surprised me if they did. Until my mother moved into this assisted living facility, I was responsible for making sure that she had plans on almost every holiday for almost 17 years.Holidays have always been important to my mother. All three of us know that. And yet, it was rare for either my sister or my brother to invite my mother to spend a minor hol...
More About: Bling , Siblings

Blowin' in the Wind
2007-07-04 09:01:00
In celebration of Independence Day in the United States, I would like to pledge my allegiance to my country by remembering one of foundations upon which it was founded: freedom of speech. Today I plan to celebrate the Fourth of July by singing Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan . (The photograph is of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.)How many roads must a man walk downbefore you call him a man?How many seas must a white dove sailbefore she sleeps in the sand?How many times must the cannon balls flybefore they're forever banned?The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,The answer is blowin' in the wind.How many times must a man look upbefore he can see the sky?How many ears must one man havebefore he can hear people cry?How many deaths will it take till he knowsthat too many people have died?The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,The answer is blowin' in the wind.How many years can a mountain existbefore its washed to the sea?How many years can some people existbefore they'r...
More About: Freedom of Speech

Fourth of July
2007-07-04 06:57:00
According to Wikipedia, "Independence Day (commonly known as "the Fourth of July ", or "July Fourth") is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. "Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been associated with the Fourth of July since 1777."

What I Have Learned From Being Bipolar (Part 2)
2007-07-03 07:23:00
Thanks for the comments from AC and James. It's nice to hear how other people feel. If James is the same person who recommended Sarah Hughes' book, I ordered it weeks ago. I guess it takes a long time to come from Australia.* * *Over time, what I've realized about being bipolar is how much empathy it has given me towards others. I actually see great similarities between aging and illness and I feel like my illness will enable me to deal much more successfully with aging.But in terms of my mother and others...first, I have learned to listen to people and to be responsive. It's so easy for doctors and others to say, "Oh, I've prescribed new drugs for your mother and they won't kick in for a few weeks. She may say she's not feeling well now but don't worry about it. Everyone feels like that and she'll just have to wait for the medication to work."Wrong! I waited for the medication to work for almost a decade and I find this attitude to be unconscionable. Most of the p...
More About: Mental Health , Bipolar , Part , Aging , Bein

What I Have Learned From Being Bipolar
2007-07-02 06:18:00
While everyone talks about all the bad stuff associated with being bipolar, what about the good stuff? Tonight as I visited my 85-year-old mother at her assisted living facility, I thought about how much better a daughter I am to her because of my illness.In truth, I have always been a wonderful daughter. But, what has my illness taught me that enables me to be a better daughter to a mother who's suffering from dementia, who has naturopathy due to diabetes (she's in a wheel chair because she has no feeling in her legs), who's incontinent, who is so very glad to see me when I arrive that she sometimes tears up with relief (even though she is living in a wonderful place with caring caregivers and an ocean view), who sometimes calls me and thinks that my father, (who's been dead for 18 years), and my grandparents (who have been dead even longer) are still alive and who cries when I have to tell her that they died long ago, and who was a wonderful mother while I was growing up and...
More About: Bipolar , Mental Illness , Aging , Bein , Polar

Bipolar Writers and Friends
2007-07-01 09:01:00
Today, I had intended to post a review of Howard Freeman's (better known on these pages as dootz from SurfCountry) new book, Lullabye: Memories, Madness, and Midnight Snacks. But, while I've written about half of it, I had some family issues this weekend and won't have it for another few days. Still, I do want to recommend his book. He's a talented essayist and you can buy a copy of it at Amazon.com. This week or next, I also plan on writing a review of Marja Bergen's book, Riding the Roller Coaster: Living with Mood Disorders. While I've just read a few chapters, from when I've read so far, this is one of the only positive books I've ever read on mood disorder. And Marja is not only a talented writer but as you can see from her site, Roller Coaster, a wonderful photographer and artist.One of the very best things about writing this blog has been the relationships I've developed. After so many years of feeling so alone with this illness, I now have a small group of p...
More About: Friends , Writing , Friendship , Healing , Writers

Gone Fishing
2007-06-29 09:03:00
I wish I really was fishing like Marja and her husband. But instead, I'm fishing in my mind. I need to take off a few days to finish my manuscript and rest.I'm offline until Monday. I won't be blogging or reading other blogs as well. I need to write and spend the rest of my time outdoors.As you know, for the last few weeks, I'm been somewhat hypomanic and although I've controlled my behavior so that there aren't any obvious symptoms, I'm exhausted nonetheless.The good news is that it's amazing how much I can accomplish during a hypomania. I wonder how many other people tend to "clean" when they have a lot of energy. I don't just mean straightening up the house. Rather, I mean going through closets and storage and doing major cleaning.Thus far I've filled the trunk of my mini-van twice and am carting stuff away to the Salvation Army.I also wonder how many people change their diet during hypomanias. Sometimes, I have this tremendous need for "red meat." But other ti...
More About: Fishing , Bipolar , Hypomania , John from Cincinnati , Shin

Listening to "Way" Closing; Hearing the Call of Vocation
2007-06-28 09:10:00
Two days ago I quit my freelance writing assignment. Because I had to sign a non-disclosure statement, I can't tell you what it was. What I can say is this. I'm 57 years old. I've been a professional writer for the last 20 years. I finally realized that I will never be happy if I have to take orders from people who have less experience and expertise than me.When I was 27 years old, I was the arts and antiques editor for Architectural Digest magazine. I've written four books (Bipolar Depression Unplugged: A Survivor Speaks Out will be published soon. I'll let you know all about it). I've had magazine articles published in national magazines.I've also been the Director of Corporation and Foundation Relations for a selective liberal arts college. I've worked for KNBC news, KCET (the local PBS station), UCLA Extension, and I've had a few other jobs and careers as well.Although I've had a number of terrific jobs, I ended up feeling empty with every one--except for wri...
More About: Writing , Publishing , Healing , Vocation

Parker Palmer Revisited
2007-06-28 06:30:00
First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who's been leaving comments lately. Although I try to respond to every comment, I've been swamped. So, please know that I've read what you've written and I do appreciate it. But, this time, I just can't respond except to say thank-you.For those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile, you'll remember that last month I had a series on work. One of my favorite new authors is Parker J. Palmer , author of Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation .Since I'm still new to blogging, I'm not sure if it's better to link you to my other post or to reprint it here. But since my story only makes sense if you know about Parker J. Palmer's story, I'm reprinting it now. Tomorrow's post will be my letter to Parker Palmer explaining what I learned from his experience.* * *By the time Palmer was 35 years old, he'd changed careers a few times (He dropped out of seminary school to get a Ph.D. in sociology, left academia ...
More About: Spirituality , Work , Bipolar

Anger (Part 2)
2007-06-26 15:29:00
As a result of taking Dr. Weisenger's anger workshop, I decided to experiment with different ways of publicly expressing my anger rather than keeping it inside. All these years later, I can't imagine this was an assignment or even Weisinger's intention, but I did it nonetheless.At the time, I was working for the department of business and management in the university extension program. We were located near the university but we were running a program at the downtown satellite office (about 15 miles away). It was a costly intensive four-month program, and our office was supposed to be providing the students with a higher level of service.When they arrived at the building, the nicest classroom was supposed to be open, it was supposed to be clean, the chairs and tables were supposed to be set up in a certain way. None of this was happening.I was a fairly new employee so the first week my boss and I drove downtown together, I was introduced to the administrative and custodial st...
More About: Anger , Bipolar , Part

Anger
2007-06-26 01:36:00
For years I felt that "anger" caused my depressions. It wasn't that I was an angry person. Far from it, I held all my anger inside. Years later when my therapist asked me what my anger looked like, I said I saw it as a smoke stack.When events happened that angered me, my anger would sit on the bottom of this smokestack. And after each successive event, the anger would sit on the pile that preceded it. Eventually, there would be so many incidences of anger that the smokestack would be full.When there was no more space for my anger, it would implode and I would get depressed. I felt that if I could reverse the course of things--either learn how to directly confront the people with whom I was having difficulties or express the anger, I would stop getting depressed.It made sense to me so I decided to attend an anger workshop at the university extension program. All these years later, I have to laugh. I'll never forget the guy's name and his book. When I just looked it up on...
More About: Anger , Bipolar

Up to the Wire
2007-06-25 09:01:00
I'm in the throes of finishing my writing assignment, which is on motherhood, and I don't have the energy or stamina to post something thoughtful. So I thought I'd post a few quotes that made me smile."I think my life began with waking up and loving my mother's face."~ George Eliot"Take motherhood: nobody ever thought of putting it on a moral pedestal until some brash feminists pointed out, about a century ago, that the pay is lousy and the career ladder nonexistent." ~ Barbara Ehrenreich"Few misfortunes can befall a boy which bring worse consequences than to have a really affectionate mother." ~W. Somerset Maugham"A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother." ~ Unknown"I take a very practical view of raising children. I put a sign in each of their rooms: ''Checkout Time is 18 years.'' ~ Erma Bombeck
More About: Humor , Motherhood , Wire , The Wire

A Sense of Community
2007-06-24 09:01:00
Today's post is devoted to Marja Bergen, who writes Roller Coaster. She and her husband have gone fishing (literally). But before she left, she emailed me to let me know that her article, Mental Disorders: The Result of Sin? has just been published.In her blog, she wrote, "Please have a look. The exciting thing is that there is a place for comments. Another place for dialog on the issues I'm so passionate about."So I felt that I'd like to throw a little publicity her way. What's so extraordinary about our little bipolar community is how supportive we are of each other. As I mentioned in an earlier post, a few months ago when I began blogging, Marja was the first person to write a comment, and I was thrilled.I'm not sure how she found my blog. Possibly it was because of a post I'd made about The Reverend Malcolm Boyd, a gay episcopal priest and family friend, who wrote the book, Are You Running with Me Jesus?In that posting, I did say that I'm Jewish and that there might...
More About: Sense , Friendship , Community , Spirituality , Bipolar

Thinking Blogger Award
2007-06-24 00:49:00
Almost a month ago, dootz from SurfCountry nominated me for the Thinking Blogger Award . Quite honestly, I wasn't really sure what it meant--and I'm still not sure--but I was pleased nonetheless. Evidently, in order to participate, I have to do the following:1. Cite the post that he gave me this award for, which you can read here. (Actually I need to check with dootz about this, so I'll get back to you on this.)2. I am supposed to refer you back to the original post of the person who created the award, which is here.3. And then I am supposed to cite five blogs that make me think. So, the five blogs I'll refer you to, which haven't already been nominated for this award, are:Bipolarity: Perspectives on Life Through a Bipolar Lens (I've mentioned Syd's blog many times but once again, she's a terrific writer and writes on important topics);Roller Coaster (I've also mentioned Marja's blog many times and her strength, aside from writing and painting, is her concentration on fa...
More About: Ward , Logger

Other Hypomanic Symptoms
2007-06-23 19:14:00
First, thanks to Syd, Dootz, and Marja for your kind responses to yesterday's post. I really appreciated hearing from you. And thanks to Meredith for commenting on Hypomania Revisited (Part 3).A few other hypomanic symptoms:1. My feelings get hurt quite easily. I've always been sensitive. Years ago, I thought it was a "bad" trait because it made me so unhappy. So I tried to desensitize myself but it didn't work. Then I decided it was OK to feel emotions deeply as long as I didn't show them. It was kind of a survival skill. A number of years ago, I just decided to say what I think and feel (within reason). Still, during a hypomania, I sometimes feel like I did as a child--that I'm just too sensitive.2. I talk too much even though I try not to. In a way, I feel it's OK. I'm mean, my last depressive episode lasted five months. I barely spoke at all, except to my mother, husband, and son. So, I somehow think that if I remained mostly silent for approximately 130 da...
More About: Bipolar , Symptoms , Manic

A Letter to My Non-Bipolar Friends and Relatives
2007-06-22 09:01:00
Last night, my feelings were deeply hurt by an experience with a friend I've known for years. Writing about it made me feel much better but I decided to delete it this morning. The incident is less important than my response, which I do plan on leaving in this blog. As I relaxed in my bubble bath afterwards, I composed the following letter (in my mind, which I won't send) to my friends and relatives.Dear Non-Bipolar Friends and Relatives :I've been thinking a lot lately about what it has meant to be bipolar for so many years. And I've recently come to some realizations that I'd like to share with you.Even though I emailed many of you about my blog, few of you have told me that you've read it or if you have, you've barely mentioned it. None of you have posted comments. Only my aunt in Texas has said that she's really enjoyed what I've written.How do you think that makes me feel? Two days ago, I recorded my 100th post. I've made an entire community of new friends. I...
More About: Mental Health , Letter

Hypomania Revisited (Part 3)
2007-06-22 06:46:00
I so appreciate everyone's contribution and comments on today's post, namely, JayPeeFreely, Marja, Gay Bipolar Guy, Polly, and Syd. In answer to some of the questions and comments:1. I love it that JayPee spent $50 on ink and 28 pound paper. Even though my grandfather was a printer, I'm not sure that I've ever bought 28 pound paper. But now that's my goal. Question: Should I truly use JayPee's possible excess as behavior worth modeling? Answer: Absolutely yes!2. Marja, I, too take on too many projects. What I didn't mention is that I volunteered to teach H's (the woman who gives me manicures and has become a good friend) daughter how to play the guitar. In the midst of this big writing project, I gave her a lesson yesterday. I also jumped rope with her and gave her some little gifts (things from home) that I thought she'd enjoy.3. Gay Bipolar Guy gave some good ideas on how to reign in spending. In my quest to be honest, I must admit that today I bought a new addres...
More About: Friendship , Part , Hypomania , Part 3