BipolarBreakdown

Breaking down the Mental Illness stigma one post at a time

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Archives for April 2018

Take your Dog for a Walk

Even when there are days that I do not feel like leaving the house, I still need to remember that my dog, Max, absolutely loves a good walk outside.  He’s a little thing, so our walks don’t usually last too long. But they do give me the chance to spend some time with him, in the sunshine and fresh air.

Take your dog for a walk

I’ll admit, sometimes I come home afterwards and crash on the couch, a little overstimulated.  Yet, I know that the Vitamin D in the sunlight and the fresh air were good for my body and lungs.

So get out, take your dog, cat, or iguana for a walk.  It’ll do you both a world of good!

Self-Care Saturdays

Self-Care Saturdays

Self-care is important to everyone, but I believe it’s more important to those with an illness.  Whether that illness is mental or physical, being able to care for one’s self is important for survival and well-being.

Self-care, by definition, is taking care of one’s self.  My mid-wife once said to me, “Remember that airline attendants always tell you to put your oxygen mask on first, before you attempt to help others.”  The premise being that if you pass out from lack of oxygen, you won’t be able to help anyone else.

Self-Care Saturdays

Every Saturday

My goal is to post every Saturday, with at least one self-care tip, so that those who follow me can start to put self-care into practice.  Now, whether you use these Saturday self-care tips is up to you – but I’d like to think that if you can put into practice some self-care habits, you’ll see a difference in how you feel.

I’m not trying to minimize mental illness here – simply stated, I want to see people use more self-care and less self-sabotage.  I know, far too well that only using self-care won’t work to placate a nasty depression or reign in a manic episode, but it just might make you feel a bit more in control of yourself.

Follow this link to Self-Care Saturdays, or simply click on the menu above.

In the Beginning

I love beginnings!

They have a sense of power, don’t they?  A sense of mystery, magic and unpredictable potential.

When thinking about beginnings, I think my favorite is a budding relationship. It’s the moment when it hits you that this other person “could be good for me, could support me in ways unforeseen.”

I’m not necessarily speaking of a romantic relationship.  We’ve hopefully all had friends that we’ve met and right from the start you think to yourself, “I like them, they just get me.”  From that moment of realization, spins a web of knowledge, feelings and moments that when put together form a solid well from which you can draw from.

And suddenly you just know it's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings...

As an avid reader (read: book hoarder) I also like the beginning of a brand new book; when you crack open the crisp pages and read the first line that will launch you into a completely different world.  Whether you like a good thriller, biography, mystery or romance novel, the story unravels in front of you, one page at a time, and sucks you completely in.

My Aim for this Blog

My aim for this blog is to be a little bit of relationship and a little bit of brand new book.  I hope to be able to power you with knowledge and emotions, but also be able to bring you into my world, so that you can see what it is to have Bipolar II disorder.

While some of you may already have a sense of what it is like to have Bipolar II, from your own personal experience with the disorder, others may be looking for information to support someone close to you who has the disorder.

Like any good relationship, I want to be able to communicate with all of you.  So, don’t be afraid to subscribe to the blog and/or comment below.  In doing so, you’ll have a hand in ending the stigma of mental illness.

– Jennifer