This morning, I am getting shit done, and it feels really nice after being stalled by mania for a few days.
This morning I have completed these tasks:
- Exercise-Weights-Upper body
- Laundry – Washed, Dried, Put away
- Cleaned kitchen
- Healthy shake and supplements
- Prayer
- Reviewing blog and looking for improvements.
- Revised my About Page & Added Disclaimer
Feeling happy and like myself. I have been isolating for a long time because I felt wrong for being who I am. I don’t want to feel that way anymore.
Thank you for reading!
About Me
My name is Carolina, and I have Bipolar 1 and PTSD. It has been well managed for several years, but sometimes I go through mad seasons (Matchbox 20 song). I’m always grateful when they yield for the happier seasons of life. But without the mad seasons, perhaps the happier seasons would feel less special. Kahlil Gibran nod-I love poetry but stopped writing it in 2011; I hope to resume that again soon.
My educational background: I have a BA in political science with a minor in English. I almost completed a MA in emergency management and public administration but left graduate school to focus on my young family.
As a student of government, I believe in the social contract and believe government can bring groups together to solve important social problems. I don’t usually share my political viewpoint, but I love being a U.S. citizen. If you haven’t read the Federalist Papers, you should. Our country was founded by some of the greatest thinkers in history.
One goal I have is to read governmental theory and philosophy from antiquity until today. I’m currently on Stoicism and hope to re-read books I’ve already read with a broader scope of knowledge than I did in university.
For personal research on living a healthier life, I’m a certified personal trainer with many specialisations acquired.
As I have mental illness, I take medication that causes metabolic syndrome so working out is becoming increasingly important as I age and experience sarcopenia (muscle loss). My muscle mass was already low because I lived a life of extreme calorie restriction coupled with cardio for many long years; I’m hoping to reverse that with nutrition and exercise. Additionally, exercise is not just healthy for the body, it is important for the brain and the spirit. I’ll share a lot of this journey here on my blog.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: I want to be clear about a few things:
- Check with your physician before starting a workout program or online challenge.
- Just because I do something, it doesn’t mean you should.
- The same is true for supplements; make sure they are safe for you.
- I often share thoughts and experiences I have when it comes to my spirituality. This can become more intense during a manic phase.
- I have a vivid imagination. Ever since I was a little girl, I had a vivid internal world.
- In Catholicism, you learn that Satan causes a corruption of this imagination. Because of that corruption, I try to rely more on God than turning away Satan. As a person with mental illness, it is important for me to feel like I have power against paranoia, and focusing on God instead of the devil helps me most.
- I want to be a saint one day, like my Methodist grandmother was a saint, which means she was a good person who lived her life as a good person with the spirit of Christ in her heart.
- I know I have done things that I should not have done. I have committed many mortal sins. And though I hope to avoid sin, I know that I have sleeves stained red-as the “Secrets”-One Republic Song says.
- I do not have the longevity of spirit that many people have who are able to maintain a stable relationship with God and their church, but I pray to have that someday.
- I am not, and never will, want to promote myself as a saint like the kind that everyone knows and prays to even if I talk about spiritual experiences or visions-as they have been called.
- I have an active imagination and that is the locus of my suffering during my mental health challenges.
- I have a vivid imagination. Ever since I was a little girl, I had a vivid internal world.
- This blog will never be monetised. While I may write content meant for commerce, this blog is my hobby. It is where I try to connect with others and process my daily life in an authentic way.
- I want it to be reflective of living with the 8 Dimensions of Wellness.
- And finally, If you ever feel actively or passively suicidal, please reach out to your care team or 988.
The primary national mental health crisis line in the US is 988, offering 24/7, free, and confidential support via call, text, or chat. It connects individuals in distress with trained counselors for suicide prevention and mental health crises. Other key resources include texting “HOME” to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line and dialing 988 then pressing 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key National Crisis Lines & Resources:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (Available 24/7).
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
- Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Youth): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE.
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA.
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Treatment Referral): 1-800-662-HELP. [1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9]
Important Notes:
- 988 is the new, 3-digit dialing code, but the previous number, 1-800-273-8255, remains active.
- Services are available in Spanish (text AYUDA to 988).
- For immediate medical emergencies or danger to self/others, call 911. [8, 10, 11]
If you’d like more specialized resources, I can provide info on:
- LGBTQ+ specific support
- Treatment locators for substance abuse
- Resources for specific age groups (e.g., children, elderly)
AI responses may include mistakes.
[2] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
[3] https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines
[4] https://www.crisistextline.org/
[5] https://988lifeline.org/get-help/
[6] https://www.apa.org/topics/crisis-hotlines
[7] https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/crisis-hotlines-a-vital-response-resource
[8] https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/additional-resources/emergency-numbers
[9] https://www.211.org/get-help/mental-health
Conclusion
Thank you for discovering my little blog here in the blogosphere. Please follow if you are interested in my journey to a healthier life. And I hope you are inspired in your wellness journey.
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