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Normalising Experiences-Intentional Peer Support
Intentional Peer Support I once worked for a warm line run by peers that took calls from people experiencing mental health challenges. Part of the training included Intentional Peer Support. I thought it sounded crazy at first. Instead of medicating and stigmatising psychological experiences like hearing voices, you accept that you have them. You even…
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Walk, Visit & Bad As I Used to Be
Walk Enjoyed a misty mountain-air early morning 3-mile walk to the park pond and back. It felt great. I needed to move after spending a day in bed. Visit Visited my dad. He is strong and doing well. I think I exhausted him by talking for so long. Previous visits were shorter so I was…
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Lessons, Latin & Today’s Plans
Lessons This weekend, I struggled with my inner world. Through my struggles I realised I have been ungrateful for the care and love God has given me, and I feel bad about that. But, I hope to be more grateful from this point forward. I also learned that God can use any suffering for the…
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Spiritual Growth & Mania Recovery
Spiritual Growth Took some time offline, and I think it helped. Normally, I won’t share a lot of posts during a manic episode. In this case, I wanted to share how I process manic intrusions, to a degree. There are experiences I cannot share here for safety and privacy reasons, but I did try to…
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Getting Stuff Done, About Me & Disclaimer
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: 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…
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What Mania is Like for Me
Currently, I’m in recovery from mania, so I thought I’d write a post about what mania is like for me. Also, I’ll include how it has changed and lessened in destructiveness over time. More recent manifestations of mania have included: Past manic experiences have included: This is what mania is like for me. I think…
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End of Day Thoughts
Today has been a good day. I got some things done that needed attention. I even managed to shower off-didn’t wash my hair. I think the mania is receding but I still need to be mindful and watch my energy levels, sleep, and moments of elation. I didn’t get as much done as I’d like.…
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8 Dimensions of Wellness
When I worked as a substance abuse peer support specialist, I learned about the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. From that, I created a curriculum for group sessions and sent out weekly wellness texts. I really didn’t think about the 8 Dimensions of Wellness when I started this blog. I was trying to focus just on…
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Life’s Tasks and a Little Spiritual Moment
Went to get my car tag renewed. The lady wasn’t feeling her day. So, I pestered her until she softened. I hope she has a good day. Dealing with angry car owners probably isn’t much fun. Afterward, I went to pray at the church for a few minutes. I use an app called Laudate and…
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Public Speaking
What makes you nervous? Sometimes I just don’t enunciate. My daughters say I sound like Farmer Fran in The Waterboy.
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A New Season to Walk Into
Slept in this morning until about 0520. Went to sleep after yesterdays’s blog post. Left Dr. Strange playing and went into OdinSleep, as my daughters call when I sleep very hard in recovery. This morning, I made Dazbog coffee, only I put hazelnut creamer in it. Dazbog espresso bean roast is better black. I usually…
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Birthday: Beauty & Aging Thoughts
I’m in recovery from a mild manic episode. Taking meds as prescribed. Spent the day resting and then I got to sit with both of my daughters and talk (without tv) for a while and it was really nice. Perfect, actually. I didn’t get tiramisu which is ok because I got a chocolate frosty. The…
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If You Don’t Have Ears, Baby
I woke up at 0400. Had a big medium roast coffee. Skipped the Concerta because I’m recovering from mania. Contact your physician before making any medication changes . See Disclaimer. I wasn’t going to write on my birthday, but after watching the movie, Moon, I decided to come down from the moon and join the…
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Closer to Love
I have taken my emergency medication, which means I took 10 mg of Zyprexa; I usually take 5 mg.Contact your doctor or adhere to emergency treatment plan-see Disclaimer. I slept for a while. Then, I woke up after my youngest finished visiting my oldest and we watched Euphoria Season 3 Episode 2 and The Summer…
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Odin Sleep
That’s what the girls call it when I need to recharge. It’s funny. I’m taking my emergency medicine dose and will likely be inert for a while. (I literally thought I turned the rice cooker on and waited and it was unplugged.-not good) I have been sleeping but it feels like I haven’t reinvigorated my…
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Giving Thanks to People You Care About
This morning, I still haven’t eaten. I forgot about it so made 3 chicken tenders as it was the only thing I could make quickly. I don’t want to eat it, but I will. Slowly. I’m making a lentil curry with coconut milk. I usually have an intricate process when making this, but today, I…
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On Gentleness of Spirit When in Pain
I can tend towards perfectionism, which is especially odd since I once declared myself “The Great All American Underachiever” in my youth. This perfectionism spills over into many areas of my life, and if I can’t be perfect at something, then I don’t want to do it. Earlier I wrote about how my mental illness…
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Live Our Lives Out Loud
0400 & Ready to Go I have been going to bed really early in the evening to prevent mania while my moods are shifting. I think it is helping. For fun, my daughter bought this alarm clock for me. It’s beautiful but the alarm definitely encourages one to get out of bed. I love that…
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On Being Catholic (As a Convert)
Spent some time in reflection. I’m going to confession today, and I try to write down my confessions. Sometimes I share them with someone for a reference point if I feel confused about how the confession was received to help me understand, or clarify, ways to be more appropriate. As a kid, I grew up…
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Best Day
After writing my morning blog post, I laid down, and then I was like-I need to sweat. I need to feel my heart beating hard, and I need to come to life. So, I got on my spin bike and did a 30-minute HIIT spin bike ride using my Apple+ app. It felt amazing. I…
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Morning Behaviours & Thoughts
Breakfast This morning, I woke up and was so happy that my TMJ pain and headache seemed much improved. I’ve had really bad headaches for the past two days; I don’t normally get the headaches-just the jaw pain. Totally got off track with weekly goals. However, I did have some time to reflect and think…
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A Little Failure, Big Success
75 Day Hard Well, I completed 1 day of 75 Day Hard. Haha. So, that is the little failure part of the title. It turns out that starting a program like that when not fully ready will lead to a higher incidence of failure. For a moment, I wondered if I failed because I’m mentally…
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My 75 Day Hard Plan- Modified
Original To get an idea about the modifications I am making to the 75 Day Hard program, I’m including the requirements below: The 75 Hard Challenge RulesTo complete the challenge, you must follow these rules without compromise for 75 consecutive days: Modified Below is how I will modify the program for safety and adherence while…
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From Anhedonia to Emotional Overwhelm & Back
Ok. So, I didn’t listen to my doctor’s advice when she told me to take 80 mg of Prozac one night and the next night take 40 mg to average out to 60 mg until my 20 mg capsules arrive in the mail; I only have 40 mg capsules. My loved ones were disturbed by…