This bipolar life

[Kazzl]

Are your moods are like an elevator with no control buttons? Mine are.

Ground floor ... I feel normal, content, just quietly getting on with ordinary, everyday life, loving my family and friends. This is as it should be. And maybe there's nothing wrong with me after all. Live.

Going up, top floor. Oh look! There's a shiny thing! I want to sing! Let's go buy stuff! Let's have a big party and invite the world! What could possibly go wrong! Woooooo hoooooooo! Play.

Going up (a different day) top floor. What do you mean you don't agree with me! I'm right! Why don't you think like me? Keep up! How can you be so illogical? I'll f-ing shred you if you don't do what I want! Rage.

Going down, lower ground floor. Flat, listless, can't be bothered. Can still function but it's a drag. Cope

Going down, basement. I'm never getting out of bed again. I'm useless, worthless. Total idiot, how could I ever imagine I could do anything, nothing ever goes right because I'm wrong. I'm a burden to everyone. Hide.

Welcome to my bipolar world. It's always been my world, but it's only recently I've seen it for what it is. About 15 years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression during one of my 'basement' times. I had a lot of lower ground floor times too, on and off, and I kept out of the basement (so I thought) with alcohol. Until that took me into the blackest ever basement with only one obvious way out. Having survived doing something very dangerous I realised I had to stop drinking or I really would die.

I never took much notice of the playful times or the anger, that was just me, I was fun sometimes, and sometimes I was a devastating bitch. Ha! Deal with it people!

Well, yes, but in time the elevator started going up and down too quickly and, as I became more aware and more knowledgeable about mental health I realised this wasn't good. Doctor. Diagnosis. Bipolar 2. Lithium.

So, I've started this thread in the hope that other bipolar folks will join me, to share experiences and strategies. In my 'beginners' understanding, we are different from other fellow travellers of the back dog. While we experience depression as many others on this site do, the hypomanic or manic ups and, for some the rapid cycling that can happen, are experiences unto themselves.

I want to learn more, and I want to share with others. I hope my fellow elevators will join me here.
BTW, it's a ground floor day in my head today! Yay!

Love

Kaz

[Guest9337]

Yes those who get me and I get them are few and far between too.

So, with that utterance by you and my understanding of it so begins a bb friendship! My buffy dog looks peacefully at your emotional support dog and they begin the process of the familiarising sniff and circle, sniff and circle.

U got boy dog or girl dog? Buffy girl 11 years dog but never had pups as neutered. I was talked into neutering her by peer pressure. long sadface.

[velvetfaerie]

I have registered for any dog.

I used to have a female but she's been gone 5.5yrs now. Everyone in my life said get another... for company and mental health. So..... I've started.

Nothing wrong with speying. Pyometra can be lethal. Emergency caesareans on dogs will cost 10k. The shelters are full due to irresponsible pet owners.

I guess people have their views. Mine are garnered from 20 years experience and 3 relevant qualifications.

[velvetfaerie]

Also rescue groups are flooded at the moment due to rental crises and the working from home stuff.

Oh working from home let's get a dog.

Return to work... dog has separation anxiety... too hard... surrender dog. If it was a kid people wouldn't. They work with the kid through desensitisation....

Upsets me how people treat animals sometimes. We don't deserve them.

2 coffees in and I'm off to a bike class.... yeewwww

[Airies]

Love my pooch, 5.5 kgs of ADHD. Some people don’t deserve dogs. Puppy farms and cruelty. V you sound so deserving of a dog and surely you are rewarded soon. I’ve gone from big breeds to small breeds over the years.I’ve always desexed my dogs. Majority have been male and one female.

Given that’s it’s wet outside, the weekend and I can’t be flagged exccercysing in the garage will be watching the olympics off and on. By all accounts I’m glad I didn’t stay up @and watch the opening ceremony does anyone else agree?

[velvetfaerie]

I love the Olympics!! Meant to mention it. I didn't watch the ceremony... I crashed out asleep early and woke at dumb o clock.

I like track and field. Swimming. Hockey. Cycling. I better check out when these are happening.....

[velvetfaerie]

My friends are running a fund-raiser today. Get a little tattoo and the money goes to a doggo rescue.

If I go I'll prob come back with more ink, lighter wallet (money to help doggos).. and a dog. Hahah. Not bad things really. But that's me.

[quirkywords]

I have seen lots of interesting discussion since my last post.

I agree Velevet that I can count on one hand the people who get me and I can rely on. I have been restless since birth, my mum said I was such a wiggly and restless baby.

It is awful how people treat dogs like an accessory to be tossed aside when circumstances change.

dng and V I have learnt the hard way of helping others and then it affects my health

I must be the only one here without a dog. I do love them and take friends dogs for walk, just no space at the moment.

Aries I was surprised the Olympics went ahead. Guess I am in a small minority.

[Airies]

V , yep I’m up for more ink. Funny given I didn’t get my first until 10 years or so ago. I’m watching the softball.watched a bit of the rowing, all fit ,young , healthy athletes,. Guess shooting and equestrian have the older athletes.

I don’t really agree with professional sports people like tennis players and so on competing at the Olympics but guess I’m old school in that regard. There was a fascinating episode of the Front Bar featuring Anna Meares and Raylene Boyle. I don’t watch this show normally but if you have catch up TV well worth watching for an interesting and funny side to the Olympics .

Quirky I’m surprised as well.Don’t exactly agree with it but we’re dammed if we do damned if we don’t. I just hope they come home safe, any medals are a bonus. Think it’s a bit daft that they are saying we should get so many gold etc.

[quirkywords]

what clever idea for a fundraiser. Velvet.

I like watching the gymnastics and the paralympics. I saw a tv movie about the doctor whose idea of getting injured young men after world war 2 in england to take up a sport. Back in the late 1940s the medical care was to wait for these young men to die or put them in nursing homes. Very interesting.

asdff and Lisa how are you? It is lunchtime here and am motivating myself to walk outside in the cold.

[velvetfaerie]

I really want to go but I'm absolutely knackered. I'm experiencing physical symptoms of exhaustion as well... or I have a germie trying it on... seems more likely to be exhaustion though.

wonder if there will be an Olympic covid strain......

Oh I wanna watch the Olympics now.