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

[quirkywords]

Last time I saw my 3 year old grandchild she had her parents and me joining her running through her place pretending to be rainbow lorikeets. It was pure delight. She loves birds and I keep buying her bird puppets.
thank everyone for the bird visuals, so refreshing in a overcast day.

[wail]

He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea,

He alone decides who writes a symphony,

He lights every star that makes our darkness bright...

High praise to Quirky for being a fun parent/ grandparent and appreciation to Aries for organic gardening. Quirky do you have a scrap book like to record all the darling granddaughter memories? I am a scrapbook maker and I record my good memories. It is therapeutic because it is art and the scrapbooks are helpful during a low. Cheers

[quirkywords]

Wail I write letters as my way of recording, letters to grandchildren but they are for me.

My adult children would say I never was or have been a fun parent more weird, different and why cant you be like other mums!!!!

[wail]

Hugs to Quirky, in time your kids will mature and understand that you did your best given the circumstances. Parenting their own kids will help them to understand that nothing is perfect perfect perfect, I have an echo...

I was wondering if you guys were pure bred dogs what breed would you be? A brindle stafford staffy that would be me- short hair, medium size, affectionate, loyal, reliable and courageous.

My husband would be an akita - large animal, wary of strangers, intelligent, faithful, stubborn, fastidious and composed. So which breed represents you best?

[velvetfaerie]

Border collie. Hyperactive and willing to please. Hard working. Fluffy. Intelligent I hope LOL!

My partner would be a pug. Short. Round. Lazy. Easy going.

Heheheheh

[asdff]

I love Border Collies Velvet. I know what one of my children would be a Golden Retriever or a Labrador; fun, sweet and attractive.

[Airies]

Another fan of Border Collies. Wouldn’t own one , to clues for me. Often see some well trained ones off the lead on my walks. My dogs pretty good though. As for me, I would have been a Siberian Husky, run, run and then run some more, wild and free , the way I used to be.

ono of my children would be a Golden Retriever, a gentle loving soul.

[velvetfaerie]

One of my good old work colleagues has a golden..... I live for the adventures of Lola on social media hehehe.

She's hilarious. Lovely dog.

[quirkywords]

My partner has said in the past I am a pitbull terrier!! but I think I would I would be a dalmation.

One child would be an afghan hound, feeling very confident, one would be a popular breed like a labrador, and one would be a great Dane.

[asdff]

The child in question Velvet is a clown. Funny and affectionate.

As for me, I wa thinking of my friends dog. A black Irish Setter, he is naughty and painful at times. I was a naughty child. I’m a naughty adult at times. I googled their temperament and I was laughing.

Copied from Purina. Absolutely, me in a nutshell. Except I was not slow to mature.

Is a sensitive breed though and will not respond well to harsh correction. This breed matures slowly, both physically and mentally and should never be pushed too far too fast. They are hardheaded, stubborn and independent. The Irish Setter needs a lot of exercise.