Okay, I confess. The reason you don’t see me blogging so much anymore is that there are other things to write (like you, am poking at a book that will never see the light of day) and am super busy at work and find that this and putting out on the blog is really hard to do.
For me there's an optimal time to do this, write, and only so many of these, optimal hours, in the early morning. So be patient with me.
Once I learned that ancient Japanese fine artists only produced, only approached their brushes and ink for an hour or two a day. Perhaps they lacked caffeine, is my thinking.
Anyway. In the process of writing this thing I am forced to re-read (this is so painful, you have no idea) many of my earlier posts, and have to rewrite them, for it’s a shame to take them down when the essence is still there, but the medium, the writing, like I said, atrocious.
Nevertheless, the first and perhaps only post on Bipolar Disorder has changed somewhat, and includes an inspiring embedded YouTube video of Kay R Jamison, author of the classic book on the subject, An Unquiet Mind.
Apologies to those of you who read the first draft. Probably none of you did, though, because in 2006 I didn’t even know about things like, tags, the traffic signals we bloggers use to draw attention to ourselves. But like I said, maybe that’s for the best in this case.
Anyway, here’s the edited version of
Bipolar Disorder, Not Everyone Has it, Actually.
therapydoc
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It's a very simple concept, really. But I remember first hearing about it many years ago in graduate school and getting it, but not get...
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24 comments:
I can totally appreciate where you're coming from, as I'm writing a book myself. Though I'm the opposite: I blog over writing the book! Setting boundaries for everything we want to do isn't easy, but its part of what I try to teach my clients. Sometimes its easier to say it than do it. ;)
Best of luck on your book and I hope it does well!
Thanks Jim.
Good luck with your book! I can't wait to read it.
I'm glad you're busy with a good thing rather than a bad thing.
A unquiet mind is such a good book...i had to read it for college and i loved it!
i would buy your book in a heart beat so would theresa too!
Good for you on the book. Maybe you will come through Detroit on a promotional tour and I can get your autograph.
Halevai, we say in Yiddish She-He) should make it so.
For the past few weeks, I have wanted to ask if you are doing ok, because your blogging has seen off, however, I did not want to be intrusive. Glad to know it's Just A Book. =)
As for the bipolar thing, I must have read that article years ago, but ignored it, cuz I had bipolar fo sho.
10 years later, with the elimination of all drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and psychiatric medication... things aren't easy, but I'm actually more emotionally stable.
Of course, that is also 10 years of emdr, dbt, cbt, 12-steps, healthy boundries (sometimes) and relationships (most times)...
so... who can really say?
I'm doing remarkably well, however, it has only been 6 months. I worry, that, as the message is often given, "people go off their meds, and go crazy" and that, i'm a ticking time bomb, and if or when an episode hits, it's going to be worse, because "everyone knows" getting off meds mean they don't work later.
Interesting balance, no?
Thanks, doc.
Bad Cohen and I have been surprised at how many people with fibromyalgia are also being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and how the meds used to treat each problem can be detrimental to the other.
I read you earlier post regarding bipolar disorder and also this post. I have a personal interest because my husband has had 10 episodes of mania that required weeks in hospitals. The latest was a year ago. It was the most traumatic episode of my life, and so sad, sad to watch the man I know become a raging stranger doing all the things he was not doing pre-mania. Too much to say about the episode but after two months of this behavior, the police helped him into a hospital and then helped me into a homeless shelter since my hubby had spent all the money. I am now in my own apartment, we are both in therapy, and hubby is on lithium and seroquel. OMG, he now sleeps. Our agreement is that he continues to takes meds, to be blood tested every other month, and continue therapy and we are still married and working on our relationship. Very very difficult when he is manic. The depression episodes are also sad but nothing like the mania. I am so glad to read what you write about this subject and I read online about it everywhere I can find something.
An Unquiet Mind was such an enlightening book, even after years of practicing clinical psych. After seeing many a manic patient. It gave me a whole new perpsective.
Carrie Fisher's "The Best Awful" is another amazing, brave book (I love her writing style, have since Postcards). I feel my ability to help clients with Bipolar Disorder has advanced considerably.
Good luck with your book. Very impressive undertaking.
I shouldn't have brought it up, honestly. So much more to do with it that it intimidates me and that's got to lead to block, in my experience.
The other reason, the one I didn't tell you all is that as the readership grows, so does the inability to push "publish."
Stage fright.
So there are all these drafts, never published, that need work before I publish them, but two years ago wouldn't have had the slightest (well maybe the slightest) hesitation to put out on the internet.
Congrats! We'll be here when you get time for us lol
Wow! Good for YOU! I hope, when it comes out, that we will be able to know. I mean, think about it, you are an anonymous blogger (for many of us, anyway), yet your book will be a published work. How will we know who to look for on the Psych shelf at the book store? And yet, I would feel so awful NOT to read it - I love your work and I love your writing...hmmmmmm....
Regardless, congratulations - it's an impressive undertaking and I'm guessing you will find good success with it. Very excited for you!
In other news, I just took down half a pint of Ben & Jerry's. No stage fright there.
What, this isn't about that?
Oh, my dear friends. I couldn't keep that from you. Thanks for all of the encouragement.
TD, nice to see a post from you. I appreciate what you write, regardless of whether it is edited or not. I was wondering whether you have many insights on ADHD. A good friend is a sober alcoholic but I am convinced that he has ADHD as well. It's a tough disorder.
You are hard on yourself! I look forward to the video and the rewrite.
I'm new to your blog. Love it though!
I keep telling myself that one of these days I'm going to read all your old posts - does this mean I can just wait for the book instead?
Question about BiPolar - I'm not certain you work with children, but do you find that it is becoming increasingly common to diagnose children - young children- with BiPolar? I've known children as young as 3-4 years old who have been diagnosed. Thoughts?
Facebook is officially creepy...it suggested you as a friend. (I didn't use that email address to sign up and we don't have any mutual friends as far as I am aware!) It was so weird at first glance I thought it was a real request, not just a suggestion!
I would take down that Facebook account but can't remember my password.
Social Wkr24/7, the whole diagnosis thing is out of control. Anything to make people feel they know what's going on without taking a rational look at multiple systems, because, hey, that would be hard.
Oh, and yes, the book will have some of the old stuff, edited this time, with background and more information. And of course, more stories.
And we didn't get into this field knowing it might be hard huh? ;) Glad we are on the same page!
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