Bipolar Parenting

Statistics show that if one parent has bipolar disorder the chance of a child developing bipolar disorder goes up somewhat, to somewhere around 10-20%. If both parents are bipolar, the likelihood that a child will develop bipolar disorder at some point in their life approaches 50%.
I have a good friend who frequently likes to tell [...]

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Down & Out

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven’t been around much lately. Been working hard on the book, and feeling a little blue. I got no sleep last night and I felt pretty trashed today. But I’ve noticed that ever since I went on Zyprexa (mood stabilizer – helps with sleep when the restless [...]

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The Older the Dad, the Greater the Chance of Bipolar Disorder

I read this article today with great interest.
My own father was 43 when I was born, however this article seems to indicate that this applies to men age 55 and older.  Even so… kinda makes you wonder, doesn’t it?  My husband is currently 37 years old, and if we are able to have children, he [...]

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Saturday Evening

I am writing this from my dining room, as my husband and nephew play Wii boxing in the living room, and my niece and step-nephew listen to music on my niece’s cell phone. Just another Saturday night at our place.
I talked to one of my Nashville friends for several hours today. She and [...]

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There Once Was A Girl On Lithium…

Last night I was talking to an acquaintance on the phone about my book progress among other things, and in a rather cautionary tone, she told me her experience with Bipolar Disorder. I must admit, I had a laugh over this.
One time at an event for one of the ministries she’s involved in at [...]

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The Hardest Parts of Depression

Now that I’m medicated for Bipolar Disorder, I have to say that I am not free of depression, bur rather it is less of a frequent/severe visitor. Even so, when it does pay me a visit, it’s always noticeable and unpleasant. I have been suffering through a bout of it recently, and I’d [...]

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Not My Day

When you’re sick and things don’t go your way, doesn’t seem like everything is 10 times worse than it really is?  Being bipolar is hardly the exception.
I cleaned the apartment today and decided I need to go for a swim.  Swimming definitely squeezes the endorphins into me, so I packed up my gym bag off [...]

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Put Me in the Water

I’ve gotten back in the habit of swimming every day.  About five years ago, I lost 40 pounds doing just that.  I’m trying to lose weight, but for me it’s a relaxation thing.  The cool water, the silence when you go beneath the surface… it’s the only exercise where you can get hot and tired [...]

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Why Mental Illness?

When you’re open about your own mental illness, you encounter a wide variety of reactions. When you are a Christian that is open about your mental illness, the reactions are often very harsh. I am not the type to shrink back from a difference of opinion, but when someone thinks their opinion usurps scientific fact, I often go silent. It’s amazing what we can make ourselves believe when we’re scared of the painful alternatives.

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