Tag: bipolar

Accidental week off.

Or nearly a week, anyway.  Six days.  I completely forgot to blog at the weekend… and managed to carry on forgetting all week until today.  Whoops!  So I’ll extend my blogging an extra week, I think.  Or maybe I’ll keep going until the end of July.  I’ll aim for that.  And beyond, of course, but hopefully every day until then.

So, what have I been up to this week?  Not a lot, really.  Much the same as I have for the last few months.  That’s mostly involved not going out a lot.  I don’t actually remember the last time when I managed to leave the house by myself, either.  Not counting letting the cat in and out, and putting the rubbish out – somehow that doesn’t seem to count as Going Out in my wonky brain, even though if I want to go somewhere further than the end of the garden path I haven’t made it past the flat door.  Make sense of that!

I had to go out today, and will again tomorrow, as I have an appointment with my psychiatrist in the morning.  Mum has been brilliant about coming over and helping me get out / taking me places.  Today was an appointment at the Jobcentre to talk to them about work and things now that I’ve been moved onto the new ESA benefit.  In my case, that was pretty much going over the fact that, what with not being so well, I can’t do full time work, but I can continue with the (part time) Permitted Work scheme.  So that’s OK.  What was less OK was the panic attack part of the proceedings, but it wasn’t a major one and I think I’ve remembered everything alright.  If not, I can ask Adam-the-support-worker who was there with me.  Mum had just dropped me off there, as Adam knows the ropes for this kind of appointment.  But she will be coming in to the appointment tomorrow, as per usual.  Her perspective is useful, but she can also remind me of anything I forget to mention as well.  Two heads are better than one, and all that stuff.

And on that note, I’d better go and make my list of things I have to remember for tomorrow.  Oh, and wipe my phone ready for taking it back to the shop for repairs.  Poor wee thing.  (No phone?  How will I cope?! Noooooo! etc)  Good night!

On: Manic Depression « squeegee182

An excellent post on what not to say to people with manic depression / bipolar:

On: Manic Depression « squeegee182.

I think I can count myself pretty lucky that it’s been a long time since I’ve had any of these things said to me.  It makes me realise how awesome my friends and family are, and how much their (your!) efforts to understand really help me.  Thank you all! ♥♥♥

Bipolar Awareness Day 2012

Bipolar UK is the new name for what used to be called MDF: The Manic Depression Fellowship. I think the new version is more succinct, don’t you?  They’re launching a campaign which will hopefully become an annual event:

A public education campaign, Bipolar Awareness Day will be launched on Wednesday 27 June 2012 by Bipolar UK, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Bipolar Scotland.
– Quote from Bipolar UK

Approximately 1% of people in the UK have bipolar – that’s 1 in every 100 people, remember.  So even if you don’t have a close friend or family member who’s affected, it’s very likely that someone you’re acquainted with – a work colleague, or someone you went to school with – is living with bipolar.

Bipolar UK are planning to focus on one aspect of the condition every year.  This year it’s the fact that most people take around 10 years to receive the correct diagnosis.  That was certainly the case with me.

Anyway, go and check out their shiny new site if you’re interested, and find out some more information about the campaign there.

Time to Talk

I’ve made a pledge on the Time to Change website:

“I pledge to help end mental health prejudice.  I will talk about my own experiences with bipolar disorder and anxiety to help break down stigma.”

The project is not only for people with a mental health condition – it’s for friends, family, professionals, and anyone interested in the issues, really.  So check it out!