Moving blog

After some issues with my Gmail account being hacked, I moved everything to a new email address and subsequently this blog.

All posts were transferred and I am in the process of upgrading. I hope you will join me at my new "location."

http://thoughtsfrommyclutteredmind.blogspot.com/

Bipolar Disorder – Can Friendships survive?

Image via Wikipedia

Living with Bipolar is like being alone in a crowd and all to often it is us who makes sure we are alone. It is common for those with Bipolar to drive away those who we need the most in our lives, those that will help us to maintain our mental health. I have, in the past, managed to do this by telling them everything I ever did – that way if they stayed around, then I knew they were worth being friends with. Strange I know, and I am not sure why I did it. Would I do it now? No way, I have learned there are better ways to get to know people.

One thing I have noticed and may keep people at a distance is opening up to them about the illness that runs my life. They think it is contagious, they do not understand the ups and downs that come with the illness. When a manic episode occurs or serious depression, they will fear us even more, turning away when we need their friendship the most.

I have destroyed many friendships along the way, along my journey to find the answers to my illness, at the same time I have found the true meaning of friendship in those who are able to see through the fear and uncertainty and help me too see the hope and promise and not only the fear and darkness that is so often the legacy of those with Bipolar.

Does Bipolar ruin more friendships than it creates? That may be up to us, how we present ourselves, how we take care of ourselves in our worst moments and who we surround ourselves with everyday.

Pet Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

Image by NguyenDai via Flickr

I read an article recently about service dogs being used for people with Mental illness, this was a surprise to me, like most people when I think of those who use service dogs, and they have a physical handicap.

It has also been long known that dogs, most commonly, are used for therapy , helping those who are hurting to feel better, change mood and find hope. A tall order for a small animal, but vital just the same.

While therapy dogs are a common thing I have always heard of, I had never been in their presence, until about 3 weeks ago. It was not a controlled setting, such as therapy, but at home. We took in my daughter's dog, a Shih Tzu named Pork chop. He is a big baby and the cutest thing you have ever seen. The presence of this dog has had a profound effect on me, I didn’t expect it or thought about it when we took him in, but the other day it came to me after a friend noticed I had been more relaxed and focused lately.

Could it be because of Pork chop?

This small dog has attached himself to me. He does spend time with the others in the house, but he has become my shadow, my “baby,” and the one who has managed to calm my mind – no drugs, no talking, no complicated techniques from my psychiatrist – just a day spent with the cutest dog.

I watched him today playing in the back yard. We had 8 inches of snow last night, outside he was in heaven. He ran through the yard, or hopping rather looking more like a rabbit than a dog. But in his playing I saw the freedom and joy that can be found in something as simply as a day in the snow. We tend to forget such thing as we grow older.

I am thankful for him now, a dog who unexpectedly calmed my mind.