Bipolar Support Groups

Hey, join this cool meetup group for mental health peer support!

We are starting to build "hubs" of peer support in other cities around the world.

http://www.meetup.com/New-Mental-Health-Movement/

After you join the meetup, email me the organizer and he will invite you to our private virtual peer support "Ning" group that you can use from the privacy of your computer.

Hope you're doing well

Depression Cures: Escaping the Daily Routine

I just got back from a clinical study I did and i was away from home for 24 days. I can't even describe how good it is to be home. I'm so happy to be back, i'm so much more thoughtful towards my family, i'm so much more appreciative of what I have. This has led me to a light bulb type insight: that it is good to get away from your daily routine and your daily relationships every so often. Who can see the same people every single day and not get sick of them? If you leave for a little while and then come back, then likely they'll be more fond of you and you more fond of them. We save money for cars and houses and big screeen TVs, but we should be saving it for vacations and trips. When you're stuck in the daily routine for too long you stop even being aware of how miserable you are. So if you can get away, do it. And if you can't yet, start saving today.

Hope you're doing well:)

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Last Week at the Clinic

Its day 22 and i'm going home tomorrow morning. I stopped taking the medication yesterday and I am now aware that i have been a complete zombie for the last 3 weeks. I can't wait to go home, see my family, get a rock band going, and spend some of this money that i sold me body to science for. The last week went by pretty quickly as all i did was sleep all day, play some guitar in the evening, and watch basketball games at night. I can't wait to see my friends, go out, and eat some frosted mini wheats...Freedom!

Hope you're doing well

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Week 2 at the Clinic

Its day 14 at the clinic and i'm starting to get irritable. Every day is exactly the same and seeing the same people every day all day is getting pretty annoying. I'm getting pretty sick of doing tests every day and getting poked with a needle daily. I miss my home, my food, and my family. I'm getting pretty sick of the food too. I'm also hungry a lot because we get up at 6 am and can't eat anything until noon. I'm going to grind it out for the last 9 days but it gets tougher as I go along. Its a great money-making opportunity and day dreams of what i'll be able to do with the money are what keep me going. I hate the cold weather anyways and don't really miss not being able to go outside.

Hope you're doing well

www.depressiondodging.com

Week 1 at the Clinic

This is the 7th day i've been at the clinic. We have to take the medication in the morning and it makes you sleepy so i've been sleeping about 15 hours a day. I spend the rest of my time watching TV or playing my guitar. Its pretty hard to play guitar and sing though because the medication makes me feel perma-drugged/dizzy and it makes my mouth so dry.

Every day is the same. Wake up at 6am. Do tests like blood pressure, blood test and ECG. Sleep all morning and afternoon. Do some more tests. It gets pretty boring here but i can't think of a better way to make $200 a day.

There are about 15 other people here. One guy is my age and he does art and music so we get along great. The food is pretty good too, but we're not allowed any caffeine so I haven't had a coffee in a week.

Only 18 more dys to go.

Hope you're doing well.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Gonna Be A Guinea Pig for 24 Days

Hey, hope you're doing well.

Sat down on the bus one day and right in front of me was an open newspaper and it read something like "are you bipolar or schizophrenic?" "I sure am", i thought. So I called them and went down there and passed all their tests and it was huge pain the rear, but now i'm ready to start tomorrow.

I'm going to be living at a clinic for 24 days, taking seroquel or quetiapine, and getting tested daily. I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart i'm doing this because they're paying me $5000. I've been broke for so long and would be nice to buy a new guitar and some clothes. They have internet there and i can bring my guitar so i'll pretty much be spending those 24 days doing what i do at home anyways. This is the only kind of job i'm actually qualified for...guinea pig. I'll be surrounded by other crazy people so i'm sure it'll be fun...just like summer camp...yes there will be bunk beds. Hopefully the staff won't sedate me and steal my organs while i'm sleeping. I asked my doctor if it would be safe before i signed up and she said it should be fine.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Take care

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Happy New Year

Hey, hope you have a good year. My mama said this is the year of the creative person and I believe her. Check out some of my music at YouTube if you like:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AaLeKkSs11