Bipolar Disorder: Understanding What Triggers Mania and Depression.

I have been fairly vocal about my experience with Bipolar disorder, and I been wanting to help those who have recently been diagnosed. I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder four years ago, and been dealing with mental illness for 25-30 years (most of my life). I have, what you may call, rapid-cycling Bipolar disorder, which means, I may experience at least 4 episodes of mania and depression a year. I can lesson these experiences with keeping on my medicine and going to therapy. Sadly, I have not been in therapy for a long time, but, now that I have health insurance, I am looking for a therapist that I can talk to.

Another thing that I am interested in adding to my treatment, is a "trigger journal." Triggers are what brings about your mania or depression psychosis. It could be anything from a look, TV show, board game, to something a loved one said that gets under your skin. Understanding what triggers the episodes of psychosis could help with lessening the duration of the psychosis, or maybe prevent it from happening next time. By writing down our triggers, we can resolve the situation before it gets out of hand.

The things that trigger me are just silly when I think about it with a clear head. Things, like, someone's current mood. I may think that that I bother them. This might send me into a depressive state. Not being able to find something important, may send me into a tailspin. Things like this can trigger my depressive state. As for mania, I might wake up in an abnormally happy and energetic mood, where my energy is high, and I become impulsive. This is how I am on my rapid-cycling days. When I'm in a depressive state, however, I get very depressed. Sometimes it is hard to break out of.
This is why I think it might be beneficial to jot these triggers down, analyze them, and maybe figure out different coping skills that could prevent a manic or depressive episode.

(photo courtesy of: http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj75/gcelliot/bipolar.jpg)

Celebrities who have Celiac Disease

Getting diagnosed with Celiac Disease can be pretty tough (believe me, I remember how hard it was for me). You may be the first among your family and/or friends that has been diagnosed as Celiac. It can be lonely (even though my grandmother had it, and I was partially raised by her, she had been gone for a few years when I was diagnosed. I had no one). What gave me some comfort was that I was not alone. Some of the celebrities I look up to were also Celiac Disease sufferers. People like Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Emmy Rossum had been living with the disease for years before I was diagnosed. I researched both and learned a lot from them. Also, learning that my first celeb crush has 2 Celiacs in his family really helped me feel less alone. Here is a list of celebs who have diagnosed Celiac Disease: Elizabeth Hasselbeck (public figure) Emmy Rossum (actress) Wil Wheaton's mom and sister Meg Cabot (author) Sarah Joy Brown (actress) Joe C (rapper who frequently performed with

To Eat Gluten Free Oats, or Not To Eat Gluten Free Oats?

When you're diagnosed with Celiac Disease, you are given a list of what food you cannot eat. Wheat, Barley, Rye, and Oats. However, you find that there is such a thing as gluten free oats. You wonder if it is safe for you to chance eating it. You think to yourself: "It's gluten free, so it cannot be too bad, right?" Depending on how sensitive your Celiac is, it may be bad. While a majority of Celiacs may be able to stomach gluten free oats, and granola, there are a small percentage of us that cannot handle GF oats and granola. I fall into the sensitive category. I loved eating oatmeal, before I was diagnosed with Celiac. After I was diagnosed, I was lost. It was not until a month or two after my diagnosis, where I discovered gluten free oats. I picked some up, and started eating it every morning for breakfast. It was not until day 3 of eating GF oats, where I began to feel sick. My stomach was cramping, I was fatigued, I was nauseated. I thought I had been "

South Park's Gluten-Free Ebola Episode

photo credit: southparkdigital Greetings Celiac Warriors! Recently, South Park did a gluten free episode that got a lot of attention in the gluten free and Celiac communities. For the most part, the reaction has been positive. Many folks, including myself, found it hilarious. You may be wondering what the episode was about. I'm going to give you the cliff notes version: The episode starts off with the kids returning to school after their start up company fails. Then the show cuts to the teachers lounge where the teachers are discussing Mr. Mackey who has gone gluten free. Mr. Mackey comes back and starts blaming all the world's problems on gluten. A co-worker becomes annoyed by all the gluten free talk and starts screaming at Mr. Mackey to shut up. Mackey states that behavior problems are due to gluten consumption. A female teacher expresses interest in going gluten free. Later on, the boys are on the radio promoting an "epic" party. Callers ask the boys i

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