Why Structure Is Important For Someone With Bipolar Disorder.

Before I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, my life was absolutely chaotic. I was working full time, I had a full course load in school, and my home life was unstable. I had no structure. I had no discipline, and no focus. The slightest break in my schedule, sent me into a tailspin. I was overcome with so much anxiety, it sent me into a manic state.

After my diagnosis, I tried putting myself on a schedule, and my moods started to stabilize.
Four years later, I have noticed that my moods change when there is the slightest change in my routine. For example, when my back started giving me problems, and I was unable to do my job as a CNA, my moods began to change. One day, I would be full of anxiety, the next, I would be in a deep depression. I decided to get back into freelance writing, and I put myself on a work schedule. Since I have been doing that, I have been a lot more stable. Writing has given me an outlet, and putting myself on a schedule, and sticking my routine, has given me a feeling of purpose. I have a reason to get up in the morning, and a reason for hope.

Those of you with Bipolar Disorder, it is important to stick to a routine. This will help stabilize your mood swings, not to mention, give you a sense of purpose. What I have been doing is writing down a schedule of what I have to do during the day. Since I work from home, I set a time frame of when I write, when I shower, when I do dishes, make the bed, break for lunch, etc.

If you go to school, and/or work outside of home, write down everything that you need to do for the day, and focus on one thing at a time, even if it is as mundane as showering, or as serious as taking your medicine. Work your doctor/therapy appointments into your schedule. If your routine is interrupted, do not panic. Take a deep breath, and focus on the interruption.

Buy yourself a daily planner, download a schedule app onto your cell phone, download a scheduling program onto your computer, etc. Write everything down. I assure you, this will help stabilize your mood swings.
Good luck! :-)

(photo courtesy of: http://thumbs.ifood.tv/files/images/bipolar%20disorder.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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