mental illness issues Archives - Page 18 of 51 - Bipolar Burble Blog

Mental Health Politically Correct Language Is Not Superior, Just Different

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Feb 12, 2018

I do not consider politically correct language to be superior in any way. People who know me know I’m not a big fan of political correctness in the mental health arena. I don’t give a hoot about “person-first language.” I don’t care if you absentmindedly call the weather “bipolar.” And I will always call a spade a spade and say I represent the mentally ill and not those with “behavioral health conditions.” And I talk about violence and mental illness and other things that we’re not supposed to mention because it scares the villagers. And I certainly don’t think insisting on changing the aforementioned things (and oh-so-much-more) helps those of us with mental illness in the slightest. I realize, this puts me in the minority (and she laughs), but my opinion is, politically correct language is not superior, just different.

When Bipolar Disorder Makes Me Feel Useless

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Feb 7, 2018

Bipolar disorder can absolutely make me feel useless. I woke up this morning and I went about my routine of feeding the cats, taking meds and so on. That’s fine. Then I sat down at my computer to start work. I started doing my social media tasks for the day, answering comments and so on. And then my brain just seized. Suddenly, thanks to bipolar disorder, I was useless.

Recognizing the Real, Bipolar You and Not the Idealized You

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 24, 2018

I realize I need to recognize the real me who has bipolar disorder and not the idealized me that, theoretically, does not. What I need to recognize, to deal with, is the me of today and not the me before bipolar disorder or the me of five years ago. Things change. I have changed dramatically and what I’m capable of has changed too. I need to recognize this in everyday life. I need to work with the current, real, bipolar me and not the me I wish I were.

Can You Be Fat and Happy on Bipolar Medication?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 9, 2018

For many of us, we are expected to be fat and happy on bipolar medication. This is because many...

Good and Bad New Year’s Resolutions If You Have Bipolar

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 1, 2018

It’s the time of year when everyone is making New Year’s resolutions – including New Year’s resolutions by those with bipolar disorder. While I’m not a huge believer in “New Year’s” resolutions (I think you can resolve to change in small ways at any time), I do think that there are ways to create good New Year’s resolutions if you have bipolar disorder and, perhaps more importantly, bad ones. Here’s how to avoid bad New Year’s resolutions by making good New Year’s resolutions if you have bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder – I’m Not Angry but My Bipolar Brain Is

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 5, 2017

My bipolar makes me feel so angry, but I know I’m not. I know I’m not really angry. I know that the signals that I’m angry are coming from my sick, bipolar brain. But I feel very angry anyway. I can’t make the anger go away, even through notable insight. It’s so frustrating and the existence of the anger, and my inability to make it go away, makes me even madder.

Bipolar Depression and Dealing with Mistakes

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 25, 2017

When I make a mistake while experiencing bipolar depression, I beat myself up like none other. I get so angry with myself and obsess over any tiny, perceived mistake I make. Bipolar depression (and depression, in general) is brutal for that. As we all make them, we need to learn to deal with mistakes even with bipolar depression.

Why I Tattooed Over My Suicide Attempt Scars

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 10, 2017

Last week I tattooed over my suicide attempt scars. This isn’t because I wanted to cover every scar on my body – quite frankly, I have tens of self-harm scars – this is for other reasons. Covering specifically my suicide attempt scars with a tattoo is symbolic. I consider it positive and I hope its permanency will remind me of its positivity for the rest of my life.

Living with Wanting to Be Dead

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 9, 2017

I want to be dead. I live with wanting to be dead every day. It’s this thought that constantly plagues my mind: “I want to be dead.” I want to not be here. I want to go home. I want anything that will end the suffering. Living with wanting to be dead is, well, a bitch.