It is not lost on me that next week is the holidays. Whether you’re religious, or, like me, just like a finely-dressed tree, there tends to be a lot going on.
So here is a bipolar holiday guide on maintaining bipolar stability over the holidays, which, as we all know, can be tough.
Take Time Out for You
This is my number one tip. Please, oh please, take time out for yourself. Don’t allow every minute of your days to be taken up by all the holiday activities. Being overwhelmed can absolutely destabilize your bipolar. Even if it’s just a few minutes, take a little nap, take a hot bath, practice yoga or meditate. Whatever you decide to do, make it just for you. (And this also means taking breaks during things like baking or shopping when it just becomes too much.)
Say “No”
One of the most empowering words in the world is, “no.” Learn to use this word. Say “no” to parties that are too much for you. Say “no” to staying out late. Say “no” to buying presents you can’t afford. Say “no” to organizing or hosting events that overwhelm you. Learn to pick and choose how you celebrate the holiday. Everyone might want you everywhere (lucky you) but your health always needs to come first as without that you can’t experience holiday joy and nor can you add to the holiday joy of others.
Embrace Imperfection
I am not Martha Stewart and neither are you, and just between you and me, she’s the only one who has a “perfect” holiday. You and I need to learn that perfection, equals pressure, equals stress, equals bipolar destabilization, equals depression or hypo/mania. You don’t need that. Imperfection is beautiful – remember the Charlie Brown Christmas tree? We all need to learn that life isn’t about perfection, it’s about joy and joy can come from the simplest of holidays.
Decide Whether You’re Going to Talk about Your Bipolar
The holidays are often times when we see family and friends with which we rarely have contact and sometimes these people ask us pointed questions about our bipolar. It’s up to you to judge each person’s relationship and decide what you want to say, but, in my opinion, my personal medical history is just that – personal. Therefore, I feel no need to share it. If someone really backed me into a corner, I would just say something like, “I am working with my doctor to maintain my mental wellness.”
On the other hand, I know some people feel relief in knowing that others know about their bipolar. This is because sometimes our family and friends can be our best supports during the season and if they know you are suffering with bipolar, they can take some of the load off of you. Of course, only you know who in your life would be in this group. (See: Explaining Bipolar to Others)
Don’t Drink (or Do Drugs)
Depending on your family, you might be tempted to drink or do a few other things that aren’t healthy for you this holiday season. Do not do this. Alcohol and certainly drugs are contraindicated with bipolar and bipolar medication. Don’t make things worse just because you’re trying to fit in and “have fun.”
Maintain your Bipolar Schedule
Finally, a critical thing is to try to maintain your routine as much as possible. This means take your meds, as prescribed, at the same time every day, and make sure you get to bed on time and wake up on time too. This can be challenging during the holidays, especially if we’re staying at someone else’s home, but your bipolar will thank you for it. (This also means likely not changing your bipolar medications over the holidays because that stress can disrupt how the change goes.)
Maintaining Stability with Bipolar over the Holidays
I think the moral of the story is this: holidays can be stressful and upset your carefully designed routine and you need to work to minimize this stress and maintain that routine. Remember, if you abandon what keeps you well for the rest of the year, then the holidays aren’t going to be very pleasant. Keep on doing what’s working, even if that means missing out on the occasional glass of champagne.
Thank you. Very useful and interesting articles. Happy Holidays. 🎄 🎅 ✌❤
Hi Cookie,
Happy to help :)
Happy holidays to you too.
— Natasha Tracy
Most of these comments reflect or suggest how to avoid the holiday season as much as possible,not cope with it..Personally,i love the holiday season and am bipolar..I’m not trying to avoid the festvities or the cheeriness of it..In fact i would think that many bipolars would use the holidays as i do,to uplift the spirits..
I thought the topic here was “How to get through the holidays successfully” ( w’ bipolar? ) Looks like will, and Sarah cleaned up here. A virtual novel between the both of you guys! –and no suggestions= ?
I’d have said (had I not loved Christmas) “get a new book and dive into it”, or turn off the t-v so you don’t see all of the holiday hype, just shop for food and forget what month it is for a while, keep your car radio on the news or sports channel, or spend time cleaning your house, or go have your teeth cleaned. Maybe both? Go see a movie. Read, read and then read some more. Maybe the classics? Maybe a cook book? Marquis Dusade? Clean the inside of your flthy car, get your hearing checked, then listen to some music you love. Clean under your damn bed for a change. Rearrange your closet. Excercise. Then do more of it again. Clean out your refrigerator. Try a new recipe. Try an old one you loved, as a kid. Get some items together for the Salvation Army. Read ‘War and Peace’. ((oh I forgot, you already have) Take naps. Convince a close friend there is no God
Change your sheets.
Go walk the dog, in an unadorned Chrismasy area. Maybe an alley?
Or maybe just help someone. If not for holidays sake, our ‘Wounded Warriors’ fund here could use that $10.00 you were going to spend on that pie. Or the “Make a Wish” foundation -for a dying childs last wish.
That’s what happiness or “holidays” are all about. Giving.
We’re all miserably sick- but why not make one needy person happy if we can?
It’s a instant Seroquel smoothie.
Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year=-2014.
God bless
So my dad told me over the holidays that the only thing that’s keeping me from completing a commercially publishable book a year is “want to.” Gee, Dad, that’s great. All this time *I* thought it was bipolar disorder and then PTSD added on top of it that was impairing my dailly productivity. I’m so glad to hear from you that if I “want to” I can do a full day’s work every day even while coping with an equally disabled kid’s health vagaries. Wow, what a relief! Just “want to” more!
I hate the holidays.
Wow, so many comments I can hardly keep up! Merry Christmas one & all.
Please, tell those who starve to death in India to move on. Please, respond to your statement on how to know absolutely right from wrong. It is it from a book you read. It is it from a definitive scientific study you conducted. Where did you get this information the rest of human kind has been searching for from its beginning. Why no useful comments to add to the discussion? When the Tsunami hit in Indonesia about ten years ago did god save those who survived and kill those who died. Which is it? Please explain the logic in what you are saying. I want to know. I want to know the answers you have and reasons for events like the Tsunami. What is it if you know enough to comment please tell us. We need REAL help. I know I do. Please again give me the answers. Again to me and Sandracobban, you know the absolute rights and wrongs. Clarify what we should get grounded to. No cheating by quoting a book ( if that’s what your doing ) from thousands of years ago written centuries afterword from hundreds or more texts and interpreted and edited by perhaps more. Please promise me if ever in the situation yourself with say colon cancer or similar. Think about me the whole time and say to yourself to let the pain in ( you don’t get pain medication, You must do it the way you ask us to – you must FEEL the pain – Feel the pain ) After this you must let it go. You don’t get an excuse to tell people it’s not your fault and remember NO pain medication. You must FEEL the pain. If you can’t move on it’s your problem. You get no excuses or recourse anywhere. You MUST feel the pain and move on. No exception. Please in the name of — remember what you have said to others and honor your own words and STICK to them and MOVE ON. Please remember my email and if I’m still around mail me from your hospital room when and if it happens and tell me how it works out. Especially what happens when others tell you how to deal with it the same way you tell others. Remember will.nist@yahoo.com. Even if twenty years from now I want to know. Thanks, will nist.
One suggestion I’ve found helpful is to come up with a few things to look forward to after the holidays. I ordered myself something I wanted right before I left to come home for the week so it show be waiting when I get back. I have plans to go to a movie and there is one I plan to get from Redbox. I found it help to combat the post Christmas blues. That and getting regular exercise. I know my diet is likely to go out the window (waves as it goes by) but at least I can make sure I get my exercise (I have a pedometer app on my phone which tracks how many steps I took and I can see charts showing how many I did day by day.
Yes, you just reminded me. I want to go see the new lord of the rings movie. Living in the north after Christmas is hell for most of us who live in the there. Don’t know where you live. Tonight and tomorrow rough for me as I’m single and can’t see my family, but after Christmas up to March or so is the worst. Wish I had someone to see the movie with. Last year had an ex-girlfriend to see last one, but she moved. Thanks for reminding me. Good idea.
This was a great read going into my first Christmas with an official diagnosis of bipolar II. Honestly been feeling quite off lately and not sure if it’s Vitamin D deficiency, the bipolar or just the Christmas Blues. Finding the “stability ” part a bit elusive, but reading this post helps me remember I need to take care of myself first and foremost! Hope your holidays are happy!
Have had severe vit-d deficiency tested by new doctor last year. I have like a 5 which should be 30 to 100. Taking 50k units twice per week but has changed nothing. Cant even get the number up to low normal level. Don’t know why. Strange.
Please, there really are rights and wrongs. You have to know that. Your conscience will guide you and your faith will protect you.
Just take it easy but GET GROUNDED and feel the pain properly. Really let it in. Then move on.
Just my thoughts on reading your comment.
The rights and wrongs to me are internal and absolute. They are independent of money, power, sex gods, etc. Placing a god label on them cheapens them. Like with the Jews not naming god. Of course like all religion they become cheap and ruined. Don’t pretend you know there is a god. You have no more proof of that than I do and don’t pretend to it also cheapens you. Nothing in this world is sacred to me but the truth. Without exception. Nothing. Where shall people ground themselves. To you, your concept of god. Where. Where does the foundation lie. Please don’t say it is you. Don’t label it. Explain it and we will all understand. What should people let in and what is meant by that. Finally what do you mean by moving on. Sound much like snap out of it. Pull yourself up by your boot straps, etc. etc. Same mantras chanted for ever to the sick who can’t be healed by the gods of the believers to those who don’t believe or from scientists who have given up or Drs. who cease to care. This is life or death to some of us, not something to move on from. Please if you don’t have this disease move on from your mortality and live forever in happiness and tell me how to do it and how it works out.
As usual a comfort in reading your great tips.
I’m all for knowing your limitations,just because it’s Christmas does give us a free for all,let’s party ,shop til we drop,socialise excessively……
Without asking for trouble,& a lot of it.
We all have different cultures & religious beliefs.
There are no right or wrongs.
It’s what you your Drs and treatment team have set up for you.
The naps,I particularly agree with even if you don’t sleep.
The point is to de stress desract .
While I felt all the tips mentioned would help truly everyone,there’s always exceptions.
If you lose your health,you lose everything…
I also believe as female,we need to pamper ourselves maybe even more than a hot bubbly bath.
I use cream and massage my hands & feet ( now that’s super chilling,if you’ve never done it,do try!)
Put a detoxifying facial mask ( for skin or hair or sometimes,do both)
Sit in a hot bubble bath with my stereo on.
When your done,it’s just like you’ve been to a lovely spa ( without the high costs!)
Pet therapy (?) mentioned helps too,when I had a dog I used to take him for a long walk just to get away from the hustle and bustle………many yrs ago.
Now I’ve a cat,I will be snuggling w her sipping ginger/ lemon tea ( no booze or drugs EVER)
So not worth it…….
Anyway,my Christmas rituals are non family based for private reasons,we sort of met in the middle earlier in the week.
May I wish you,Natasha happy holidays ( ps loved the pet pics!) and good health /happiness in the new year as well as all other fellow bipolars that also post on this site! :-). Cold here in Canada…..cheers!!!
Only women need pampering? Why are these type of comments Ok but not v v. It’s like why cracker is Ok and not the N word ( see the hypocrisy ) I think these things may lead us to the truth. These think make no sense to me. Any good ideas from anyone as to why these double standards.
Will, get over it. Women need pampering. She didn’t say that men didn’t need pampering. Typically, men get plenty of pampering from their wives or mothers doing each and every single little thing for them. Women don’t typically have someone to look after them in that way.
Well, as a human being is either male or female. Unless you are one of those rare individuals born somewhere in between either physiologically or psychologically, if you say females should be pampered your are saying by default that the other two groups should not . Aren’t you? Set theory would apply here I would think. I am a man and get no pampering from a wife or mother of anytime. I am not married and if anything I have pampered my mother for years by helping her whenever she needed help. As well as my father until he died recently. I was pampered by one woman years ago, but as I say that was years ago. The double standards go much further. I’m 6’4″ 275 lbs. and have had two girlfriends put their hands on me. I have never done the same. Not because of the law or because of weakness, only because I don’t believe in hurting women. I must say in my life I have done far more for women than they have done for me. With that one exception.
Will, I think you need to review your working. Horses and dogs both need regular grooming too, and they are mammals like us. Would it be a double standard to leave them out? Grooming is an intrinsic need of each species. So you could say “As horses, they have a special need for grooming” without meaning that the dog does not also need to be groomed.
Also, would you like a medal for not hitting women who are physically smaller and weaker than you? If a man was that size and weight you wouldn’t hit him either. That’s why boxing goes on weight. To keep it fair. “It’s how it should be” to quote Rita from “Made in Degenham”. She says this when her husband reminds her how good he has been to her by not hitting her. This is something that we all should be able to take for granted – not getting beaten up in our own homes. It doesn’t deserve any special consideration and it is not sexist – it goes on size – just like boxing.
“I never received any pampering from a woman… oh wait, there was one woman, years ago…” The EARLY nurturing we most of us received was from a woman – and it certainly does count, for the rest of our lives. But I AM sorry that you have had difficulties.
This is to Sarah, who commented to me on 12/23/13 to what I posted on 12/21/13. Natasha who handles so much online activity I do not understand why can’t correct this double comments and other problems on this site. Maybe she needs to temp. shut down site to fix and has decided not to yet? Don’t know? As to your comments Sarah. If a man much larger than me assaulted me. I would fight back to the best of my ability. As to a woman that much larger, don’t know if personally met any. Don’t know what I would do? As to the women I have been with. And my mother otherwise who is about 5’4″ 130 lbs. I have never said anything like ” you are so lucky, I am so much larger I can hit you anytime I like.” Never anything like that ever. I just never threatened it nor did it. I don’t pick on people smaller than me anymore than I would with someone mentally slow or otherwise just because they maybe less intellectually aware than me. However you define it. Agree we should be able to take for granted no abuse by others period. Regardless of sex, size, intellectual ability, religion, race etc. etc. and any other way you wish to put it. Will try to get around to reading what you have quoted. I didn’t say and oh wait. I never would say that about that girl who was probably the most important person ever in my entire life other than maybe my mother and father. As well her influence wasn’t early in my life. It was between the ages of 27 and 29 and I loved her deeply and certainly never hit her or threatened her in any way. Neither did I ever pt. out the almost foot difference in height or approx. 150 lbs. in weight. I wouldn’t have done that anymore than I would with my two tiny nieces. I have as well attacked a previous good friend for putting his hands on his longtime girlfriend and help put him in jail and would do it again. Maybe I am wrong, but I am assuming a spelling error and that you meant review thinking and not working. If not please excuse me. As too horses and dogs ( I love animal especially cats ) I thought we were speaking of humans and not other types of animals or even plants. I of course know horses and dogs are mammals biologically speaking. As to the larger question I believe you are probably right by leaving other living beings out. I didn’t respond to the question though in that way. I think you have caught me though on the animal question. I eat meat and feel the guilt of it everyday. I just don’t know how to quit. I crave meat like I think maybe a heroin addict craves heroin. I try to stop eating meat and can’t seem do do even after MANY years trying to. I believe eating meat completely normal for humans, as well as dogs and cats. Trying to over-ride it seems almost impossible to me. I hope I have cleared a little bit up about how I feel. I respect women very much and just hope to be treated the same in return. That was all I was saying. As to the deeper levels of philosophy I suspect we may agree, but you may be better in practice than I.
Hi Will,
Nice opening remarks. You are right, I did not quote your words correctly, being too lazy to go back and check your comment. So sorry if I have misrepresented you, but i thought that was what you meant.
Secondly, merry Christmas and thanks for being a good sport in my philosophical rantings.
Third, “Review your working” refers to the working out of a mathematical problem. There are steps involved in the solution of any problem and it’s best to write each step down along the way to check for errors. During maths at school (not math, as in USA) the students must ‘show the working’ to be given full credit for each question on an exam. I could have said to ‘rethink it’ since neither of us were really writing it down, but it would not be as descriptive. I introduced the animals into the argument as examples of the relations involved only.
Fourth, I thought we were talking about double standards for men and women. I was arguing that there are not double standards in this example. I see that the discussion has gone way off track. I hope one day that whatever bitterness causes you to see nonexistent double standards dissolves and you will be happy.
Merry Christmas to you also Sarah. I celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday only, even though I was born an Christian. I am what I consider an Agnostic, most others considers consider me an Atheist. As to your philosophical rantings. I don’t consider that at all. These are the things that will lead us to the truth. As to working out of a mathematical problem, I remember the teachers that wanted their students to write down their steps to give partial credit for a wrong answers and those who could care less just wanting the answer. Period. As well some people think and work out mathematical problems differently than others. Not just formal mathematics, but other problems in social science etc. I believe the steps are important for this reason and probably others, more for the benefit of the teacher than the student in most cases. Also think the term Maths as compared to Mathis much better as we both I assume there are many Maths and not just math. They being said I am not a mathematician and don’t pretend to be one. I never had the money to finish my formal education and learned most of what I know on my own and don’t really have the nomenclature and/or accepted terms in that field down. Are you from the U.K. as In my limited knowledge they are the only ones as well as formal colonies etc. of such that use “Maths” instead of “Math”. Just curious. Seems like most on this board are Canadian or otherwise. Strange to me as a reluctant American why this is so as most English Speaking sites in my experience pander or speak mostly just to Americans (U.S specifically). Not really sure why you introduced animals (other than human) into the discussion, as thought I was clear w/o introducing them, this I don’t think overall had an impact on the essential argument. As to the main argument about human men compared to human women you are right that was what I was focused on initially and am also now. Of track, I don’t know. In my opinion all is connected and this is just a little clarification on both our parts and I appreciate your well thought out response and not just of the cuff insults as so many are prone to. Really appreciated by me more than you can imagine. As to bitterness to women by me as a man. I have none. I love women and believe the world would be very sad and empty without them. I would hate to live in a world without them. They and men compliment each other perfectly in my opinion and the world would be lost without both. I do believe though these double standards exist in both the positive and the negative both for and against both sexes. In this I suppose we disagree. Please don’t suppose just because a man is large and maybe a little externally imposing that he is violent or threatening in anyway, I certainly am not but because of the size and maybe long hair and dress and initially seen that way. I am not only not threatening to women, but would help them in any way I could if asked. I love women. It was just a comment made by both personal observation and credible studies I have read. Thanks for listening to my ranting remarks Sarah and happy holidays again to you and hope all is well with you if maybe you have experienced and abusive a-hole man.
Nice reply thanks Will. I’m going to set this out, because I think you can handle it.
Lets say women = x and men =y. Let’s say the need for pampering = z.
What you are saying is that women are equal therefore x = y, and if women need pampering x=z then according to set theory men also need pampering y=z.
So why is that wrong? Because x does not equal y. women are not the same as men. Looked down your front lately?
The confusion is that you want to say that men and women are “equal”. But mathematically we need new letters. lets say s = status of women and t = status of men. In an ideal world s = t, and that is what we are talking about when we say women and men are equal. But women x does not equal men y, even in an ideal world s = t where status is is equal. Because men and women are not the same. Therefore if women need pampering x = z it has no bearing on whether men need it. y=z.
Part two:
Lets say that pampering =z and was one of many factors affecting s = status of women and t= status of men. Lets say all things affecting status such as income, were equal between men and women. There fore the whole status depends on whether one is pampered or not. In such a situation, where s = z and t does not equal z, if women were pampered and not men, then there would be, as you say, a discrepancy in status, a double standard. In such a situation, women would be put above men and that would certainly not be fair.
But you have to realise the economic, political and social situation for women, put them so far behind men in status, that a little pampering is just a small step towards evening the scales. s does not equal t in the real world. Nowhere near it. And whether you see this inequality or not, every man and woman is affected by it. For you to make a trite comment about it being unfair that a woman might get pampering, is to deny the suffering of women around the world. And as much as I like you Will, it makes my blood boil.
This is in reply to Sarah’s comments to me on 12/25/13. I still don’t know why Natasha can’t fix it. Only way I know how to reply. Normal way just wont work. O.K. here’s the reply to part one. I’ll use the symbol (n=) to mean not equal to if needed as I don’t have an equal sign with a cross through it on my computer (don’t think anyone does as far as I know). It’s kind of hard for me to respond in this symbolic mathematical way but I will try. You say let us assume: x=women, y=men, z=need for pampering, s=status of women, t=status of men. This I suppose is the problem. Of course x(n=)y in physical and other ways from birth. All humans in most ways for the most part are (n=). I just wish it to be so in terms of social, economic, legal, parental, political and otherwise. So if you are assuming that t>s in the above public areas I would in most cases agree, but not in all cased. I do believe though in many private cases as to rights s>t, though again not all. Although in truth x(n=)y that doesn’t make the need for either x or y to receive z irrelevant. As well the differences between x and y are far from mutually exclusive, therefore I do believe one does have bearing upon the other as they share much if not all in common. Response to part two. I believe I responded to part two mostly in part one as I believe they are very without question interconnected. Z affects of course both x and y. As well the things you have mentioned are mostly of course in favor of y and not x. This I agree with. Keep this in mind though. If one is a member of y and follows the general rules that apply to both x and y, this particular y will be at a disadvantage throughout the spectrum. But if things are as you say where t>s then as you say to gain = then z(x)>z(y) would contribute to =. I’m sorry about you blood boiling, but my remarks might seem trite to you but aren’t to me. I make my remarks normally from my experience, reading, personal experience etc.
“I do believe though in many private cases as to rights s>t, though again not all.”
Even the Queen of England suffers from inequality. The only reason she has the throne is that she did not have a brother. It has long been believed that a woman on the throne makes it weak, so much so that Henry VIII beheaded or divorced his wives so that he could get a male heir. The catholic church wouldn’t allow this so he declared himself head of the Church of England. All this to maintain the supremacy myth of males. And to be honest, not much has changed since then.
In all cases women begin with a disadvantage to men. If in a single case a women is ahead of a man it is because there is so much individual advantage in her favour in terms of personal qualities or what she has inherited at birth, as compared to the man who should be her equal, that it can overcome that gross inequality of our society, which is perpetuated by religious, business, and educational institutions.
To make this a bit more relevant, what I am saying about women being disadvantaged against men by society also applies to those who are mentally ill vs those who are not.
Very, very sensible. I really value your pearls of wisdom. Keep up the good work – I do hope you get paid for this!!!
Reply to reply made to me by Sarah 12/26/13 on 12/27/13. Of course the Queen of England is only there because of lack of a male sibling. Personally I think all the assets of all the royal family. As well as all the ill gotten gains of all members of the peerage should be sold and redistributed to either the taxpayers in the U.K. or more justly to India and other victims of English imperialism. As to the assumption of perceived weakness of women on the English throne I believe Queen Victoria and some others would put doubt on that theory. Henry the VIII was of course a control freak and no respect for anyone as far as I can tell either women or men. You are of course correct about his obsession about producing a male heir. Paradoxically his expulsion of the Roman Catholic Church from England probably shifted quite a bit of rights from men to women. Only in certain ways of course. I assume you do know there are have been many matriarchal society’s in the past. Not the least of some being Native American tribes. This generally has been rare as I’m sure you already know. Women today of course in most cultures have more rights then they have had in the past. Just generally of course. We still have places like Saudi Arabia etc. where women are essentially treated as no more than property and/or animals. The men who live in these places who take advantage of these laws and cultures to mistreat, abuse and otherwise dehumanize women should be beaten and face severe punishment if we were to have justice. Having said that if the police where called in one situation that I was in where my ex-girlfriend threw my heavy work boots at me and a heavy cast iron fry pan. What do you think would happen. I don’t deserve to be abused anymore than you. At least in my area the answer is obvious. As well if a man in my area who were to ask for help from an abuse shelter to escape this type of violence so it did not escalate, if for no other reason. I in my opinion would be treated as the aggressor and questioned as if they were assuming I were guilty of something. This is prejudice, The pendulum too often swings too hard the other way and over corrects a problem by creating a new one. As to the treatment of the mentally ill in women vs. men I think here you are way off. A man like me in not expected to cry or show weakness. If I do I am ridiculed and dehumanized by both women and men. I have even see the disgust in the eyes of the ER Drs and nurses while being processed there. Men are not able to cry even in front of their mothers, wives and girlfriends. They are seen as weak, unable to take care of business and generally treated like garbage. Personally I think this is why suicides are more common in men then women. Women for the the most part are shown compassion when sad, crying etc. Men, including myself are actually blamed for it and shamed for it. As you know being suicidal and depressed is one thing. When the Dr. and therapist is giving you dirty looks. This is when you go looking for the anatomy book to see which part of the brain is the best place to put the bullet to minimize the pain and maximize the damage. I’m sorry if you disagree Sarah but this is how I see it and how I have been treated. I don’t think being a man in the U.S. is all you think it’s cracked up to be. As well not all men have some sort of hatred or the dislike of women. A woman in the past as I think I mentioned gave me the happiest moments in my life. Moments I’ll likely never had again. Please understand you may have had bad experiences but men are not the enemy and if like me don’t wish to control women. I just want equality and justice for us all.
Will, I am not talking about my personal individual experiences. I am talking about women as a group, globally. The original matter we were discussing concerned women vs men in general, and I have been taking a fairly academic approach (but with a lot of licence). You have been talking about one experience, your own, and so our discussion has been fairly disjointed. I give up.
If you have been abused, hurt or otherwise you deserve support and I do acknowledge there is not much support out there for men or women.
Other than having bipolar I’ve been very fortunate in my life compared to billions of men and women. But on my own playing field I am at a disadvantage to the boys. A man of my academic talents will earn more money, gain more recognition, be more socially acknowledged and more likely to be a high ranking politician or CEO. Professions requiring ‘female’ skills earn pittance despite the high level of talent, dedication and skill required. So you can see that at once I am both advantaged and disadvantaged. The disadvantage for women vs men I am talking about is in generic and global terms. One individual may be luckier than another despite the sex. But overall most women have it much harder.
Sarah.
I agree wholeheartedly with you. However, at least you can work. I cannot. I was at the top of the corporate ladder and struck down hard because of the disease. I must say , that I did pay women executives the same as men. That is the moral thing to do.
Good for you Michael. A true sign of a real man. Keep doing again if ever in the opportunity.
Sarah, neither am I talking about individual experiences (save one case). Although have used them for examples only. Please keep in mind haven’t slept for over fifty hours. I was also talking about women as a group globally. I wasn’t talking about just one personal experience, but multiple ones personally experienced by me and others. As a hypothetical or by others I have read or know about. I haven’t been personally abused except for maybe emotionally neglected by mother as a child slightly, but nothing to write home about. Fairly good childhood in most ways other than be a bit different. As to support for Bi-polar you are quite right. As to your academic success I don’t think you are at that much of a disadvantage to the boys then you think you may be. By your use of the term boy I must assume you are much younger than I supposed. Otherwise a sign that you are in many ways above your peers. On thing I think is important to know at any age is money although needed to live for now when seen for its own sake leads to emptiness. I have a friend who has had two kidney and pancreas transplants and if he lived for money his life would be quite empty. Recognition and social acknowledgement are both dead ends that lead nowhere. Especially to the truth, understanding, love and all that really has real value. This is true and you must know this. Ever heard a physicist named Randall from N.Y. She is one of the best known scientists t ever live in this world. Has if I remember correctly a very credible theory on five dimensions of reality. What about Madame Currie on radium, radiation, Nobel Prize etc. As to politics what about Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi, Queen Victoria, Cleopatra, Catherina of Russia, Sackawgea. Although I hate the process of politics I suppose they are needed if they can bring justice. Even lifesavers if they have a conscience and follow it through to the end. Don’t ever forget that inequality when born. You have bi-polar but you can get books. Ever read about the independent Indian Mathematician who studied stars all on his own a virtually now health. I believe his name was Chandrahar. Believe he calculated minimum mass for a black hole and of our own sun could be wrong here of course, been a long time. Believe more women in medical school today then men. More fortunate in what? Rather have friends for life then be a C.E.O. Finally Sarah could you please give me an answer to this w/o getting to mad. You say the differences between men and women are both generic(assuming you didn’t mean genetic)and global. Don’t quite understand that other then you believe men universally and predictability discriminate against women for the same and predictable reasons. Ever think maybe men and women are just different normally but not always just because of genetics and that is the way it is and that that men as a group use there difference in this to gain control and try to force there take on these thinks in that way. Again I must say Sarah. I’m a white Man of English descent, Very tall, muscular, long haired, bit fat, have a high I.q. am educated and I have bi-polar and have tried killing myself. I think maybe some others have had it easier and others worse.
Forgot, Sarah. Give up or stop talking to me anytime you wish. I’m used to that. I took a proverbial bite of the apple years ago to look for the truth where ever it lead. Truth, lies, death, life, money, poverty, etc. I’ll not e-mail you again unless you email me first. I always scare people. Today a woman used auto car window RC because of paranoia of me. The price of seekinking the truth.
Natash ,
Congratulations…..Sharecare, the online health and wellness engagement platform founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Jeff Arnold, today announced its Top 10 Social HealthMakers on Mental Health, a list of experts and advocates leading today’s online conversations about mental health across topics including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):
You are in the top 10..
Natasha Tracy: Author of the award-winning Breaking Bipolar blog on HealthyPlace.com and the Bipolar Burble blog, Tracy is a passionate mental health advocate who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1645660#ixzz2nvnh8wnx
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1645660#ixzz2nvnSFfrV
Happy holidays from Nova Scotia!
Hi Dave,
Shouldn’t that be “happy holidays, eh?”
;)
– Natasha Tracy
Why he’s just saying where from. Seems right to me. Why so many Canadians here. Love Canada as much as I know they treat the sick including the M/I more as human than here in the militaristic U.S. which is more concerned with killing then healing. Also Real healthcare is mostly just for those who don’t need it. See those who have a lot of money or can work at high paying jobs with good health insurance. Usually not those with severe bipolar can’t hold those jobs. Am I right do Canadians take better care of their sick then in the U.S. or am I deluded.
Will….. America is not a democracy. Its a business.
Quite right. New term I have been introduced to Plutocracy. This may be the best term, but the idea is the same. I am looking for U.S. flag T.P To wipe mu ass with.
Not on this topic Natasha. Don’t understand why you are not seeing my messages. Think maybe you need a new webmaster or similar. As to saying idiot. It is not an insult in the way that those with intellectual disabilities in the past have been labeled in that way as an I.Q. level or the term used today in a derogatory way. Just using it in a way as a person making statements extremely loosely about something they have little or no information about or as an emotional response to someone looking to take advantage of others. I do not like people who wish to take advantage of the weak. In the emotional way I am weak. In other ways I am not and try to stand up for those who are not. Sorry no other way to contact other than this. Seems you REALLY do need someone who knows how to work a website properly. I would do it but don’t know how. Maybe I’ll figure it out and do it for you as a favor as a contribution to the cause.
Will,
I’m not sure why you think I’m not seeing your comments. I see this one just fine.
If you don’t consider “moron” or “idiot” and insult, that’s your business but I do so please refrain from calling others those names here.
– Natasha Tracy
You just told me you weren’t receiving my comments on your system. That at least is the message I got when I asked you a question. Something strange here? I asked you a question and got a response you didn’t know what I was talking about because In response to what was appropriate or not. Which was strange as you seem to of responded to something I wrote, but as well stated you didn’t receive.
Hi Will,
I’m sorry, I’m missing something. I’m not sure what you’re referring to. You’ll have to provide a link.
– Natasha Tracy
Happy holidays from North Pennsylvania.
Natasha…. Thank you so very much for a new topic and a very important one for us. I really do appreciate this topic and find it very helpful and reminded me what to do during the course of the year and not just holidays.
Michael,
Happy to oblige :) At least for today. Happy to be a little reminder.
– Natasha Tracy