Bipolar Blog Feedback – Update

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 24, 2011

Hi all.

You might recall, I’m taking part in a reader engagement and feedback program through WEGO Health.

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to give me your opinion, but there’s more to do. Only about half of the people who have clicked on the survey have filled it out. We can do better than that!

So, Please Take One Minute to Fill Out This Survey

The goal is to find out more about you, my reader.

The more information I can gather, the better this blog can be for you because I want this to be a place that you find useful and engaging.

: Click Me!

Hate something? Love something?

That’s what I want to know.

A Bribe

Two of you will be the first to receive my new ebook – for free!

Please take 60 seconds and fill out the survey. I appreciate it.

– Natasha Tracy

PS: And not to worry, this is the last nag article :)

Bipolar Burble Feedback – Help Me Make this Blog Better!

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 15, 2011

You might have notice I’ve been soliciting more reader feedback lately. This is for two reasons:

I want readers to fully-engage with the site.
I want to provide you with information you find useful and helpful.

Because without those two things, this site turns into me just talking to myself, and well, I do that a lot already. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about readers it’s that they surprise you. Actually asking you what you want is infinitely better than me guessing.

Thanks to My Readers

I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts with me. You’ve provided me with great topics to write about, and of course, your questions inspired the posts on mood tracking and the series on mixed moods in bipolar disorder, which is currently underway.

60-Second Feedback

Today I’m launching a 60-second survey to get a bit more information about you. This survey is completely optional, but I would appreciate one minute of your time so I can learn a bit more about you.

I’m running this survey through a site called WEGO Health. WEGO Health focuses on finding people who are leaders in health communities. These are people who:

Engage on health topics
Answer questions
Ask questions
Share information on health topics

Basically, they’re looking for many of you. I know many readers here fit their profile and would possibly benefit from their services.

Um, What Kind of Services

WEGO Health runs webinars, chats and whatnot on health topics. You never have to attend if you don’t want to.

I Don’t Want to Sign Up for Services

That’s perfectly fine. There’s a checkbox at the bottom of the survey that will opt you out of all emails.

Your Feedback Will Be Anonymous

One of the good things about running it through a third party is you’ll be anonymous to me so you can be completely honest. If there are things you don’t like here, it’s OK – be honest about them.

What You Will Get

By taking this survey you will get customized social media tips provided by WEGO Health.

And as a bonus, two lucky survey responders will receive my new ebook, currently in production: Electroconvulsive Therapy – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go Under the Electrode (it’s a working title, I know, inflammatory).

Go Answer the Survey

OK, go spend 60-seconds for me. I appreciate it.

(Note: I have no direct or financial ties to WEGO Health. If anyone has any questions about the survey, feel free to leave a comment here or contact me directly.)

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 9

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 21, 2010

Sunday, 7:00 AM

Still on the ridiculous chronotherapy experiment schedule.

Last night I did get about six hours of sleep, which I do appreciate, but it is seriously not enough sleep for me. I get the impression this protocol suggests that seven hours is the “right” amount of sleep for people. These people are nutbar. OK, probably not nutbar but unreasonable. Never in my life has seven hours of sleep been enough for me. The bags under my eyes appear to have been chiseled there. Getting up at 3:00 AM just felt like an inhumane torture…

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 8

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 20, 2010

Saturday, 7:15 PM

I’m getting ready for the second 7-hour stretch of sleep. Honestly, I’m not sure whether I’m awake or not at this point. So little sleep over so many days. This has been the longest month, um, week, um I mean, three days ever. Want to make time stand still? Try not sleeping.

The day has been so up and down in energy and mood fluctuations that I feel like my molecules are spinning apart a little. Perhaps I will become see-through…

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 7

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 20, 2010

Saturday, 12:30 PM

On goes the chronotherapy experiment.

For the last couple of hours I’ve regained a bit of energy. I guess it’s those early morning hours that are the biggest bitch, but then they would be, if you don’t sleep. Still definitely exhausted.

My brain still feels like it’s sliding out my ears. It’s all squishy and porous. Thoughts are leaking. I can’t seem to maintain a ribbon of logic…

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 6

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 20, 2010

Saturday, 7:30 AM

Continuing on the chronotherapy experiment…

Seriously dude, I am tired. Like, really. Two days with almost no sleep. I am not fun to be around either. Growly. Annoyed. Nauseated. Brain-dead. Mistake-ful. Comprehension-challenged. Hurting. Dizzy. Icky. Not with the happy.

It’s not the end of the world. I’m not homicidal or anything but I really, really want to sleep now…

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 5

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 20, 2010

Saturday, 1:30 AM

Continuing on the chronotherapy experiment…

Thus ends the first sleep. It was supposed to be 7 hours but apparently, that was not to be. I went to bed at 6:oo PM as directed, but sleep would not come. I didn’t sleep any sleep medication as I felt that after 36 hours I would actually fall asleep on my own. Ah, have I learned nothing about my brain!?…

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 4

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 19, 2010

Friday, 5:30 PM

Continuing on the chronotherapy experiment and just about to set down for my first sleep in 36 hours. I’m exhausted and tired and pretty much shocked that I survived 36 hours awake. Really, I don’t recommend it.

I’ve got increasing anxiety that when I actually do lay down in 30 minutes I won’t sleep. And then I’m scared that I won’t wake up again at 1:00 AM like I’m supposed to. I suppose if there’s nothing to worry about I’ll make sure there’s something to worry about. Sleep and stress. They are so tightly knit…

Circadian Rhythm Chronotherapy – Experiment Check-in 3

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 19, 2010

Friday, 12:45 PM

Continuing on the chronotherapy experiment. Feeling much better. Almost felt like I was going to pass out a few times around 10 AM but I seem to have picked up a second, or third, or sixty-fourth wind or something.

The panic is gone and the anxiety has diminished. My friend is awake again after he napped off and on for 2.5 hours. He’s allowed to nap, I’m not.

I think I’ll be able to make it to 6:00 PM but I wish it would hurry up and get here already. This has been the longest day, ever…