Tag Archives: Bipolar disorder

The colour of madness

Posted on July 2, 2021 by purplepersuasion

It’s been a very long time since I’ve blogged and this will probably be short as I’m typing it out on my phone at the bus stop. An hour ago I finished my first session of therapy in five years, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Psychological therapies, Recovery, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The colour of madness

Crisis? What crisis?

Posted on November 14, 2019 by purplepersuasion

I’ve thought about blogging so often in recent weeks, with several abortive attempts. I considered writing about the therapeutic benefits of having a companion animal – if you don’t follow me on social media, I now have a cat! She’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Depression, Hypomania, Medication, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Psychiatry, Self-management, Suicidal thought, Suicide, Treatment planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crisis? What crisis?

Scream if you want to go higher

Posted on August 25, 2019 by purplepersuasion

It is often said that people with severe mental health problems exhibit poor compliance with drug regimens. I loathe that word, compliance. The only time I ever felt really annoyed at my CMHT consultant in London was when he said … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Drugs, Hypomania, Mania, Medication, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Scream if you want to go higher

The pam fam: the demonisation of benzodiazepines

Posted on September 13, 2018 by purplepersuasion

“Diazepam.” A single word tweet. Regular readers or Twitter followers will know what that meant: I had hit an intolerable level of anxiety which I was managing with a prescribed benzodiazepine. One which I am not only authorised but encouraged … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Depression, Hypomania, Mental health, Mental health services, Mixed mood, Mood disorder, NHS services, Pillshaming, Primary care, Psychiatry, Rapid cycling, Self-management, Social media, Stigma and discrimination, Suicide, Treatment planning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The pam fam: the demonisation of benzodiazepines

Roll with it

Posted on August 19, 2018 by purplepersuasion

This morning I managed to shave my legs. It’s the closest to achieving anything that I have reached in days. Because here am I, depressed again. I’m kind of waiting for my CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse) to say “I told … Continue reading →

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Zero hours

Posted on July 20, 2018 by purplepersuasion

So next week I have to go to the GP to ask for an extension to my sick note. After initially signing me off for six weeks they gave me another certificate for four weeks, but this time I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Employment and benefits, Mood disorder, NHS services, Primary care, Self-management, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Zero hours

Warehousing

Posted on June 19, 2018 by purplepersuasion

During my first admission, I was bored. Really bored. Most of the time I sat around talking to other patients. In the absence of communal seating areas not dominated by a blaring TV, we sat on the floor in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crisis care, Hospital, Inpatient care, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Recovery, The arts, Therapy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Warehousing

Trigger, no warning

Posted on May 26, 2018 by purplepersuasion

I feel ambivalent about using the term “triggered” regarding my mental health. It comes from the language around Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and refers to being tripped into a flashback, intrusive thoughts or feelings of distress by some external … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Hypomania, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, Rapid cycling, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Trigger, no warning

Review: Ellen Forney’s Rock Steady

Posted on May 24, 2018 by purplepersuasion

I started out by really, really wanting to like this book. I adored Ellen Forney’s graphic memoir, Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me, which came out a whole six years ago. So I was excited when a friend told me that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Book reviews, Books and reading, Medication, Mindfulness, Mood disorder, Self-management, Treatment planning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ellen Forney’s Rock Steady

I reached out, but no one grabbed on

Posted on May 12, 2018 by purplepersuasion

Once again, social media is full of exhortations to talk about it, to talk about depression and suicide and mental health in general, with the core message being: reach out. Because even if you don’t feel like it, somebody out … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Depression, Family issues, GP, Hospital, Medication, Memoir, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, Parenting, Primary care, Suicide, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on I reached out, but no one grabbed on