Tag Archives: Recovery

The green zone: how “recovered” do I want to be?

Posted on June 21, 2016 by purplepersuasion

I’ve been reflecting on and discussing the concept of recovery a lot lately. I meant to write quite a political post about the recovery model, about which I’ve been openly critical both on here and on social media, about how … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Employment and benefits, Medication, Mental health, mental health debate, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Recovery, Self-management, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Autobiogramophone: six songs of a bipolar life

Posted on May 11, 2016 by purplepersuasion

Here are six songs. I’m not making a story from this list; there is no beginning and certainly no end, just some songs, songs that represent a feeling, a mood state, a moment in my bipolar-filled life. I haven’t gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Mental health, Mood disorder, Recovery, Suicidal thought, The arts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Changing woman

Posted on November 20, 2015 by purplepersuasion

As the seasons change it’s hard not to notice the dark nights and wet and windy weather. I feel like I’m changing too. Until very recently I felt trapped within cycles that felt as closed and inevitable as the shifts … Continue reading →

Posted in exercise, Mental health, Mental health services, Mindfulness, Mood disorder, Recovery, Self-management | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t rock the boat!

Posted on September 28, 2015 by purplepersuasion

A week since my last post and I am still feeling stable. I’m beginning to answer, “How are you?” by saying that I am well, or even good. I still do it with a slight sense of trepidation. Is this … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, exercise, Medication, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Recovery, Therapy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

I don’t ask for the moon

Posted on September 20, 2015 by purplepersuasion

So here I am in this… zone. It’s a zone that I’ve been in before, although not for as long this in years. I’m scared to write about it actually in case drawing attention to it bursts the bubble. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Bipolar, Depression, Employment and benefits, Medication, Mental health, Mindfulness, Recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

In a heartbeat: I may be in remission, but I’m not in control

Posted on July 25, 2014 by purplepersuasion

Let’s start with the positives. I am well. I am pretty much entirely free of bipolar symptoms, so I guess I am in “symptomatic remission”. I’ve yet to attain the dizzy heights of “functional remission” – I’m working more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Hope

Posted on January 29, 2014 by purplepersuasion

Living with depression is a bit like being trapped inside Pandora’s box. You are in a dark place, surrounded by guilt, shame, anger and despair, by envy of those who are mentally healthy, by self-hatred despite your achievements, by loneliness … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Five hot buzzwords in the future of mental health

Posted on October 3, 2013 by purplepersuasion

Yesterday I attended a day at health charity The King’s Fund on the future mental of health in London. The event was for stakeholders (which basically means people who are invested in the process of planning services) and attenders included … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Mental health, Politics and current affairs, Stigma and discrimination | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Radical acceptance

Posted on September 19, 2012 by purplepersuasion

Well into my twenties, I thought I would always be ill. Years of experience had taught me that the best I could hope was to have an acute mental health episode only every other year, rather than yearly. And the older I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments