Tag Archives: Self-management

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

Who cares?

Posted on November 17, 2016 by purplepersuasion

I’m wobbly and I should be doing the things that might keep me back on track – so why don’t I care? Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Depression, exercise, Hospital, Hypomania, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, Rapid cycling, Self-management, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who cares?

What do you know, I was there all along

Posted on September 2, 2016 by purplepersuasion

*TW: Although this a positive positive post, it makes graphic reference to past experience of overdose* I am reticent about sharing the good things. I’m more superstitious than I let on, and I constantly worry about jinxing my run of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Hospital, Medication, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Psychiatry, psychology, Recovery, Self-management, Social media, Suicidal thought, Suicide, Therapy, Treatment planning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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

The naked brain

Posted on June 9, 2016 by purplepersuasion

Ever wanted to run off to a cave and hide for a couple of weeks? Today it was agreed that after everything I described in my last post, my symptoms are “clearly iatrogenic” (medically induced) and “clearly intolerable” and that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Medication, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, Pillshaming, Psychiatry, Recovery, Side effects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Shadow boxing part 2

Posted on January 17, 2016 by purplepersuasion

Since I last posted I have been very busy working on my shadow box. I’ve been gratified that a number of people have been really interested in what I’m doing, even to the point of offering to send me things. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crafts, Hobbies, Self-management, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mood crash investigation

Posted on December 18, 2015 by purplepersuasion

Trigger warning: suicidal thoughts, suicide planning, railway suicide Tom is a great fan of air crash investigation programmes. He takes pride in knowing exactly which seats to choose to maximise our chances in the unlikely event of a crash. (I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Hypomania, Medication, Mental health, Mood disorder, Rapid cycling, Self-management, Suicidal thought, Suicide | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 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

Whatever I do, I’ll probably be wrong

Posted on July 20, 2015 by purplepersuasion

I’ve just been for a walk. This was a bit of an achievement, given that it took a tremendous effort to get out of bed and dressed, let alone to get myself outside (I didn’t manage to have a shower … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Don’t fence me in: 10 signs of hypomania you won’t find in a textbook

Posted on June 19, 2015 by purplepersuasion

Whenever I tell a new doctor that I’m hypomanic they ask me to describe what I mean when I use that word. I hate the question, because it’s glaringly obvious that they’re assessing my answers against criteria they have in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Hypomania, Mania, Self-management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments