Comments for polarcoaster http://polarcoaster.net Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:09:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 Comment on Another boring checking-in post by susan http://polarcoaster.net/2008/08/30/another-boring-checking-in-post/#comment-633 susan Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:01:27 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/08/30/another-boring-checking-in-post/#comment-633 Yes, sometimes life does suck, but sometimes it doesn't. Take care Polly. Yes, sometimes life does suck, but sometimes it doesn’t. Take care Polly.

]]> Comment on Behavioural contract by daisygirl http://polarcoaster.net/2007/04/20/behavioural-contract/#comment-632 daisygirl Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:37:30 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2007/04/20/behavioural-contract/#comment-632 I just happened upon your site through a google search and I'm glad I did. I had an almost identical experience to yours when I was in college. After confiding in the RA about my struggle with self-injury I was forced to sign a contract saying I would see a counselor for the remainder of the year, stop self-injurying, and refrain from any "self-medicating." This was all done because apparently my pain was a "distraction to residence hall life." That was a complete BS way of saying, "We need to cover our butts in case you accidentally end up killing yourself." I wasn't suicidal before the contract, but I was afterwards thinking about having to tell my parents if I got kicked out of school. Thankfully, I've been injury-free since March 18, 2006, but not because of any help I received in college. Anyways, thanks for sharing your struggle and I'm glad that things seem to be going better for you. It really is remarkable how similar our stories are from the posts I've read. Take care of yourself. I just happened upon your site through a google search and I’m glad I did. I had an almost identical experience to yours when I was in college.
After confiding in the RA about my struggle with self-injury I was forced to sign a contract saying I would see a counselor for the remainder of the year, stop self-injurying, and refrain from any “self-medicating.” This was all done because apparently my pain was a “distraction to residence hall life.” That was a complete BS way of saying, “We need to cover our butts in case you accidentally end up killing yourself.” I wasn’t suicidal before the contract, but I was afterwards thinking about having to tell my parents if I got kicked out of school. Thankfully, I’ve been injury-free since March 18, 2006, but not because of any help I received in college. Anyways, thanks for sharing your struggle and I’m glad that things seem to be going better for you. It really is remarkable how similar our stories are from the posts I’ve read. Take care of yourself.

]]> Comment on My first post about BPD by Dave Detritus http://polarcoaster.net/2007/04/26/my-first-post-about-bpd/#comment-628 Dave Detritus Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:19:29 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2007/04/26/my-first-post-about-bpd/#comment-628 Was first diagnosed atypical depression.... then bipolar... then bpd... out of the 3 bpd definitely 'fits' most accurately in terms of 'symptoms'... noticed a definite shift in mental health professionals when I received the bpd tag... the idea that bpd is a 'terminal' condition is I think a prevalent one ... eventually they kind of shrugged their shoulders and said there was nothing else to try.... Was first diagnosed atypical depression…. then bipolar… then bpd… out of the 3 bpd definitely ‘fits’ most accurately in terms of ’symptoms’… noticed a definite shift in mental health professionals when I received the bpd tag… the idea that bpd is a ‘terminal’ condition is I think a prevalent one … eventually they kind of shrugged their shoulders and said there was nothing else to try….

]]> Comment on More about physical triggers by Gianna http://polarcoaster.net/2008/07/22/more-about-physical-triggers/#comment-620 Gianna Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:18:01 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/07/22/more-about-physical-triggers/#comment-620 Hey there! My PMS (or PMDD) is what garnered me my bipolar diagnosis...yup!! No bipolar here. http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/undiagnosing-myself/ as you know I still struggle with hellish PMS (I won't call it PMDD---to pathologizing and I hate labels) The pill made me worse... My doc who is getting me of my meds thinks the hormones should smooth out once I'm off meds and have some additional time to recover. Coffee makes me absolutely nutso too.! I was a hard-core addict for a long time and had no idea how it was rocking my foundation...I'll grant you and anyone else, I am certainly sensitive at any time of the month...to food, to chemical, to drugs and meds!! It's nice to see you pop out in the blogosphere from time to time Polly, I do miss your more frequent visits! Hey there! My PMS (or PMDD) is what garnered me my bipolar diagnosis…yup!! No bipolar here.

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/undiagnosing-myself/

as you know I still struggle with hellish PMS (I won’t call it PMDD—to pathologizing and I hate labels)

The pill made me worse…

My doc who is getting me of my meds thinks the hormones should smooth out once I’m off meds and have some additional time to recover.

Coffee makes me absolutely nutso too.! I was a hard-core addict for a long time and had no idea how it was rocking my foundation…I’ll grant you and anyone else, I am certainly sensitive at any time of the month…to food, to chemical, to drugs and meds!!

It’s nice to see you pop out in the blogosphere from time to time Polly, I do miss your more frequent visits!

]]> Comment on Getting used to things, or not by Marissa http://polarcoaster.net/2008/07/17/getting-used-to-things-or-not/#comment-619 Marissa Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:37:04 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/07/17/getting-used-to-things-or-not/#comment-619 It's tough to live your life with baited breath, knowing that easier moments are fleeting and will soon be replaced with rougher ones. It’s tough to live your life with baited breath, knowing that easier moments are fleeting and will soon be replaced with rougher ones.

]]> Comment on Getting used to things, or not by mark p.s. http://polarcoaster.net/2008/07/17/getting-used-to-things-or-not/#comment-617 mark p.s. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:31:32 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/07/17/getting-used-to-things-or-not/#comment-617 That you can recognize "insomnia leading to rapid-fire mood swings" may mean you will never get seriously "ill" again. If you want to look at it positively. That you can recognize “insomnia leading to rapid-fire mood swings” may mean you will never get seriously “ill” again. If you want to look at it positively.

]]> Comment on Breakdown: Canada’s Mental Health Crisis by Marissa http://polarcoaster.net/2008/06/24/breakdown-canadas-mental-health-crisis/#comment-611 Marissa Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:34:50 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/06/24/breakdown-canadas-mental-health-crisis/#comment-611 biopolar disorder. Sums up life greatly. biopolar disorder. Sums up life greatly.

]]> Comment on …And the mood changes by darvia http://polarcoaster.net/2008/02/20/and-the-mood-changes/#comment-607 darvia Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:00:43 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/02/20/and-the-mood-changes/#comment-607 probably because i'm feeling semi-ok at the moment, it makes me sad that we say 'i dont want to fuck up' people in remission from something like cancer don't say 'i dont want to fuck up' they might say 'i want to stay healthy' it's so hard to know what is 'us' and what is 'illness' there are things that we can do to stay healthy, but many things out of our control - i don't think you should take personal blame for your episodes - if you can learn from each one things to avoid in the future that's great, but i don't think you should take personal blame or feel ashamed - there is so much we cannot control (unfortunately!!) it really is hard, and hard to manage the things we can influence when our thinking has already become affected thank you for this blog and i wish you well probably because i’m feeling semi-ok at the moment, it makes me sad that we say ‘i dont want to fuck up’

people in remission from something like cancer don’t say ‘i dont want to fuck up’ they might say ‘i want to stay healthy’

it’s so hard to know what is ‘us’ and what is ‘illness’

there are things that we can do to stay healthy, but many things out of our control - i don’t think you should take personal blame for your episodes - if you can learn from each one things to avoid in the future that’s great, but i don’t think you should take personal blame or feel ashamed - there is so much we cannot control (unfortunately!!)

it really is hard, and hard to manage the things we can influence when our thinking has already become affected

thank you for this blog and i wish you well

]]> Comment on Complexity by darvia http://polarcoaster.net/2008/05/15/complexity/#comment-606 darvia Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:10:56 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/05/15/complexity/#comment-606 Hi Polly, I could really related to this post too. However when I read your evg to-do list: "Heat up frozen mini-pizzas and eat them, take a shower, do two loads of laundry, write a long blog post, pack my bags for the long weekend. This doesn’t sound too hard, does it?" even today, as i'm coming out of my worst winter depression, it still seems like a lot to me. i'm not sure i could do all that. when i was depressed post-mania and trying to return to work, i had a lot of trouble managing to eat and everything seemed like a major task. i remember when i managed to boil water and how that was a major accomplishment. and i remember thinking, maybe if boiling water is hard for me, i'm not really ready to go back to work... so i'm amazed too that you function so well at work. i've been getting better, but i wouldn't say i'm always organized - no. i appreciate mark's comments also about enjoying everything now compared to being locked up. i should remember that. i guess i too find it hard not to compare myself to others and when friends talk about what they did that morning etc. i am amazed at how much they can do and think i could never do that. possibly it takes proportionally more energy for me to function half-decently at work, so that other areas of my life (self-care) suffer as a consequence... but i do want to thank u for this post as it's nice to know i'm not alone in perceiving everything as 'too difficult', at times Hi Polly,

I could really related to this post too. However when I read your evg to-do list:

“Heat up frozen mini-pizzas and eat them, take a shower, do two loads of laundry, write a long blog post, pack my bags for the long weekend. This doesn’t sound too hard, does it?”

even today, as i’m coming out of my worst winter depression, it still seems like a lot to me. i’m not sure i could do all that.

when i was depressed post-mania and trying to return to work, i had a lot of trouble managing to eat and everything seemed like a major task. i remember when i managed to boil water and how that was a major accomplishment. and i remember thinking, maybe if boiling water is hard for me, i’m not really ready to go back to work…

so i’m amazed too that you function so well at work. i’ve been getting better, but i wouldn’t say i’m always organized - no.

i appreciate mark’s comments also about enjoying everything now compared to being locked up. i should remember that.

i guess i too find it hard not to compare myself to others and when friends talk about what they did that morning etc. i am amazed at how much they can do and think i could never do that. possibly it takes proportionally more energy for me to function half-decently at work, so that other areas of my life (self-care) suffer as a consequence…

but i do want to thank u for this post as it’s nice to know i’m not alone in perceiving everything as ‘too difficult’, at times

]]> Comment on Complexity by Stephany http://polarcoaster.net/2008/05/15/complexity/#comment-602 Stephany Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:37:55 +0000 http://polarcoaster.net/2008/05/15/complexity/#comment-602 Polly, When I drive my car into the driveway, I pass my mailbox. I get out of the car and walk toward the front door ignoring a task that I simply cannot handle when depressed. The postal carrier knows, and sometimes brings me the mail at the front door. When the depression I had (May or April, it's so hazy I can't remember) started to lift, I would get the mail before it was "box full pick mail up at post office". It took months to get to the point where (just this last 10 days!) I drive into the driveway, get out of the car, and walk 10 feet to get the mail. I often wonder if the postal carrier is relieved the depression is gone, or even knows why the box is always empty now. LOL Hope you're doing well, take care, Stephany Polly,

When I drive my car into the driveway, I pass my mailbox. I get out of the car and walk toward the front door ignoring a task that I simply cannot handle when depressed. The postal carrier knows, and sometimes brings me the mail at the front door. When the depression I had (May or April, it’s so hazy I can’t remember) started to lift, I would get the mail before it was “box full pick mail up at post office”. It took months to get to the point where (just this last 10 days!) I drive into the driveway, get out of the car, and walk 10 feet to get the mail.

I often wonder if the postal carrier is relieved the depression is gone, or even knows why the box is always empty now. LOL

Hope you’re doing well, take care,
Stephany

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