My family was away this weekend, so I took the opportunity to catch up on some reading around the blogosphere. I was particularly drawn to reading within the world of Bipolar. Here is some of the best of what I found.
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Project Mommy examines some of the stigma attached to such mental illnesses as Bipolar in the post “I’m Not Going to Beat Your Car With An Umbrella“
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Danielle from The Bipolar Diaries describes ways God has been moving in her life in mysterious ways in the post, “Embracing Surprising Twists“. She also provides some helpful suggests on The Mood Disorder Network on healthy and unhealthy Bipolar Relationships.
Edward J. Renehan Jr. (a.k.a. the Bipolar Biographer) offers an engaging book review (”The Horrors of the Bipolar Life”) on Manic – A Memoir by Terri Chaney. Renehan has a fascinating life story, a glimpse of which he provides on his blog.
Susan Bernard, the Bipolar Wellness Writer has a great autobiographical post on being A Bipolar Mother.
Destined to be the Crazy Cat Woman provides a reflection on the first year after being diagnosed with Bipolar in a post entitled “An Anniversary, of sorts“.
Seaneen from Pole to Polar: The secret life of a manic depressive has a thoughtful post on the relationship between mental health and addiction recovery called Twelve Steps to Bipolar Recovery.
Alicia Sparks from Mental Health Notes (in “And the A.S.S. Award Goes To… A Random You Tube Commentator“) features musician Daniel Johnston, a 47-year-old man with autism and Bipolar who has had “a pretty nice music career and enjoys a decent following”.
Madness Manifesto has some interesting thoughts on “smoldering depression” called “Rage Anyone?“
And finally, Mind Hacks directs us to a great You Tube video from the Research Channel on the noted psychiatrist and fellow Bipolar struggler Kay Redfield Jamison. Jamison shares a good bit from her book An Unquiet Mind, her memoir through madness.
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more Manic Mondays…
Thanks for linking to me! ; ) For that, I just might shave my head! ; D
The Pistol fires back: You are quite welcome. I appreciate your honest, searching writing style. Oh, and don’t shave your head on my account. My wife shaves mine, but if I had much hair at all to wear, I’d keep it.
I am looking forward to a quiet moment to read all these links!!! And a big thank you for linking to me ;)
The Pistol fires back: Absolutely. You have been my portal to the world of Bipolar blogging and I appreciate it.
Sometimes i feel American female celebrities are losing their femininity. Some of them really appear in very weird styles. Does this Britney Spears look like a woman really? Most she seems a crazy guy.
Imagine they become role models for so many teenagers. So what we have to expect from the next generation? :(
The Pistol fires back: Shahrzad, you make a good observation. It seems many women in our culture try to look like men and many men try to look like women. It’s a crazy world.
First, Pete … I’m so glad you’re back blogging again. I was beginning to worry about you.
Second … I would look at Brittany Spears more as an anomaly than an indicator of where we are headed. That poor girl is so mixed up and has been so used by everyone who was supposed to be a safe haven in her life since she was very little that she doesn’t even know which end is up anymore. She is pitiful. Look at how feminine all the other female actresses are … Just as Prince and Boy George are outlyers, but most actors are very masculine. But our eyes are drawn to those things which are very different, rather than those things which conform to the patterns.
The Pistol fires back:
It’s good to be back. I hope to renew my daily post regiment. We’ll see.
You make a good point about Brittany. She is a pitiful character, in the tragic sense of the word.
I’m certainly no expert on styles. I find much of what I see in popular culture to be more than a bit disturbing.
Thanks for dropping by, Sonja.
Don’t forget to tell everyone about Jackie with bp happily raising 10 kids, practicing her faith, developing Parish initiatives etc etc
The Pistol fires back: Absolutely. You are one of my favorite people with Bipolar. I was just trying to select posts that dealt more directly with the illness. Perhaps you could do one on your Bipolar and the way it relates to your spirituality.
[...] When we started our journey we knew right where to go for a good, clean laugh, inspiration, insight (and sometimes a much needed kick upside the head). We paid a visit to Pistol Pete’s Excellent blog, over at Necessary Therapy. [...]
The Pistol fires back: Dear Chicks, I am truly honored.
[...] Manic Monday posted by Pistol Pete from Necessary Therapy [...]
The Pistol fires back: Danielle, you are too kind.
I find it difficult to follow your blog due to the overt Christian content. Are you serious about your descriptions? For example: “But for the grace of God and faith in Jesus Christ, he could never have had a loving wife, four beautiful children, a fruitful ministry, and family members and friends who continue to believe in him.”
Your site seems very narrowly focused I believe i have found my way here in error. Whatever your purpose I wish you health.
The Pistol fires back: I’m both serious about my faith and grateful for your well wishes. Since you found your way to my blog, come back again.
I have to agree that attacking a vehicle with an ubrella, while being a bald female, is a little unusual. Or maybe she was just playing for the camera? Stunts like this I think are all just to give the media fuel.
The Pistol fires back: It does seem like, with the help of media, Spears is contributing to her own undoing.
Looks like we kind of share a name. I’m new to bipolar blogging and would love to hear any comments you may have on my site. It’s http://www.anothermanicmonday.com