It's autumn here in Southeast Tennessee, and last week, the leaves finally started to change. Most of the trees were still green, which is strange because peak color season should have started three weeks ago. But Mother Nature has her own schedule, and so we have to be patient until she chooses to shine. Seeing the bright hints of yellow in the woods behind my house got me thinking about color. I had a busy week at work last week, working many more hours than I normally do as I finished the...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Yep, I'm a bit late today. Long story, but I won't bore you with the details. Since the leaves are rapidly falling outside my window, I used them as inspiration. This week's featured post is about how you can be like a tree. Reader, I hope all is well with you. Thank you for being here today. Until next time, keep fighting. Scott Ninneman Please share this newsletter: [ARCHIVE URL GOES HERE] Be Like a Tree and Let Your Past Fall Away Today is the day to let go. Be like a tree and let it go. |...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Taking some time off is often the best way to gain clarity. A few days away from the things that are stressing you often make things a little clearer. But then there are other times when, no matter how much time you take, things still don’t make sense. I feel like I’m in the latter place. I didn’t mean to take so much time off. I originally thought I would take a week or two. I hoped the break would give me an epiphany and show me what I needed to do. But the truth is, here I am four weeks...
3 months ago • 7 min read
Ever since I had COVID earlier this year, fatigue has been my enemy. When I start getting tired, even if it's first thing in the morning, I begin feeling nauseated and dizzy. So it is that I spent most of today (Saturday) in bed. And I hate it. Having bipolar sucks some days, and when you have another chronic illness with it, the suck is even worse. Mentally, I'm in an okay place, just really sleepy and brain foggy. That's why this update is so short. In the Club this week, we will focus on...
4 months ago • 4 min read
I’m no longer a fan of fireworks. While they’re pretty to watch a few times a year, they’re torture when your neighbor shoots them off every night for two and a half weeks. My nerves are fried, like an egg on a summer sidewalk, and my poor cat, Bootsy, is afraid to stay outside longer than it takes to do her business. Thinking about the fireworks reminded me of how bipolar disorder affects every part of your life. Something as simple as enjoying fireworks can be completely overwhelming for...
5 months ago • 6 min read
Do you ever wonder who I am? Many of you are brand new to the All Things Bipolar Newsletter, the Positivity Club, and the Speaking Bipolar blog. A few have been with me for a while. My longest subscriber goes all the way back to March 5, 2019. (Thanks for sticking around, Juan!) Even if you have been hanging around a while, you probably have questions. So, once a year, I like to do an about-me post. One I wrote in fairy-tale format, and the longest one is the continuing Surviving Bipolar...
6 months ago • 10 min read
Every week, I learn something new about bipolar that punches me in the gut. This week, I learned Benadryl (diphenhydramine) withdrawal can cause psychosis. Worse yet, long-term use can cause prolonged psychotic episodes and even lead to dementia. Like I needed any more help disconnecting from reality. I’m sure the problem comes in when people abuse the medication or take it for much longer than they should, but it’s still terrifying fact. Life with mental illness is scary on a good day. When...
7 months ago • 7 min read
Last weekend, I hit a wall. I’m not sure how else to explain it. After months of pushing myself too hard, my bipolar brain decided it was done. In a flash, my mind stopped working and forced my body to stop as well. These abrupt endings are always frustrating, but especially so when it takes days or weeks to get going again. I missed sending out last Sunday’s newsletter because I just couldn’t do it. I wrote the content earlier in the week, so all I had to do was edit and format the words,...
8 months ago • 5 min read
Her eyes grew large as I passed the paperback book across the desk to her. “How did you know?” she asked. All the color drained from her face. For a few seconds, I thought I had made a horrible mistake, but now I’m so glad I shared my story. Sharing your experiences about living with mental illness is valuable. You never know who in your circle is suffering and needs the encouragement you can give. Should you tell everyone about your bipolar disorder? Probably not. But you should tell...
8 months ago • 4 min read
