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 your senses. Not only do you have to decide if you can handle watching a fireworks display, you also have to have an escape plan in case you get there and then it's too much.

Yep, bipolar life can be really hard.

Other than the shell-shock, I had a pleasant week. I finally feel like I'm completely over the migraine I had 2 weeks ago, and I crossed several household chores off my to-do list. Of course, I never do as much as I want to, but isn't that the story of life?

Lately, I've been seeking out more writers talking about bipolar disorder. Every day, my search introduces me to fresh ideas to contemplate.

One writer, coping with ADHD, talks about the benefits of naked hiking. I never knew this was a thing. I'm sure I'd get arrested if I tried it anywhere near where I live, but after reading his article, it's something I want to try. You can read the article here, but be advised there is some nudity in the post’s pictures.

Another writer, Patricia Wentzel writing Disordered Chronicles, I found on Substack. She shares her experiences about how her bipolar disorder went completely out of control when she entered menopause. Apparently, this is a pretty common thing for women to go through, but I had no idea how hard it could be.

In her welcome email, Wentzel says, "My illness reached crisis proportions in my mid-50’s when I was menopausal and I was hospitalized a lot. By the time we found a medication regimen that worked I was unable to read, write or drive due to the severity of the brain damage I had from repeated episodes of ultradian cycling."

Ultradian cycling (or ultra-cycling) refers to rapid and frequent shifts in mood, often occurring within a 24-hour period. Thanks, bipolar. Another symptom to obsess about.

Wentzel is now stable and sharing her story to help other women fighting the same battles.

The featured post (below) is about working third shift with bipolar disorder.

As I reflected on everything from the last few weeks, I decided to make the Positively Club theme this week “resilience.” All five posts will teach you how to be more resilient and how it can improve your stability.

This week (July 8-11) is Amazon Prime Days. Here are a few of the sales I found. (Ad link)

Since it's actually quiet in my neighborhood right now, I might try to take a nap. I’m sure there will be more explosions before the night is over.

Reader, thank you for spending a few minutes with me today. I hope you enjoy your Sunday and have a peaceful day.

Until next time, keep fighting.

Scott Ninneman

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Featured Post

Does Working the Night Shift Affect Bipolar Disorder?

Glancing at the clock on the table near the TV, I saw it was 2 a.m. I'd been home from work for a little over an hour, but my body and mind were still ready to go.

"I've got to go to bed," I would tell myself, but my 3 a.m., I knew there was no point. Another night passed with no sleep, further reaffirming in my mind that neither second (often 3-11 p.m.) nor third shift (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) worked for me.

I was a night owl by nature. Come sundown, my brain came alive. An infusion of creativity coursed through my neurons and my muse danced freely. Or at least, that was the case when I was younger, before chronic illness robbed me of much of my stamina.

There's still a twinge of this pull, but it seems less and less every year. Sticking to a sleep schedule has slowly changed my natural clock.

Being a child of the night is not an ideal state for bipolar. For a while, since bipolar insomnia is a continuous problem, I decided the solution would be to find a job where I could work third shift.

Here are three reasons that was a bad idea to work nights with bipolar disorder.

Disclaimer: Just like not every medicine works for every person, not every solution will either. Some people thrive with working the night shift with bipolar disorder. For me, as I’ll explain today, it was a terrible idea. Do what’s best for you.

1. Mania runs wild

I rarely sleep during the day and never have. Nap time was always torture when I was a kid. I would lie there and count bumps on the season while other children happily snoozed. l was the one who stayed awake on car trips no matter how far we drove, and I was always the last one awake at sleep overs.

The only time I can sleep with the sun up are when I'm extremely sick. I’m not sure if that’s a bipolar thing or just a me thing.

Staying awake all night for work wasn’t a problem. I started my shift with full energy, but usually dipped some around 1:00 a.m. Experience has taught me that is the latest time I should be in bed. Forcing myself to stay awake until 2:00 or 3:00 invariably induces the start of mania.

As anyone with bipolar knows, manic episodes can be great, at least in the beginning. However, even hypomania will keep me from sleeping.

While working nights with bipolar was easy to start, sleeping during the day was impossible. The more I worked, the less I slept.

Mania always demands a price. The price may be extreme irritability that erupts into bipolar rage or soul-crushing depression.

My inability to sleep during the day wasn’t the only issue created by working third shift with bipolar. Here are a couple more.

2. Sunlight is missed

We need sunlight. Our bodies were created with sunlight in mind. It’s our chief source of vitamin D.

Even more essential for someone with mental illness, sunshine helps keep a mind healthy.

No one ever diagnosed me with Seasonal Affective Disorder, but I can see how sunlight, or the lack thereof, affects my life. While I love rain and thunderstorms, days of gray skies make me lethargic and depressed. My energy level drops to zero, and my motivation vanishes like morning fog.

​Science proves sunshine can improve your sleep. It can also:

• Strengthen your bones
• Bolster your immune system
• Stimulate weight loss

However, even more important is how the sun helps regulate your circadian rhythm. It’s vital for sleep. One study also shows a link between sunlight exposure and longer life.

Clearly, being in the sun is one of the most beneficial things you can do, but your chances are limited if you work nights.

I'm a nature lover, so when the sun was out, I wanted to be outside, no matter how tired I was. When I forced myself to stay in bed, I felt the negative impact on my mind.

One more area where working nights can impact your life negatively is coping with isolation.

https://youtu.be/JY9pnABULJc

3. Isolation haunts you

Roughly 7-10% of the world population works third shift. Translated into your life, it means more than 90% of your friends and family do not.

​Mental illness is isolating enough, but working third shift increases your solitude. If you choose to stay awake when other people are active and then work all night, the toll on your mental health may transform you into a beast your friends won’t want to be around.

I’m an introvert. Most of the time, I am perfectly happy being alone. However, as much as I fight it, I need people. I need some human interaction.

When I worked nights, I didn’t see anyone most days. One of my night jobs was janitorial, so there were no other employees or clients to interact with during my shift.

I felt disconnected from my friends. I was the last to know about who was dating, who broke up, or who was sick. My family complained they never saw me.

The isolation was damaging. I became increasingly withdrawn and gave in to unhealthy habits, including self-harm and excessive drinking.

Working the graveyard shift was not worth the expense.

Find Your Balance

Not everything is the same for every person. I know a few people with bipolar disorder who thrive with working third shift, but they are the minority. You may be one of them or you may be just like me.

If you’re not sure, use this post as a test. While working nights, are you experiencing more (hypo)manic episodes? Are you sleeping enough during the day? Do you spend any time in the sun? Are you isolating yourself from family and friends?

If your answers reveal negative trends, it’s time to make changes. No job is more important than your mental health.

Until next time, keep fighting.

I publish two newsletters each week. The Sunday All Things Bipolar Newsletter (this newsletter) features the newest content about bipolar life. The Speaking Bipolar Positivity Club Newsletter shares inspirational stories to help you maintain a positive mindset while fighting mental illness.

Additional Reading:

• ​11 Ways to Hold on to Hope When It Feels Like the Storm Will Never End​
• ​Bipolar Disorder: How To Make Friends​
• ​Coming Out of Sedation in the Psychiatric Ward: The Valuable Life Insights I Gained​
• ​Coping with Anxiety: A Positivity Club Mini Course​
• ​The Worst Part of Having Bipolar Disorder​​
• ​Archive Newsletters​