About Me
*I live with bipolar but remain stable most of the time and “One day at a time”!
*My interests:
My Peopledog Petey and her pictures
Music from classical to country
Writing on my blog and workbooks
*I currently live on disability and reside in Oklahoma my homeland.
*I was a therapist for 30 years, primarily in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
*I have a degree in Music and Theater with a Doctorate in Counseling and Psychology
April 16th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hi Annie, glad you came back to leave a link. It’s really late here, but I’ll be back tomorrow to read more.
If you’re ok with leaving a link in the comments, I’d be glad. If you’d rather I delete it, let me know, but I figure the few regular visiors I have would be interested in what you say too.
Be back soon,
jcat
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
I am living with Bipolar Disorder (recently diagnosed) and have worked as a Counselor for teens in previous years. I’ve always thought I would make a good therapist, but am wondering if being Bipolar would hinder that dream. I am at a crucial point in my college education and need to choose a major best suitable for me. Can someone like me get accepted into a clinical psychology program? I am inspired by your blogs, as it seems you were able to do something you were passionate about for 30 years. I think that is amazing that you were a thearapist even though you are Bipolar.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I was dx w/ Bipolar Disorder for the “final” time last year. It’s been a back and forth thing between BP and ADD. The constant experimentation w/ meds. took it’s toll. I’ve shared this journey with very few friends and my Mom. Most people do not agree that I have either. In essence, I have done a particularly good job of compensating. I am the first person in my family to earn a college degree and will be the first with a graduate degree. I was a social worker for several years and have transitioned into a new career as an academic advisor. I am also a single parent. My daugher is 12. At the age of 41, I decided to complete a grad degree. I am somewhat of a vicarious situation in that I felt like a “fraud” for persuing further studies in the mental health profession because of my “diagnosis”. I gravitated towards the humanities, particularly English for a grad program. I have completed 15 credits of an American Studies degree. As you can imagine, this requires a certain level of creativity and critical thinking skills. I am currently taking 300 mg of Tegretol and 20 mg of Celexa to control my BiPolar. Of course, like most, I do miss the highs, but my daughter is my number one concern, and the lows just weren’t worth what I thought I would benefit from being so “high”. With this background in mind, I find myself in a very conflicted place. I sometimes struggle to articulate my thoughts. I attribute this to my medication. I really struggle to write at the level this program demands. I get by with primarily A-’s. However, I am very unhappy in this program. I equate my situation to one of a stubborn donkey being pulled by a rope. Any advice?
February 9th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I was trying to do research on mentally ill mental health practitioners and your site is the only one I found! I am an LCSW and provide therapy and I have also been diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder. I am interested in starting some sort of training or education for practitioners about sensitivity for this subject. I’m so glad I’m not alone!
February 10th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Robin, I was so excited to get your comment ! I am also interested in training. In particular I am interested in writing rather than presentation. I am no longer working and live on Disability. I do some writing now and have plenty of time. I would be interested in your ideas. Please let me know if you would like to share your thoughts. I worked for 30 yrs and it was wonderful work. The writing now that I do is fulfilling but I am always looking for someone to share in projects. My email is Anniepete12@Yahoo.com. I hope to hear from you! Peace, Annie
March 17th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Hello Annie:
I am a nurse, Administrative DON Consultant or was a nurse until January 2009, when I had a traumatic change in my life. It took months to de diagnosed from depression, to bi-polar II, to rapid cycling,and three psychiatrists. I see a therapist 2x a week and my psychiatrist monthly. No medications are helping; I either have a severe side effect, or they just don’t work. I feel like I am losing ground. I can’t go back, I can’t stay where I am, and I cannot move forward. I do not like this new me, although my therapist states that I must accept me now and give structure to my life. How do I do that, I don’t know. I feel lost and I can’t go anywhere. My therapist at time makes me angry; she does not walk in my shoes. I have been seeing her for a year. I think that I woukld be better off to find a therapist who specializes in bipolar. Your thoughts?
March 17th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Lyn, It is such a good feeling to have you reach out and ask questions. I agree that we can help each other with this shared illness. I have a history of rapid cycling and it took me a little over a year to get my medication level. I am fortunate to have a pdoc that specializes in the treatment of bipolar. I have side effects and cannot work due to memory problems and periodic spells of depression. I still am better off by far than I have been before.
I would encourage you to have a pdoc that specializes in medication with bipolar. In terms of your therapist I would say that at some point you will need to accept your illness. Now may not the time to accept your life with the illness. It is only when you have max. benefit from meds that you can be able to accept the illness. Perhaps if your therapist understood this it would be helpful to deal with the grief that goes along with the major changes in your life.
I am on several meds and some blogs will say some of my meds are toxic. I do have side effects but mild compared to the suffering without these meds.
I wish you well and would love to communicate with you. My email is anniepete@yahoo.com if you are interested in contacting me.
Peace, Annie
March 18th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Thank you Annie. You are a real help. I will e-mail you.
Peace & Love,
Lyn
March 18th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Hello Annie:
I sent you and e-mail, but it was returned to me.
Lyn
March 18th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Annie:
I sent the e-mail to Anniepete12@yahoo.com. I think it went throught.
Best,
Lyn
May 16th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I found your blog from someone else’s blogroll and am excited to start reading about BPD from a therapist’s point of view. I was only diagnosed three years ago but knew there was always something “wrong” with me.