Van Halen for Bipolar Depression Relief

A few months ago some friends and I saw Van Halen in concert. As it is with any event or trip planned in advance, I have concerns about the mood state I will be when I am actually experiencing the activity. It is seemingly impossible to predict what my mood state will be and whether my mood will be good enough so I can have some fun!

Since I was not drinking at the time I got the coveted duty of being the responsible driver for the group. In a way this is an honor. It gives me recognition of sorts that I am being victorious over alcohol, my arch nemesis of the psychoactive substances here on God's green earth.

The show was pretty good and I had killer time for sure. I liked the venue and lights. But don't be surprised if you hear a change in David Lee Roth's voice. It's starting to fade. No bueno!

I had some serious depression three days in a row leading up to the show. All sorts of negative self-talk was dominating my thoughts. The signs were pointing towards trouble ahead.

Beware What Your Mouth Utters: Humor for Friday!

I just have to get this out there. Below are several statements [reportedly - not confirmed but still hilarious] made by commentators at the 2012 Olympic Games. They have nothing to do with bipolar disorder, unless you include humor as a coping technique (which I certainly do:).

I hope everyone is doing well out there. I am getting back on my horse after a bucking bronco summer of mania and mess-ups.

My next post will be published Sunday. It's about depression relief by attending an enjoyable event. Hope you read it!

And now, the awesome gaffs and loose tongued tidbits from the expert commentators:

1. Dressage (horse jumping) commentator: "This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother."

2. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."

3. Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."

4. Softball announcer: "If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again."

5. Basketball analyst: "He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces."

6. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."

7. Tennis commentator: "One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them."

Have a great weekend!

Jeff

My Extended Scopolamine Trial: Searching for Effective Treatment of Bipolar Depression

I became curious about scopolamine last winter when I began reading about it as a novel and possibly rapid and effective antidepressant. I wanted to try it. I wrote about a short scopolamine test I did back in February, but it was inconclusive.

Since the test did not give me answers I still wondered. Could scopolamine be one of the missing pieces to the enigmatic bipolar depression treatment puzzle?

This post is an account of a longer 12 day scopolamine experiment I performed on myself in August. It was under the perfect conditions: (1) I was in a severe depression and (2) I had a valid reason for my doctor (not my psychiatrist) to write a prescription for it! Take that Ms. psychiatrist!

Grace During Mania? The Daniel Story Part I

This first post is an ongoing story of how I am being led to help another bipolar sufferer. His name is Daniel and he is in his late twenties.

I met a him in a not-by-chance manner last month just outside a neighborhood grocery store that I frequent. He was in bad shape I could tell. He approached me in a frightened but composed manner and had just one request of me.

I hesitated briefly and then said let's walk for a while and you can tell me your request. I quickly learned he was both homeless and bipolar and had been on the streets for the past several months.

Oh boy I thought to myself, what have I got myself into? I'm sure you have had a experience where you wanted to help someone but felt it was not achievable or worse, doing so could impact you and your life in a bad way!