What It Takes To Blog Bipolar

Well, I have been blogging for nearly six months already, wow!   Over this brief but busy time I think I've learned a "fair" amount of what it takes to blog about bipolar disorder.  In this post I will take you on a basic tour of my blogging world and give you a sense of what its like to post on a bipolar blog (1). 

I'm certainly not a pro blogger and surely less blog savvy than the seasoned blogger.  However, I am knowledgeable about a few things bipolar.  I've spent a lot of time reading, researching, and experiencing bipolar disorder since being diagnosed in 1997.  

REQUIREMENTS.  Besides the need for a computer and internet access, there are no official requirements to blog online.  But you need to have a passion for writing about your subject.  Passion will provide the inspiration to keep the blog alive.  Yes there are other important attributes like persistence, stamina, and motivation.  But if you're inspired to do something then there's no stopping you!

CONCERNS.  There are concerns that I have to overcome when blogging about my bipolar experiences and beliefs.  Some of the concerns will stop me dead in my writing tracks.  

• Failure.  Afraid to fail?  Most people are.  I am.  This is a persistent thought, especially when first starting to blog. 
• Depression.  Writing is painful while severely depressed.  I  struggle each week getting my posts out.  On better days I write as much as possible and try to get ahead.  This allows me to have down days where producing content is just not there.
• Stigma.  Stigma towards mental illness exists.  I don't know whether it's getting better or worse but it is definitely out there!  You need to accept and cope with this.  It will come up while you blog.
• Privacy/Security.  How much privacy and security do you need?  You don't want to be accessible via your blogging web presence to your private residence.  Make sure blog and posts do not contain personal information.

BLOGGING.  Developing a blog post is a process with several steps.  Below are the steps I go through to publish a post.  Of course there are many more aspects to blogging that need consideration such as available time, access to a computer and the web, and more.  But these are the big ones for me.

1. Topic.  Choosing a topic is always a tricky step for me.  For each topic I ask myself will writing about it benefit my audience.  Is it interesting?  Is it useful?  Is it PG-13?  Is it legal?  Will this trigger a terrorist response from the Feds? 
2. Research.  This takes anywhere from no time to many hours depending on the topic.  If it's a post about my experiences or observations, then there's not much research involved.  However, a topic like "Scopolomine for Bipolar Disorder" can take 8 hours to find sources, research, analyze, fact check, and organize the information. 
3. Writing.  This takes up 75% of the time I put in each post, not including research time.  This includes writing and editing multiple drafts, incorporated graphics, including relevant links, formatting, proofreading, and more.  
4. Promote.  Yes I do some "promotion" of my blog posts.  It's a fact that you need to get the word out.  Otherwise how do you expect people to find and read your blog?  I manually tweet (there are autotweeting applications out there) on Twitter an average of 5 times each post.  I sometimes mention blog posts in bipolar disorder groups I belong to.  I also have a small email list that I send weekly updates to.  I don't have a facebook page, Google profile, or other social media accounts for the blog, yet.

Writing this blog was an excellent decision.  It positively impacts many areas of my life now.  My family and friends have taken an interest in my blogging.  This is satisfying.  Also, writing is therapeutic for me.  I get to work out my thoughts, concerns, and frustrations.  I really hope my writings help you in some way.

(1) I need to distinguish what I mean by blog.  For this post I'm talking about publically accessible bipolar blogs. 

My Bipolar Disorder - Career Update

This post is an update on significant changes happening in my career right now.  I'd say that this career changing period I am in is a "major life event."  It is the type of event those with bipolar disorder are supposed to watch out for.  

In addition to messing with mood and emotions, major life events generate added stress, use our resources, and consume energy.  These changes can have a profound impact on your bipolar symptoms!

It is very important to be vigilant and keep an eye out for changes in bipolar symptoms during times of significant change.  It's better to try and manage or control these symptoms rather than allowing them to trigger a manic or depressive episode.  

Not to far back I mentioned I was terminated from my last job as an engineer.  Well, I've settled my appeal with my former employer and things have changed.  The biggest change was to have my reason for departure changed from "terminated" to "retired due to medical reasons."  Much better.

Negotiating a settlement agreement was the right thing to do.  I wasn't getting anywhere with my appeal against my employer's decision to terminate me.  At best I would have had an opportunity to work at my old job (or similar), but this would have taken many moons.  I decided it is better to get it over with and move on!

Moving On

Now I'm in an adjustment, learning, and exploring mode.  I'm getting used to waking up whenever I want even knowing I should have a strict sleeping schedule to help contain bipolar symptoms.  I like the freedom.

On area of exploration is writing.  I enjoy writing a lot so why not check into it as a career?  I've been doing exactly this for the last six months or so.  I'm still unsure about a writing career so I will do some more research and learning about the writing biz.

For now, writing and blogging is helping me keep a daily routine, be active, and have a sense of purpose.  This is worth it regardless of writing career outcome.

Things I've Done

I've accomplished quite a few things since becoming unemployed back in 2010.  Things I have done during this period of underemployment that have helped me move on:

• Attended seminary school, enrolled in religious studies.  I took two courses and stopped.  It didn't jive with me. Too intellectual.
• Completed an online course on internet writing and marketing.
• Quit drinking alcohol (this was huge)
• Created a blog.  It has helped in many ways.  I use writing as a therapeutic mechanism.  It really helps my mood and stuff when I write.  I also benefit from the interactions with the bipolar community.
• Learned that you don't have to drive your car to work everyday.  You can work from home.
• Figured out work from home requires discipline but the freedom is bitchin dude.
• I've come to appreciate the need to have something to do!  Tennis anyone? 
• Learned how to stop spending money excessively and reduced my monthly cost of living by hundreds 
• Prepared my disability retirement application documentation (not a trivial process)
• Worked on my "emotional sobriety" (new term).  It means to maintain an emotional balance
• Remodeled my bathrooms (had to do it)

Now that my situation has stabilized for the time being, I can focus on resolving the manic mischief from summer 2010!  More to come on this!

So, what major life events are going on in your life now or are expected to happen?  What are you doing to cope with any added stress and energy drain from it?

Finally, I ask that you take this weeks poll - How long from first symptoms to diagnosis?  It means how many years were there between the time you first noticed bipolar symptoms and when you were "officially" diagnosed bipolar.  It took over three years for my diagnosis.  I first sought help in spring 1994.  I knew something was wrong but couldn't figure it out.  It wasn't until summer 1997 that I received my official diagnosis from the attending psychiatrist at the psychiatric hospital. 

Why Blog? Why Bipolar?

As a new blogger with bipolar disorder I run into roadblocks from time to time.  I also run into dead ends.

It's the ability to navigate around roadblocks and to quickly turn around at dead ends that makes someone successful.

After cruising the web, reading other people's blogs I found that successful bloggers all have the following in common:

• they love to blog about their chosen subject(s)
• they are motivated to the point that blogging is a passion
• they provide original, informative content
• they blog as themselves, not someone they are trying to be

As I was struggling to decide on content for my next post I asked myself some hard questions:

1. Why do I blog?
2. Do I love to blog?
3. What are my goals for this blog?

Why do I blog?  I blog because I am passionate about beating the bipolar disease.  I blog because I enjoy sharing my experiences with other people like me. I blog because I like writing.  I blog because it is fun!

Do I love to blog? YES! I thoroughly enjoy creating content and getting it out there for people.

What are my goals for this blog?  This question made me stop and think.  What are they?  I know I originally started writing as a form of therapy.  My goal was to achieve a therapeutic benefit from writing.  

That goal is being reached as I continue to write. But another goal has jumped in: exceptional content.  I blog to provide excellent content to my readers and for myself.  I blog to fill an empty spot in the blogosphere.

That empty spot is sharing my perspectives, opinions, analysis, and experiences.  The spot is filled as I produce information, tips, links, resources, insight, and inspiration.  A medical text on bipolar does not inspire someone to keep fighting the disease.  But the stuff I create sure can!

Today I was staring at a dead end.  I was thinking that I provided no value to readers.  I questioned the content I am providing.  This is where I was when I got up today.

I bet every blogger gets that mindset at one time or another.  In that state of mind you absolutely can not produce worthwhile content.  You will not enjoy it.  Your writing goals will not be present.  Blogging will feel like work, not something you love to do.
____________________________________________________________________

Fast forward to the evening.  I'm finally out of that awful space!  I'm not doubtful anymore!  I know I provide value to readers out there, IMHO.  I want to blog right now! 

I'm not sure what exactly got me out of my funk.  Some of it was reading successful blogs out there.  Some of it was asking myself those three questions.  A subtle but real exodus of depression symptoms certainly helped a lot.

The bottom line is I love blogging!  I like thinking about topics, researching things, and connecting with people.  Blogging is an excellent way to express who I truly am to the world!!  So, cheers to blogging everybody!

What things do you love?  How do you handle it when they seem so distant sometimes?