Plant a Flower for Children's Mental Health

Today's Parent magazine has a campaign for Healthy Kids 2009. Read about the Healthy Kids campaign.

Want to plant a flower for Children's Mental Health?

Also check out:

Parenting a Child with Bipolar Disorder

What to do when access to treatment for your mentally ill child is delayed

Kids and Anxiety

Mental Health Resources (Canada)

Coping Skills... What do you use?

Coping skills are what you do when you are feeling bad to help you feel good again. There are ineffective coping skills which either don't help at all or help a bit in the beginning but are bad in the long run, or effective coping skills which can truly help you. See how many from this list you use.

Ineffective:

Isolation
Neglecting Self - especially hygiene
Avoiding the problem
Abusing substances/self harm
Over or under eating
Constantly complaining
Blaming others
Not discussing feelings

Effective:

Seeking and accepting help from others
Taking care of your self
Looking at options, asking for help
Maintain balance in your life
Maintain boundaries, set limits
Express anger, guilt, fear or journal
Place no blame, make no judgements

So what coping skills, (effective or non-effective) do you use?

Bipolar Online Support Groups

Sorry everyone I've been going through some crazy stuff lately. Thought I might have to go to hospital there yesterday. It's been crazy around here, I think I'm depressed and manic all rolled into one. I can NOT handle both of my kids right now so one is visiting Grandma. I'll talk to my doctor (or at least his receptionist) tomorrow.

Anyways, wanted to point to some Online Bipolar groups that have been helping me lately in case others are in need:

CafeMom BipolarMoms - this is only for CafeMom members and to be a member you must be a mom. But it's been VERY helpful.

CafeMom BipolarDiaries - same deal as above.

DBSA Bipolar Forums - from Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, lots of members, great help

Bp Hope Ning Community - Ning communities are great. This is by the creators of Bp Hope Magazine. Forums, Groups, Blogs, Pics and more.

Self-Esteem

I've known I've had low self-esteem all my life, but I've realized recently that my self-esteem is almost non-existent.

What do you do when your self-esteem is so bad that you honestly feel that others are more important than you? I don't agree with any compliments people give me (except when I'm manic) and I feel like others should always come before me. I'm just not that important, that's how I feel. I'm sure most of you can identify with these thoughts at least somewhat.

The problem is, I only feel like I'll be important and worthy if I "succeed" which doesn't necessarily mean lots of money and cool job to me but I've been told that my expectations are way to high before. I really don't think I'm asking too much of myself but others seem to think so, both the average person and the "professional."

I've taken a self-esteem class and it didn't help because I didn't agree or believe in the statements we were told. Those bill of rights and such, I just don't feel they apply unless I've "succeeded."

Anyone want to weigh in on the subject? Feel free. Remember you can always post anonymously if you don't want to be connected with a blog or online identity of yours.

Those with BPD!!!.....

I found out about this from BPD Inside Out:

"People living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have unique information about the symptoms and consequences of the disorder. Researchers are working on a new study looking at these important and underexplored areas. Please help us by completing an anonymous on-line survey about your thoughts on the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (DSM) criteria for BPD and your thoughts on what should or shouldn't be included in the criteria for BPD in the upcoming 5th edition of DSM (DSM-V) in 2012."

The link for the survey is:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=c17hYHo6_2fhJhr_2fXghCfihA_3d_3d

I Guest Posted at Mental and Emotional Health

I forgot to tell everyone that I did my first guest post about Bipolar, check it out!

Understanding Bipolar II

Mood Chart

I started keeping a mood chart mid April but beginning of May was changed to the one my doctor wanted me to use. I still have trouble filling it out everyday. I'm not convinced I have Bipolar. It made sense when he explained it to me, that when I get severly frustrated, angry and anxious I'm hypomanic but I feel those when I'm depressed and when I'm not. If I'm not depressed but am frustrated and angry most of the day, does that make me hypomanic? I don't think so. My next doc appt isn't until July 8th so I'm going to be so confused until then.

It made sense when I read about dysphoric hypomanic but now I'm not so sure. Only a few places mention that. Most say hypomania is like light mania and that I should be having endless energy etc... Well I don't. I almost wish I did so I could get something done around this house. I struggle with what to put on the mood chart daily.