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I'm Blogging for World Mental Health Day

For many the term 'mental health' has a certain stigma or hush hush aspect to it.  I always tell my husband that I am crazy 'certifiably'.  Does that make me any less of a person?  Absolutely not.  To me it is just one of those cards that life decided to hand down to me.....well for me it runs in my family so life.....and my parents....  My name is Heather I am 35 years old, and have been Bipolar since I was 17, well probably longer than that, but that's when I was diagnosed.  It has been a bumpy road to where I am at at this present time.  Lots of ups, tons of downs and 1 suicide attempt (August 2012) to pull my head out of where-ever and for me to realize the seriousness of my situation/disease if I didn't get it taken care of.   I had quit taking my pills a 3 months supply lasted me 2 years.   So my husband called my insurance company and they referred me to a place where I could get Outpatient/Partial hospitalization to help me.  I spend 6 days in partial hospitalization.  Where I learned how to better cope with my disease, that my disease was NEVER going to go away.  I learned different ways to 'relax' and de-stress, using mediation, connecting with nature, yoga etc.  Probably one of the most important things that I learned was to get a 'sponsor' similar to what those who are in AA do. It wasn't something they told the mental health people to do, I just chose to do it as I figured I could use the extra support.   I chose my older sister Jennifer, she has been through what I have, and we were really close before I got married (We are however building our relationship back up).  She calls me rain or shine EVERY day to ask how I am doing and pries information out of me when she can sense that I am holding back.  It has been so helpful to me.  We talk anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 or 40 minutes a day.  It has brought us closer as sisters as well.

I have learned over the past few months that much like a diabetic, someone with Mental Health issues needs their daily 'insulin' so to speak.  I have not missed a pill dose since Aug 12th, 2012 which is amazing for me.  It has become a daily habit.  Something that I don't even have to think about any more.  It is something I feel grateful for.  I am on natural supplements as well as several medications.  I am seeing a counselor every 2 weeks and a Psychiatrist once a month.  For the first time in years, I am mostly 'up' (not manic) just happy, with few downs still.  We have been tweaking meds and doses to find the right ones for me but we are getting there as my downs are diminishing....thank heavens, who wants to be depressed all the time?

I am so glad that there is becoming more awareness of mental health issues, when my family (mom/dad, 2 sisters, myself and my brother) were diagnosed there wasn't much awareness about it, people still poo pooed it and treated you like a leper.  I have a wonderful supportive husband, supportive family, and friends who are there for me.

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