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Living with mental illness

My adventures in living with mental illness; namely Bipolar II disorder, PTSD, and trichotillomania. 

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The Pursuit of Happiness

February 16, 2017 by Beebe Sharkey

Happiness is elusive. It slips through my fingers like a fistful of sand. When I was young I was told to go after what makes me happy. So I tried to go after it, but I couldn’t pin it down. 

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February 16, 2017 /Beebe Sharkey
Depression, bipolar, the dark days
10 Comments

Stability

September 15, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

Today, I feel flat. I don’t feel like I felt when I first started my blog, and I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. I feel different. Not necessarily depressed or anxious or manic, but also not necessarily happy or energetic or good. It’s hard to know where I’m at…what this feeling is…what it says about me.

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September 15, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
writing, bipolar
11 Comments

Happy blogiversary to me

September 08, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

Welp, it has been one year since I started this blog. I’ve logged over 60 entries, writing almost every week for the past year. I’m not sure what to make of it all. A lot has happened. A lot has changed. I’ve gotten a lot off of my chest, and have read many responses from you, dear readers, that have given me hope.

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September 08, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
writing, bipolar, depression
2 Comments

On writing and other things

August 25, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

It would be easier not to write. Easier, because I don't know what to write about. Nothing seems particularly interesting or inspiring. It all just seems flat, even though I suppose it's not.

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August 25, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
writing, bipolar, healing
8 Comments

Spirals

August 11, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

It's been just over a month since I started the outpatient therapy program, so I thought it was time for an update on how I'm doing. I'm still in the program and it's looking like I'll be there through the end of this month. The road to recovery has been slower this time around...a lot like two steps forward and one step back, or cyclical rather than linear. I wish that I was in a better place, but I'm not. I'm still struggling each day as the depression clings on. I do, however, feel like I've turned a corner and that I'm on the side where things will start getting easier soon. Soon...just not quite yet.

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August 11, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
bipolar, coping, therapy
9 Comments

Things I wish I could say to you

August 04, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

I wish I could tell you that I'm getting better, but I don't know how long it will take until I actually am better. I wish I could give you a guarantee; a date that we could circle on the calendar. But, right now, it's just a big unknown. I want you to know that I have faith that I will get better, I just don't know exactly when.

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August 04, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
bipolar, community, relationships
5 Comments

Illness/wellness

July 21, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

Today, I was sitting in the lobby of the hospital where I'm receiving my outpatient treatment, trying to hold back tears while quietly eating my lunch, and I watched people coming in and out of the elevators. As I watched them a curious thought popped into my head, "wow, I can't imagine being really sick right now." And then I corrected myself, "I am really sick right now." I had spent time feeling sorry for all of the people who came into the hospital that were battling diseases, injuries, and pain, and had somehow excluded myself from that group. But, I am very much a part of that group.

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July 21, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
bipolar, mental illness, acceptance
6 Comments

A bigger boat

July 07, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

I know I was going to write about dissociative disorders this week, but I can’t do it…not yet. Because, I felt that you should know that I’m not okay. I haven’t been okay for awhile, and I can’t keep pretending to be okay. I’ve somehow unearthed a mountain of shit, and it just keeps getting bigger. I’ve been trying to ride the waves of a long, major depressive episode, and I can’t do it alone anymore…I’ve determined I need a “bigger boat”. Yes, folks, I’m quoting Jaws here.

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July 07, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
bipolar, asking for help, depression
24 Comments

A self divided

June 30, 2016 by Beebe Sharkey

Have you ever had one of those moments where everything makes sense, and yet nothing makes sense all at the same time? I’ve had a few of those recently. The first time was learning that I may have a dissociative disorder (more on that in my next post). The second was when I received a new diagnosis: Bipolar II disorder. I wasn’t surprised. I’ve known for awhile that there was something else going on with me besides just being depressed and anxious, but I had trouble articulating it. I knew those times in between being depressed where I felt good were suspiciously good…too good…and often involved me feeling completely jumpy and restless, like I needed to run a marathon or buy all the things.

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June 30, 2016 /Beebe Sharkey
bipolar, identity, community
2 Comments

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