I hope that people who deal with mental health issues have taken the time to take care of themselves today.
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For me, dealing with my alcoholism means doing what I need to do to stay sober — above all else — and dealing with my bipolar disorder means listening to my body and taking the steps I need to take to keep myself where I want to be: healthy and relatively stable.
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For a long time, I thought I had to do everything perfectly. That just left me more upset with myself — and in a much worse place than when I started. Now, I try my best. I try to make progress each day, knowing that no days will result in perfection.
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Some days are really shitty because that’s where I’m at. And that’s OK. I try to take it easy — doing what I need to do, but no more. And, if I have to take some of those need-to-do tasks off the plate, I’ll do that.
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Some days are really shitty because shitty things happen. Like today. And I can’t change that. But, what I can do, and have done, is learn what I need to do in those times. I need to be honest with myself, I need to chill. For me, I also need to try to force myself to exercise.
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Some days are amazing. I enjoy them. I also appreciate them. I also, though, need to remember that work that it took and takes to get there. And I need to remember the help that I always have had around me to save me when I needed saving.
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Finally, some days are just days. And, trust me, nothing is weirder for a bipolar alcoholic. I don’t think I experienced very many days that were just days until, probably, 2011. Now, I’ve grown to appreciate them, too. Honestly, I’m so blessed to have them.
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More than 20 years ago, I was hospitalized — voluntarily, but with strong encouragement from loved ones. My life changed, and ultimately improved, as I grew to understand depression and then my bipolar diagnosis in the months that followed.
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More than 8 years ago, one of my best friends — though not my first friend to do so — talked with me about what he believed to be my problematic drinking. My life changed, and ultimately improved, when I acknowledged that day that he was right.
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Neither of those moments were the moments that instantaneously fixed things. But they were each a start. And they were starts that came from loved ones being willing to talk with me about these important issues — and ask me if I needed help.
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So, I guess my thought tonight if you’re suffering is to reach out & ask for help. If you can’t do that, that’s OK! Do what I did so often, hidden under the covers: Google around, see what others have done—meetings, therapy, exercise, groups, pets, honesty, healthy eating, sun.
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And, if you think a friend might be suffering, ask. Talk with them, without judgment. Let them know you care, and offer them your help if you can. Heck, you can google around together for possible options if you don’t know them yet.
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I have days, still, when one of a handful of my closest friends — when they know things aren’t well — will sometimes give me the best advice: “Do you think you can get out of bed?” And some days, still, that’s exactly what I need.
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It can get better — even though life can still be a helluva thing some days. Each day, though, is worth living — and leads to the next, which could be even better still.
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Thanks for reading, for all of your kind and personal comments, and for sharing. Please, feel free to share it with a friend — here’s a more easily shareable version: http://chrisgeidner.tumblr.com/post/174619354306/taking-care-of-ourselves-and-of-one-another-one … — if you think they need to hear this message.
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For now — and I did eventually, at like 10p, get in a run tonight! — it’s bedtime for me. ... Night, all, and let us try to be good to one another — and ourselves.pic.twitter.com/H3NOeY8FK5
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I remember someone saying, “I’m not a good person or a bad person. I’m just a person.” I though he was a jerk, but he had good advice

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I’m hoping to be in DC with my brother Ryan this summer
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Thank you for your openness. Our son died four years ago he also had bipolar and struggled w/ addiction. Open dialogue is how we conquer stigma. Namaste
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