About Me

This is me
This is also me
Me after a rough patch: Same day
And this is Marc.

Introductions

Hello! My name is Kim and I am coming to you from the great State of Maine where there are four seasons and three of them are winter. I’ve started this blog several times throughout the decades, but it never really ‘happened.’ I suppose I wasn’t ready. Sometimes that ‘happens’ instead. But today is a new day, my friends. Today, I am hopeful the stars are aligned, my medication levels are are at their peak and God has given His blessing on this one.

Who Am I?

Fair question. I am a lot of things. However, in the dozens of times I’ve started this blog, I have learned to answer this tricky question briefly!

I am you.

I am a person (most days) just doing her thing on this extraordinarily beautiful and volatile planet while surviving a global pandemic. Like you, I’m navigating through the chaos of a much needed (but poorly executed) culture change and trying to keep my compass pointing North. The quirky part is, I have the honor of doing it all with a mood disorder and ADD. They’ve been great fun and I want to tell you all about it.

What is this blog about?

Great question. If you didn’t pick up on it in that last sentence, we’ll chalk it up to brain fog and proceed. This blog is about me sharing with you all I know about living with Bipolar Disorder, ADD and other related mental health illnesses. I was diagnosed in my very early twenties after I was found sitting on the edge of a bridge in the middle of town wondering if it was high enough to do the job. Looking back, the fall was only 40 feet max and all I would have done was broken my back. Thankfully, the mailman who passed by evaluated the situation and found it prudent to introduce me to the nice people at the local mental hospital. Turns out the people there were very welcoming. I liked them. They liked me. My people called their people and we all thought a little vacation might do me good. After meeting some very interesting ‘co-vacationers’, learning a few coping mechanisms, and given medication, I leveled up to being able to go to ‘Activities’ once a day, and eventually left with a diagnosis, a prescription and a journal. I have been writing and learning about the diagnosis every day since. So…I have a lot to share.

Why Am I Writing this Blog?

Well, because that’s what I do. I write and overshare. And because I feel mental illness needs to be normalized. Look. You know me, right? I am every other person out there. I am your friend, your daughter, your wife, your co-worker, your neighbor, etc. And up until now, I have been normal in your eyes to a varying degree. But what if you knew I had Bipolar Disorder or ADD? Would things change? Would you feel weird knowing? Would I feel weird having you know? Would I lose my job? Could I make jokes about it to lighten the mood? Could you tell me when I am becoming too much or moving too fast? For the most part, I suspect I know the answer. And that is why I am doing this. We still have some work to do and this is my contribution.

What to Expect:

  1. Blogs – It won’t always be about Bipolar specifically (but mostly it will). My life and diagnosis are intertwined so, I’ll be sharing both.
  2. Journal entries – I will share some (not all) of my journal entries when processing through actual episodes. I want you to see what it looks like from the inside.
  3. Research – I’ll post some of the science behind the behavior – but only the cool stuff that is interesting and helpful.
  4. People – Thoughts on how to live with or have relationships with someone with Bipolar Disorder and ADD (or just in general) – because it is not easy and nobody wants jail time;
  5. Encouragement – These diagnoses are lifetime sentences not death sentences. We can live a full and beautiful life while still dealing with it.

Who Should Follow Me?

You.

Anybody with good days and bad days. Anybody looking for a good laugh, a good cry and a reminder that we are all doing just fine. I think that covers anybody who is human.

What’s in it for You?

Authenticity and Transparency. Honesty without drama and all within 500 words (give or take 😉 ) per post. Now that’s a deal.

Laughter. It hasn’t always been the case, but I’ve learned to laugh at it all. My husband and laugh quite a bit. And I’m going to say it…we are hilarious! You’ll see.

Sage Wisdom. That’s right. I’ll save you a trip to the mountains – although you should make the trip. The combination of having a mood disorder, ADD and people in my life all at the same time is NOT a passive existence. I’ve had to dig deep inside myself over the years and have found some pretty valuable gems.

Personality. I have a ton of it!

Books. Reading is vital in understanding the world around you and the whirlwind within you and so I’ll post books that have helped me along the way.

Music. Music is my healing so it will be making an appearance.

God. You’ll hear a lot about God in this blog. There will be no preaching, I promise. I’m with you on that one. But…He’s kinda my guy so…I’ll be referring to Him a lot.