Autumn Stringam

Bipolar, Panic and Anxiety…What is the Difference?

  Take a minute to  look at the DSM-IV – the manual that your physician used to determine the criteria for your diagnosis. Psychiatric diagnoses are complicated things. That’s why many of our diagnoses have changed over the years.  Mine changed from depression to BipolarI, to BipolarI with rapid cycles, to a final and extra comforting label of BipolarI with rapid cycles and schizophrenic tendencies. Did you know that I was so sick – even while diligently following my specialist’s order ...

Does the flu make you crazy?

Count down to insanity. I have three days to stop vomiting and start absorbing nutrients again before I’ll start slipping… first into inattention, then the mood swings will come up. It’ll be mild at first. I’ll paint something fantastic, I’ll laugh a lot louder and stay up later. Then miserably high will take over. I’ll get agitated, lock myself in my art room and tell them all to go away… In a day or so, like a long awaited exhale, ...