You’re Just Like Me: S.K. Nicholls

This week my guest blogger is S.K. Nicholls! She will be telling us about her experience with her mental illness

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So you have a mental illness.. Which one? 

Yes, bipolar and anxiety disorder, but I don’t see them as illness like a sickness. I look at it like wellness…illness continuum and I am either closer to wellness or closer to illness.

When were you diagnosis & how old were you? 

At 19 I had an acute psychotic episode, I was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, but that wasn’t right. About five years later, I was  diagnosed and placed on bipolar meds. They have really made a difference in my life. The first ones had side effects, but in 1996 they came out with some that did not

How do you cope with your mental illness?

I don’t think about it often. My husband is also. Sometimes when we overspend on something stupid we will call it a bipolar moment and laugh it off. I worked as a nurse for thirty years and finally could no longer take the stress, so now I am semi-retired and just work as needed doing health screenings. Being retired/disabled has given me the opportunity to do what I love, my passion is writing.

What are 3 words that you would describe how your illness makes you feel? 

I feel restrained by it sometimes, also tired, and lonely even when around people.

What are some ways you relax from your illness?

I take Ativan when I have an anxiety attack or can’t sleep. Good sleep is paramount to me feeling good the next day.

What is some advice you would give to your fellow soldiers fighting this fight?

Try not to take it too seriously. Do what you need to do, but lighten up and laugh when you need to laugh. One in four has something mental going on, so you are in good company.

Tell us your blog or how we can keep in contact with you:

http://redclayandroses1.wordpress.com/

Fondly,

S.K. Nicholls

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If your interested in being featured as a B.U.L.’s(Bipolar, Unemployed & Lost) weekly GUEST BLOGGER, please email the above question and answers to bipolarunemployedlost@gmail.com. We will feature your Q&A! I’d love to hear your experience and motivation to fight this horrible disease.