the doctor doctor bipolar linkdump

A: Doctor, doctor, I’m bipolar!
B: …

There’s no punchline. We should come up with one.

There is, of course, a kneejerk and fuckwitted one:

A: Doctor, doctor, I’m manic-depressive.
B: Calm down. Cheer up. Calm down. Cheer up …

Mhm and we hate bipolar it’s awesome too. Fuck off?

Bipolar is an expensive, high maintenance thing to have. Even with all the riches in the world, it’d be a total bitch to treat – and to live with. Let’s take a look at the stuff that doesn’t depress the hell out of us for a change.

Vamos!

From the 10 best things about being bipolar, a fun and tongue in cheek list:

You can openly pay someone to put up with your shit and react in a patient, thoughtful way, because it’s more acceptable to do this with a psychiatrist than with a prostitute. (Bill McCurry)

You might also enjoy mental illness: the bigfoot of the brain.

I’m not sure whether I’ve already linkdumped this one, but even if I have, it’s more than good enough to do so again. It’s how to talk to your psychiatrist, which may sound a bit duh, but absolutely isn’t. As well as the importance of getting the communication right (not to mention productive), there’s valuable stuff about how to know whether a psychiatrist is good.

What about bipolar psychiatrists? I found the article really, really, really fascinating.

One morning when she was 27, Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia, MD, went to work, a young, up-and-coming resident psychiatrist at a major Pittsburgh hospital and left, hours later, as a person with bipolar disorder.

If you’re wondering about bipolar psychologists, the best place to start is probably Kay Redfield Jamison, author of numerous books, speaker, professor etc. But I figure almost all of my readers already know.

Bipolar comes in at number 2 on listverse’s 10 weird things that make you smart. It’s probably even easier to find 10 smart things that make you weird.

Nice one from cowbirds in love (always good to find cartoons, memes etc that don’t contain the words hate and awesome).

The legal drugs bit is right at the end of this …

I’ve Looked at Drugs from) Both Sides Now
by Alexander of Hollywood™ (with apologies to Joni Mitchell)

Roaches, bongs and Rasta-wear, while swirling smoke infests the air
And all your friends pretend to care, I’ve looked at weed that way
But now it only hurts my throat, not get me off nor float my boat
And bosses smell it on my coat, ganj sure can bum your day
I’ve looked at weed from both sides now
From Sens to skunk and still somehow
It’s weed’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know weed at all
Trails and tails and feeling numb, think you’re profound, you just sound dumb
Your favorite song tastes like a thumb, I’ve looked at acid that way
But now it’s just another trip, you drop your tab, try not to flip
And don’t forget it’s not that hip; don’t throw your mind away
I’ve looked at acid from both sides now
From “Wow!” to “Yikes!” and still somehow
It’s ‘cid’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know ‘cid  at all

Scabs and stabs and skanky chicks; hyper hearts but flaccid dicks
Tweakers are some scary hicks! I’ve looked at meth that way
Now I switch from snort to shoot (or snort to smoke, the point is moot)
Gone are my looks, as is my loot, speed stole my youth away
I’ve looked at crank from both sides now
From nerves to pervs and still somehow
It’s speed’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know speed at all

Needles, spoons and nodding off, welfare from the public trough
Tying up then floating off, I’ve looked at junk that way
But now it only pricks my skin, it makes me dull and way too thin
So many bands I could be in, but smack got in my way
I’ve looked at “H” from both sides now
From Burroughs to Cobain and still somehow
It’s junk’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know junk at all

Thrills and pills and bellyaches, psychotropic ice-cream cakes
Deals and steals and brownie-bakes, I’ve looked at drugs that way
But now they only blunt the pain, I don’t get high, I just maintain
Brain cells are lost, but something’s gained, in drugging every day
I’ve looked at drugs from both sides now
Within, without, and still somehow
It’s drugs’ illusions I recall
I really don’t know drugs at all