Retired Wooden Wagon Wheel

Retired Wooden Wagon Wheel, originally uploaded by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton.

Last year I had a hypomanic (somewhat less than Manic) episode which resulted in my hopitalization for about 10 days.  I was "released" on the 4th of  July.  It was a voluntary visit to the Psych ward at Barnes, just to adjust my medicine.  

This year, at exactly the same time of year, I'm Euthymic (below hypomanic, but still a little UP).  Since last year, my psychiatrist has taken me off anti-depressants altogether. I saw him last Friday, and the Friday before that, and have had phone updates with him yesterday and today.  I will see him again on Thursday.

My psychiatrist thinks we are ahead of the game this time.  I'm taking Seroquel (quells the Serotonin) at night and getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.  I'm eating well, and controlling my cigarette smoking to 3-5 per day by forcing myself to walk 1 mile each time I have a smoke.

Many people who are very successful in life live in a constant state of Euthymia.  They are people who are friendly, gregarious, creative, and fun.

If I could stay at this level for a few months I'd get a heck of a lot of stuff done.  I'm more active on facebook than usual (my psychiatrist has forbidden me to do any more social networking during this time) as well as on my photography sharing site, flickr. Anyway, my wife is my closest ally, and helps me to know what is and is not appropriate.  My psychiatrist is working hard with me, and taking extra time.  Last Friday, he said "this thing (meaning Bipolar) is bigger than both of us".  But I'm doing everything I can to keep it from escalating.