Thank You and the Best of 2022
The most popular content I published during the year.
Hello my dear readers.
Today starts another year. It blows my mind that we’re here already. Days pass quickly, and even more so as you get older.
2022 was a year full of activity and I wrote and published more online than I ever have before. I’ve done it all for you, my loyal readers, most of which have been with me all year.
I am deeply grateful for all of you. When I check the stats and see how many of you show up to read each piece, it warms my heart. You are a special group of readers, and I celebrate every one of you.
To say goodbye to 2022, I’m sharing the most popular content I published during the year. Later, I will publish the annual Best of Guide with links to everything, but in the meantime, here are some posts to hold you over.
Here’s to an amazing year.
Until next time, keep fighting.
Scott Ninneman
All the latest news:
Do you need help closing your year in a positive way? Don’t forget about my free guide, My Positive Year End Review . Download your copy today.
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Featured 2022 Posts:
Speaking Bipolar Blog
Does Working the Night Shift Affect Bipolar Disorder?
I’m a night owl. Come sundown, I come alive. An infusion of energy courses through my veins and my muse dances freely. Or at least, this was the case when I was younger, before chronic illness robbed me of much of my stamina.
Being a child of the night is not an ideal companion for bipolar. For a while, since bipolar insomnia is a continuous problem, I decided the solution would be to find a job where I could work third shift. Here are three reasons that was a bad idea.
I don’t sleep during the day and never have unless extremely sick. I’m not sure if that’s a bipolar thing or just a me thing. As a kid, l was the one who stayed awake on car trips no matter how far we drove, and I was always the last one awake at sleep overs.
Staying awake all night for work wasn’t…
51 Powerful Inspirational Quotes for Living With Bipolar Disorder
I love quotes. If you’ve been around Speaking Bipolar for any time or follow me on social media, you know I share inspirational quotes often. I have notebooks and spreadsheets full of them.
Why? Because bipolar life is hard. Many days, you can’t read a long post. You can’t listen to a story or directions on how to improve. You need something short and simple, and inspirational quotes do the job every time.
What follows are 51 of my favorite bipolar quotes. With each one, there’s a suggestion on how to apply it to your bipolar life…
21 Smart Ways To Reduce the Effects of Bipolar Disorder on Everyday Life
After three years of trial and error and over 30 different medications, I crashed in 1998. I spent months in bed, often not bathing or shaving. The few times I ventured out of the house, even my friends didn’t recognize me. And how could they? I didn’t recognize myself.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness known for the extreme mood swings it produces. Mood swings can be abrupt and unpredictable. They can range from extremely high and ecstatic to exceptionally low and sad. People with bipolar disorder often have trouble coping with everyday life. The worst cycles can last for weeks or months.
I am one of the millions of people who live with bipolar disorder. I know all too well how difficult it can be to deal with the everyday ups and downs of this illness. But I also know that there are things you can do to help make life with bipolar disorder easier.
Here are 21 smart ways to reduce the effects of bipolar disorder on your everyday life…
Medium
One Dinner With Friends Reminded Me Why I Avoid Social Interaction
I’m notorious among my group of friends for turning down social invites. It’s amazing I have any friends left as often as I reply with a ‘no’ to their invitations. The guilt crushes me, but I feel helpless most days to offer another answer.
A few nights ago, while scrolling through viewing options on Hulu, the face of my phone lit up. It was one of my young friends, perhaps the one I’ve turned down the most. She invited me to dinner with her fiancé and a few friends.
I hate making decisions quickly. My general rule is to sleep on it even with matters as simple as buying a new dress shirt. My default is to say, “no,” to protect myself, but my guilt was…
How Acts of Kindness Can Help You Move Past Your Grief
It was a Tuesday in July 2007 when I lost my soulmate. We were both at work and had a brief telephone conversation about how stupid one of our friends was acting. Neither of us had much time, so we said only a few words. We made plans for dinner and each hung up.
Less than an hour later, she was gone. Losing her was the worst experience of my life.
The act of grieving is a slow process, and the worst of it often comes in waves. During the worst days, I learned a valuable lesson about how to cope with grief and the worst days life throws at you…
I Don’t Want To Be Crazy Anymore
Crazy. It’s an ugly word. No doubt, many will chastise me for using it. Let them come. I’m not describing someone else. I’m not describing mental illness. Crazy is how I feel, and no other word comes close.
Let me clarify my use of crazy in this post. Crazy is not a diagnosis, for there is no such thing. Mental illness disorders have names, and crazy isn’t one of them.
Crazy is also not a label. It’s not okay to call someone crazy unless it’s in a fit of laughter and someone is unusually funny. Otherwise, crazy should never be a label.
Instead, this post is about crazy as a feeling. Crazy is an emotion, a deep internal turmoil…
NewsBreak
Coming to Terms With the Lasts in Life as You Get Older
Sitting on the pale white folding chair, I pulled the pages from the clear sheet protectors. Each binder contained hundreds of hours of work, and now I was tossing his efforts into a burn box.
We spent much of the weekend organizing his office. At 84, my dad is easily overwhelmed. I gave him a five-day warning so he could adjust to the idea before I dove into the piles of paper. I wanted to make the process as painless for him as possible.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the way it rocked me to my core. The lasts in life sneak up on you, and when you first realize that, it’s like running into a tree.
For many years, my dad was a traveling speaker. A meticulous organizer, he printed each of his talks with…
Southern Women and What They Mean by Saying, “Bless Your Heart”
When you live in the South, Bless Your Heart is part of everyday life. It’s a simple truth that television and filmmakers capitalize on.
What you may not know is the meaning behind those three concise words can vary greatly.
I love all women, but Southern gals have a special place in my heart, especially the genuine Southern Belles. They are the ones with flawless makeup and clothes, even on their worst days. You’ll seldom see them not smiling or helping someone. They can touch up their lipstick with hands bejeweled with long acrylic nails while driving a tractor with a toddler on their lap. Okay, so maybe not all that, but pretty darn close.
Our Southern Belles know how to wield these words…
Vocal
Why Bipolar Anger Still Scares Me Even After Decades of Treatment
It was 2:35 a.m. when the cat decided she wanted to go outside.
I listened to her bang on the blinds for several minutes before I got out of bed and made my way to the patio door. I opened the door and waited for her to step out.
When I looked down, I saw nothing.
Reaching over, I turned on a nearby lamp, and the cat was nowhere to be found. After a short hunt, I found her hiding under the bed. It’s a little game she likes to play, but on this morning it sent me into an instant rage.
Then, when I tried to reach for her, she backed up just enough that I couldn’t touch her…
7 Life Lessons Learned From My Father’s Cat
Her concentration is unbreakable as she crouches close to the ground. Every muscle stays perfectly still except for the tip of her tail, which wags ever so slightly as the only warning to her intended victim. With eyes fixed on one spot on the ground, she’s a statue waiting for her prey to make a terminal mistake.
A leaf falls from the tree above, breaking her concentration. When she glances back, her next meal has already escaped to freedom. Unaffected, she rolls on her back to scratch the itch that’s been bothering her.
Sitting on my deck, I watch her dance with butterflies in the yard. My thoughts drift through time, pondering all the life lessons she taught me.
Who is she? My father’s cat, Bootsy…
Additional Reading:
51 Powerful Inspirational Quotes for Living With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, Family Triggers, and Intense Anxiety During the Holiday Season
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This 22-page PDF focuses on wins, gratitude, life lessons, and planning for the future. The guide will help you look back on the positive things in the past 12 months so you can move forward with joy.
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