I’ve recently started taking some new medication called Abilify to stabilise my moods. Because I can go from one extreme to the other quite rapidly, I need something that holds me in the centre. I’m now finding out what my baseline actually feels like.
Baseline.
Devoid of the funk of a Bootsy Collins fretboard exploration.
Less prominent that a Flea hook that explodes across the universe.
But thankfully not the drudge the stoic blues rundown.
More than a one note root note three-chord
This baseline is there all the time.
Hidden in the mix.
Simple, subtle, but not entirely dulled.
More Wire than Sting. More Lemmy than Entwistle.
My baseline is a constant.
Image by Pexels from Pixabay
You bipolar Pete ?
I got diagnosed with cylothemia about 6 weeks ago (although I’ve had it for years it turns out) , It’s essentially related to/ similar bi polar but with more rapid mood cycles that don’t quite go to the full extremes of Bi polar 1 and 2.
Ok. Well hope this med works out for ya. My wife is Bi polar 2 and on about 6 to stay even
Wow. So far I’m just on one drug. I’ve been on antidepressants in the past, but they seem to make me very erratic and unstable. I tend to think I’m doing great when I’ve been on them- but I do stupid things. These meds seem better but I find I’m completely drained on them.
You may think my response is crazy, but I weened myself off my prescriptions by changing my diet and using essential oils like frankincense and lemon. They gave me energy, focus, I felt good and upbeat, I started exercising, lost weight and slowly weened off the prescriptions. My doctors all agreed the methods worked and supported my decision. I follow a keto diet about 80% of the time and use one or more essential oils a day, mainly peppermint and lemon lately. CBD can also calm the anxiety and it’s legal everywhere.
I don’t think it’s crazy at all. I’m not a huge fan of taking meds for mental health problems. I’ve been using CBD and have used diet and exercise to control my moods in the past. I generally don’t like taking ANY medicines and usually just take B12 supplements (I’m vegan) I am finding that antipsychotics do help me though as I could literally go from suicidal to bouncing off the walls within a couple of hours. Lockdown really brought out the worst of these moods too and thankfully I’ve not had the impulses I was getting since taking these. I know they’re not the only solution, but they’re helping for now. If I was offered antidepressants (again) it would have been a hard no though!
Meds induced or otherwise, that’s one hell of an accurate description 🖤🖤
As long as your baseline isn’t the baseline of ‘Under Pressure’ written by ‘nobody knows’ and remixed by Vanilla Ice who just ‘borrowed’ it, you’ll be fine!
All jokes aside, I wish you well and I hope that Abilify can help you to find that middle ground. I thought that anti-depressants were a no when dealing with bipolar. So I hope that once rightfully diagnosed the right medication can help you.
Take good care of yourself!
Under Pressure is one of the best basslines written. I forget how awesome John Deacon was as a bass player. You are right, anti depressants are a no go. They sent me all over the place in the past and now I know why.
I don’t do head meds because they really fuck up my ability to fuck lol…so i just deal with my anxiety. it doesn’t last for long stretches and i am never suicidal because death has always been an irrational fear
Oh, I am so glad, Pete, to know that this new medication is working for you and you are feeling more like yourself. The rapid mood swings drain too much energy and take a toll on us, both physically and mentally, for that matter. I hope it gets still better for you. Blessings and wishes!
Cheers n Take Care 🙂