I decided to write a new post for this, as the previous post was getting ridiculously lengthy and was about something entirely different. Thank you for your comments on that post!
So, that’s my voice then. I was crazily apprehensive due to my tendency to ramble (and I’d just woken up and was still feeling drugged on Seroquel) but it was short and sweet and I didn’t sound as nervous as I felt. Mandy was very articulate. And Brian May got a mention! As did Experimental Chimp and Aethelread the Unread.
If you missed it, for those who have trouble using the Listen Again at the BBC website, I’ve uploaded Mandy and I’s brief interview which you can listen to here.
For the record: I do recommend blogging to people but am very aware that the concern that you’re not being helpful/interesting or so on can make you feel worse about yourself. It is a double edged sword. That’s a pitfall of knowing you have an audience, but I try to ignore that niggling feeling. I am proud to be part of a growing community.
And we did talk a bit about doctor/patient blogs which I think are interesting; in the blogosphere, the supposed infallibles, our personal gods of psychiatrists and doctors, blog too, like we do, and we see that they’re human, as are we. And I think that’s important. It’s tempting to either demonise or idealise those who are paid to care for us, and who make decisions about our treatment.
Phew anyway! No swear words.
What are your views on mental health blogging? If you have a blog, why did you start writing it?
Filed under: Bipolar Disorder, all in the mind, bipolar
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Hi Seaneen, I enjoyed listening. All good positive stuff. I know what you mean about not being helpful etc. Also I’ve lost count of the posts I’ve deleted because by the next day I feel ashamed at having had the gall to do other peoples’ heads in with my incoherent rambling and spouting-off.
But in general I find reading blogs and writing both helpful. It certainly reduces isolation, and one can always take heart in the fact that there are people going through worse stuff than yourself and also people who are better than you. It’s all evidence that we can get better, eventually, we hope, etc…
Ok, enough rambling. Take care, David
I think that mental health blogging is valuable for several reasons:
1) It can provide a healthy outlet for dealing with feelings surrounding your own struggles with mental illness.
2) It’s comforting to know that “you’re not alone”–there are other people out there struggling with the same things as you. Often another person can articulate something that you’ve been trying to explain/identify/put your finger on for a long time.
3) Community support and wisdom. There is a lot of collective and experience within the mental health blogging community.
4) It provides a unique inside look at otherwise poorly understood mental illnesses. How many people really understand how you view/experience the world with a disorder? How does the media affect you? What do you think about current research? What has/hasn’t been helpful for you treatment-wise? There is so much information that only someone who has struggled with mental illness can provide.
5) You can challenge others… challenge them in their recovery, or to look at something from another perspective, or to break through their denial about a problem. Mental health blogs make you think and examine your own reactions.
Fantastic Seaneen… a really good interview and you have an amazing voice! You should be proud to get out there and put a mark on the world of blogging about Mental Health!
I’ve been blogging for years but the blogs have been deleted, moved bla bla bla… I intially started writing a day to day blog focussing on my issues with Neighbours From Hell, it was a place I could get out all my anger and flustration but as time went on more and more stuff came out about my mental health,
It’s taken years to finally admit I was the one with the issues for years but I honestly thing reading other blogs, honest blogs of people like me has helped me accept that I may be different but I am still me!
Well done Seaneen! I am going to listen again!
Thank you. That’s one of the things I get the most correspondence about; people saying, “I’ve been diagnosed with this, so, am I not me, was all of that someone else? Who is the real me?”
I felt exactly the same when I was diagnosed and was riotously angry because of it. I think a lot of people feel the same. I’m getting over it because I don’t think there *is* a real someone, we just are, we have our fundamentals but we will change and our behaviour will be different given different circumstances, moods, etc.
But it takes a load of time to disentangle the illness from our personalities. Might never fully do it.
And I agree blogs can provide a lot of great information. I like the fact that when you google the name of an illness, a lot of personal experiences are there for you to read rather than solely dispassionate diagnostic criteria.
I started writing my blog as a joint new years resolution with a friend. Originally my blog had nothing to do with mental health and then, suddenly, it became an outlet for my depression and now I write in it because I need that outlet, I need somewhere to be a little bit honest sometimes when there’s no-one else I can tell the truth to. I find it hard to define who I am apart from my depression because it seems to have taken over so much.
Very neato! I bet you were way more nervous than you sounded.
As to your question, I blog for many reasons. Partly to have some accountability about my expressions. When I spout off in a regrettable fashion it teaches me something. I don’t feel like I need to be helpful to be honest – though I like to when there is something worth saying. Mostly I am doing the blog for myself, as a way to take part in this community. Unlike a lot of others in the mental health blogging community, I am far from exclusive about my choices of topics.
I do however have one principle that keeps me going. I have been lucky enough to manage my mental illness to the extent it takes to be slightly successful professionally. I’m immensely little bit respected by a tiny number of people. That makes me feel a responsibility to demonstrate to others with mental illness that there are good possibilities for people like us. … and to demonstrate to those without mental illness, that we don’t deserve to be pariahs, and we definitely don’t deserve to be afraid of the “skeleton in the closet” aspect of being “mentally interesting.”
I thought the programme was a good survey of mental health blogging – well done!
I started to blog as I wanted to record mental health stories in the news. I have lost that focus as I have been so unwell recently – now I just moan about depression and medication side-effects. Hopefully I’ll get back to the original aim.
Congratulations again.
Hi again Seaneen
Bet hearing your own voice and the comments has put your head in a bit or a whirl. I wonder if more blogs will pop up and be spawned as result of your interview?
I agree with greythinking’s reasosn why blogging is useful.
I started blogging pretty much as you said, because I didn;t know anyone who had the illness or any mental illness and I wanted to know real experiences as opposed to clinical view’s. when I found blogs like yours it inspired me to write my own. Just so I could chronical what I was feeling and when, and belong to what I feel is a supportive community.
I never knew about blogland until i was ill and googled life with mental illness or such. I think the radio show will hopefully let people know about this information and give support to those who might need it.
Yeah, have heard it now, really great. Well done, really, really. You sounded fucking ace if I do say so myself. I don’t expect that I’ll put this very well at all but your blog as is works and works wonders, makes a difference, means something, is rare, honest, special. Most things seem airbrushed to pieces and most people seem ‘fine, haven’t got a care in the World, how are you?’ and one can start to feel like a freak for, for example, forgoing food to avoid a potential breakdown in a supermarket. But when I read your blog and the comments from your other readers I’m reminded that I’m not alone. Sounds cheesy but is true. There’s this shared one thing that’s part of us but not the whole us, like the sci-fi guys n’ gals who dress up for conventions but who no doubt lead totally different lives from one another the rest of the time. I’m literally unable to convey what I want to say. Do you get what I’m getting at? It’s in there somewhere I’d imagine. Back to the radio interview I liked, nay, loved the writing three novels fallacy-check ’cause a) It’s fucking hilarious how prevalent that notion is and b) It always used to make me laugh when they’d do those at home bits in ‘Morecambe & Wise’ and Wise had always just effortlessly written a play that day. Anyway, cheers and keep on trucking x
yaay thank you for uploading this! I’m going to listen it now.
I don’t remember why I started blogging. I guess I have always been kind of lonely and a blog gave me a place to say things without the fear of imposing them on someone in particular. I have been diagnosed with depression since 2005 (although the illness itself comes a long way) but I didn’t fully incorporate depression into blogging until recently… until I started feeling less ashamed of it. Back then it was something I wanted to bury and I thought I was the only one suffering it (even though I knew I wasn’t), later I found more blogs and more experiences and that helped a lot.
I’ve been reading you from the beginning!! we started around the same time..I started a month after you…I don’t know where I came from either!!
there aren’t too many of us still at it from that time.
I’ve got a radio interview scheduled on the 4th…Thursday…but don’t know if I’ll pull it off or not…haven’t had much energy lately. I’ve cancelled twice already…
I’m very nervous about it…
Hey Seaneen–You have a lovely voice. I think what you said was right on. Thank you for being you and having the courage to be yourself.
You asked what started us blogging? I needed a space of my own to vent, write and be me–outside of my family. This is how I can best express myself. My blog has changed throughout the years and I have contemplated getting rid of it, but I keep it as a reminder of where I’ve come from and where I am.
Excellent hun! I remember speaking to you on the phone but wow your accent lol, I love the irish hehe.
You know I have a live journal, I’ve had tw accounts the first one I started about 5 years ago. I don’t have an audience like you and unfortunately I don’t have “agift for writing” So its basically just rambling and an outlet and shamful at times. God whaen I look back at some of the posts I am mortified!!!!! But I like to keep it to firstly record how I am and secondly keep up with the friends I have made online over the years. Anyway I’m rambling again. But well done you did fantastic!!!!
x x x x x
Fantastic stuff.. really good to hear you. The internet has allowed great opportunities to build bridges with people you would never have been able to make contact with. That’s something really special.
Just listened to this – really enjoyed it.
I started blogging as an outlet – I was so locked inside myself that I couldn’t let anyone f2f know how things were – so the blog came as a place for me to at least be honest to people – even though I didn’t “know” them.
I was going to say that i’d go insane if it weren’t for my blog
It really helps far beyond any therapy or medication that I have tried. it’s not just being able to record thoughts and dispatch of them, the commenting and recieving of comments is a brilliant alternative group therapy method. It makes me feel both useful and cared about. I think I am able to be honest about things on my blog which I would never have the courage to admit to someones face.
It is also a fantastic resource of information, and just knowing that ideas which in my head seem so twisted and unique, are shared by numerous others, eradicates the element of shame surrounding mental illness. When I have an appointment which does not go well and I am made to feel small or that my opinion is invalid because of my mental health, it helps to be able to share it with others who understand. It confirms that just by having a few beliefs which may not fit into a psychiatric matrix as being well balanced, doesn’t negate the validity of my opinions, nor my status as a human being.
It is a double edged sword most definiately, but the risk has been worth it so far, and I hope it continues to prove therapeutic to everyone else.
Lola x
Awesome stuff. Anyway, I blog because I’m self-centred, and want to subject a captive audience to me talking about depression and my taste in music. Seriously though, the community makes it worth it. MH bloggers as a group are some of the most compassionate people I’ve ever dealt with.
“the glorious dullness of existence” – I love it! Brilliant interview. You come across as cogent, super-intelligent, reflective and very, very sane.
I thought your interview was brilliant, keep up the good work. The radio show in general was pretty good, which I was surprised at.
Ever thought of doing a podcast every now and again? I imagine you’d get quite a few listeners.
I have a strong desire to blog about my mental health but the truth is, I’ve not got it in me. I did a long while ago, I got regular comments from my friends and then I realised, do I really want them knowing every bit of filling of the pie that is my head?
Congratulations! You both came across brilliantly :0) x
[...] half past ten. i know that it was about half past ten, because I’d just finished listening to Seaneens Radio Broadcast. I’m pretty sure the two factors weren’t actually linked in any way, because it was [...]
Hi there
Thanks for being so supportive. You know, I didn’t dare listen last night. I hated the thought of hearing my voice and also that I had come across like some moron.
Looking back at the interview, I still think it was a rather novel experience. Not bad at all. You were all lively and bubbly and I, certainly on reflection, felt I was a bit too laid back about it all. I wasn’t all hyper as I can get when doing things out of my comfort zone.
In some ways that was better but I am usually more fun when I am hyped up.
Will listen to the pod cast because want to see how it was bought together.
Keep on blogging x
Listening to you on radio 4 now!
I started because no one else was offering to publish me (ha ha). No, really, I did it more for myself than for spreading a message or anything. I don’t have many readers, so I imagine it is still for me…I just need to get it out.
And you sound so YOUNG! I mean, I knew you were, but it’s different to hear it.
Darling, I have just squealed and charged across my office on a wheelie chair to turn the radio up!!!
I am still without proper internet access so can’t get to my lj, and got a notification you’d left a comment checking I wasn’t dead or owt. Have been meaning to email to say ‘no, look, I’m here!’ but haven’t got round to it, bad me.
Cut to today, blobbing around the office, and all of a sudden I hear the words ‘… the blog ‘the secret life of a manic depressive’…’ and I terrified my colleague by shrieking ‘that’s Seaneen!!!!’ and leaping to turn the radio up.
Well done – you came across your usual articulate self, and I was chuffed to hear you. Sorry to hear that things have been rough while I’ve been offline, and that I’ve missed out on hearing about, but you have been in my thoughts over the last while, internet access notwithstanding.
Take care,
Miriam xxx
Darling, I have just squealed and charged across my office on a wheelie chair to turn the radio up!!!
I am still without proper internet access so can’t get to my lj, and got a notification you’d left a comment checking I wasn’t dead or owt. Have been meaning to email to say ‘no, look, I’m here!’ but haven’t got round to it, bad me.
Cut to today, blobbing around the office, and all of a sudden I hear the words ‘… the blog ‘the secret life of a manic depressive’…’ and I terrified my colleague by shrieking ‘that’s Seaneen!!!!’ and leaping to turn the radio up.
Well done – you came across your usual articulate self, and I was chuffed to hear you. Sorry to hear that things have been rough while I’ve been offline, and that I’ve missed out on hearing about, but you have been in my thoughts over the last while, internet access notwithstanding.
Take care,
Miriam xxx
Just heard you on the repeat Seaneen, and I’m about to add you to my blog roll – I’m a drinker, but certainly have mental health issues too. You were articulate – charming even – and made a very cogent explanation of your reasons for and benefits and problems of bloggery pockery.
All the best to yer,
The Cardiff Drunk.
[...] or alternatively the discussion of blogging that made up the first part of the programme has been posted at Mentally Interesting: The Secret Life of a Manic [...]
Oh, and I see you’ve asked a question.
I started to blog because I used to be a journalist – before alcoholism and depression got the better of that. So, like you, I just enjoy writing. With the alcoholism, I hope I can beat it and that in recounting the battle I might give hope to others in a similar mess. I’ve also become very isolated as a result of my problems and this (and some forum websites too) have given me a bit of a confidence boost. The daily posting is supposed to help me restore a little discipline to my life.
Every counsellor – usually alcohol specialists rather than mental health people – has said it’s a good idea: better out than in.
My daddy was an alcoholic- he died of liver failure, aged 47, two years ago. The singular most painful experience of my entire life. I miss him every day. I hope you can beat this.
[...] So! [...]
And thank you everyone, these comments are interesting.
Gianna, I’m sure you’ll be brilliant!
Awww I’ve finally just got to listen. I really enjoyed the interview.
I do really love the sound of your voice.
I totally agree with the “child of the internet” thing. I’ve been on LJ for years and online diaries are just something I’ve always done.
I hope some new readers come and find you after that.
Hi, thanks for your message on my blog. I am ok, but not really, but ok… if you know what I mean! Discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I think it’s brilliant, still wading through your archives. It’s really interesting and informative about bipolar (which I don’t have). Really enjoyed the radio programme, too.
I started to blog really just to have a place to vent. Just for myself really, and I sometimes forget that others can read it. Eventually I would like to move on to more helpful/informative blogging that may be of some use to others with mental health issues. Blogs like yours, and others I read, are a real asset to the mental health community (if there is such a thing!).
Brilliant, Seaneen.
“*A bit* of a breakdown”? That made me smile…
And: don’t worry: we know there’s a real person behind this blog. (A person we’d like to meet, sooner or later… if that’s not rude, or indelicate, of course.)
[...] By greythinking What’s the value of mental health blogging? I stumbled upon this post on The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive, where Seaneen discusses the role that blogging has played [...]
I write because I have to. At least this way people can choose to read or not read about what’s going on in my weird little world and I don’t feel like I am imposing on them.
Thank you polar bearer. I hope I didn’t stir up painful memories for you. I’m sure I will – I’m very lucky and have support (which naturally I don’t feel I deserve) and I’ve managed to take a couple of small but significant steps this week – in which hearing you on Radio 4 and checking out your blog were both very helpful.
Hi, I have somehow missed your blog before now, but if the ouch article is anything to go by I’m in for a treat now. I’d like to link to that article from my blog I hope that’s ok?
Bendy Girl
I am recovering eating disordered and now author a blog on eating disorder awareness and education that also discusses related issues of feminism, size acceptance, mental health, etc… I’m a journalist, so words are simply the best way I have to express myself. I always say that while I am glad others find comfort in my writings and experiences, I blog first and foremost for my own well being. I find blogging to be an incredible force in my own recovery. It helps keep me on track and reminds me of where I’ve been and where I don’t want to return.
My graduate research in history is on the social history of food and food-related disorders. Earlier this year I conducted a survey of more than 200 bloggers with eating disorders to see if blogging is an effective form of therapy for them. The response was overwhelmingly affirmative. Here are some of the most popular reasons why as answered by the folks who took the survey:
1) To express feelings or clarify thinking on an issue
2) To vent frustrations
3) To help promote recovery
4) Easier to blog about issues than talk about them in therapy
5) To become part of a community
6) To record recovery achievements and relapses
I really wasn’t aware of ‘blogging’ until the Metro did their blog awards in 07. I started with your blog, and Crippens; then started nosing through your blog roll . . . as they say, the rest is history. I used to have a big A4 notebook that I would write in when I was having problems with my mentalness, perhaps only once a month but I would rant and rant and rant and rant. I found it really helpful: I could get it all off my chest without having to talk to anyone about what was happening.Then I went very mad, and people found out about my crazy head, and I got treatment that basically involved talking about everything, rather than writing, which has also helped me immensely. I guess my blog was a natural development of my notebook – the modern day version thereof. I feel as if I am writing AND talking when I blog, it’s a great combination. The more I comment on other peoples blogs and get to know them a bit and they comment on mine, the more I feel supported and not like an ‘only me’ type freak. The MH blogosphere is a community and I feel like I can be myself all the time here
xXx
Brilliant!
“Glorious Dullness” – I love that quote!
Well done!
L x
I was directed to this post by an e-friend of yours, so here’s my two cents:
I started this blog because I could hardly find any information about this disorder, and so far I’ve only met one person face to face who’s been diagnosed as well. I want to give a real face to this disorder, and mental illness in general, because I hate the stigma that’s attached to it. I want to be able to say I have a mental illness and not hide behind a bunch of lies in order so save face. People with physical disorders don’t have to lie about it, so why should I?
Anyway, my hope is to connect to others who deal with this disorder (through whatever way) and also to inform people in general about it. And I’ve already mentioned before that your blog was very influential in my decision to start this.