Day 5

Cream anyone? Somehow I feel this is not designed for decorative desserts and fluffy soups. In a moment of dignified clarity earlier tonight, it came upon me that chunks of anzac cookie followed immediately by the sweet strains of NOS is not so sweet.

Day 5 of Cymbalta; still awaiting the changed sleeping patterns. Recommendations? http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/6579-best-time-of-day-to-take-cymbalta/ - suggestions here indicate a split dosage of 30mg in the morning, 30mg in the evening is ideal, to prevent the drug from wearing off between dosages.

Will be attempting to bury myself in study under a big pile of blankets tomorrow morning - it's getting exceptionally cold considering winter has only just begun! Good luck to fellow students prepping for exams.

Signing off,
xx

An entree, followed by a cocktail lacking in flavour

This is my first recreational blog. My previous attempts at blogging were less than savoury on account of them having been deemed mandatory for the completion of my year at art school.

I'm a student now engaged in government studies, the complexities and nuances of which have both brightened my days and made me want to tear my hair out. My typical week is shaped by irregular patterns of fabulous food constructed by an outstandingly tolerant partner, interspersed with my own culinary creations of canned soup and defrosted bread. Throughout such a week, I am governed by the evils of over-sleeping, compliments of the cocktail of drugs I've been prescribed. In my spare time, my preference falls to drinks with friends with a fresh pack of cigarettes, funded of course by the trusty welfare system.

Having been avidly warned not to stray into the cold depths of self-reflective, arbitrary blogging, concerning what I just ate for lunch or my outrage regarding the recent transition of ugg boots into heels, I have chosen to primarily focus on mental illness and drugs throughout this blog; from the prescribed to the recreational, and all that lies in between.

In 2009, I was formally diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder and depression. More recently, I have been informed that I additionally have some bipolar tendencies. Having been on a range of different SSRIs, and Valium in conjunction with CBT therapy, I have become increasingly aware of the lack of willingness among sufferers of mental illness to discuss their feelings and experiences regarding the impact of mental illness and the subsequent therapeutic use of psychoactive drugs.

This blog is an attempt (albeit a small attempt in a sea of much larger attempts :p) to spread awareness about the difficulties and and contradictions of mental illness and the use of psychoactive drugs as treatment. The intention of this blog is not to disperse any kind of medical advice, rather to share with persons within the unofficial anti-depressant/anti-psychotic community about the experiences that may or may not be not be willingly shared among friends or within the community.

Signing off for now,
xx