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I think when I have an episode my art shows it. The painting I just added I painted when I went off one of my pills and had a horrible 3 weeks. I think medication hinders art sometimes. What do you think?
I think that you are right! I have not slept in over a week due to medication issues and find that I am producing art left and right. I have not finished any one it yet, but it is on its way. Many times people consider my creativity "mental illness"
Hey Chris sorry for my absence of late. I hope you are well sir!
I am quite well at the moment, thanks Charlie. Welcome back my friend
Hey Chris and other friends, just wanted to come here and wish you all a fantastic New Year!! :D
Thanks Marija!
Hi Chris, it's nice to join you in this group again!
Thanks for Rejoining Ami. I am very glad to have you back!!!!
I love this group Chris. I truly feel at home here. Thanks.
P.S> If I post too much tell me. I just like getting your feedback.
LOL, Charlie, you could never post too much. I am very glad that you feel at home here!!!!
Hey Chris!! HAPPY PEACE DAY- just posted a batch of oldies for you here- straight from my heart - i love this group so much!!! xxx
Thanks Rosie!!!! I am always grateful for the "oldies" and anything else you care to post! Love your work
Let me try that again... Hi Christopher, I just found out about this group, which I agree is a great idea. I'd like to point out that a person could be a supporter of those with mental illness while also dealing with their own mental illness; peer support can be a vital help. I'd further extend that thought to include people who have not been diagnosed; we all have issues, we all need support!
True story!
Very true Al and Charlie!!!!
Hi Christopher,
Hi Al. Good to see you
Anyone coming through here please feel free to email me at any time. Thank you Chris for having this forum. I wish to encourage others like myself to reach out. This is what this is here for. I am putting myself out against stigmas and stereotypes to offer myself as a friend. I understand because I am going through it right now. I believe one of are biggest problems in this world is forgetting others exist when we close our eyes.
Too true!!!! So many are still being lost through the cracks and don't get help and others hide their malady.
I am very excited to join this group! I am going to school for psychotherapy/social work and I really admire that there is a group dedicated to those who have or are supportive of mental illness. Thank you for creating this!
THANKS FOR JOINING. I am glad to have someone with your expertise and your wonderful art!!!!
Today is People’s Choice in the Blue Friday Lounge. Please come and Play
I really want to support this group as much as possible. You are all an inspiration and I encourage you to share your story because it helps me to see others going through similar life happenings. Making art is my entire world. It is therapy for me so i don't go off the deep end. Everything looks like a picture, or is related to a song, or a book, or film. I am lost in this world. I have to hyper focus to get my mind off of every other aspect of my life colliding in my brain. I am a functional person. i go to a great University. I am a leader on campus. I am an artist and musician. i try to treat everyone with respect, and I believe i do a good job. Mental illness is a buzzword. It is a medical issue like diabetes. It should be seen as such. Remove the stigma. No one will be surprised that their friend who stays up all night painting, drawing, taking pictures, sculptures, etc.. and then spends more presenting them gets manic. You are also probably smarter then most as well. it's kind of cool. Think about it.
GREAT GROUP! I need to be in here more often!
As usual, I'm behind the curve. But what a great site! Supporter and fellow-traveler on the roller-coaster. Here's to the magic to with the acknowledgement of suffering brings painful birth.
Here is an interesting article I found today about the link between Genius and Madness. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2154393/There-IS-link-genius-madness-claim-scientists--dont-know-evolved-gift.html
Thanks very much Erin!!!!
Well, it looks like all I had to do was press ' Join Group ' and I'm in. Thank-You.
You are welcome!!!!
Outing myself is something I'm determined to keep on doing because the message is ' Here. Look at me. This is what a person who has bipolar looks like. ' Every piece of art I've ever made is informed by my very own personal version of what bipolar 2 feels like. Mental illness hurts. Making art helps me to cope with emotional mood swings as much as the meds. But I have to ask myself, if I didn't have mental illness would there even be a desire to make art ? To be an artist, without apology for skill, gives meaning and purpose to my life. I hope to be accepted into this group.
THANKS FOR JOINING. You are very welcome in our group.
Thank-You very much. It's good to be here.
Great inspiring!!!!!!!
To the left is a new forum. It is called “HOLD ON IT’S A ROLLER COASTER RIDE TWO” I WOULD LIKE ALL YOU WHO LIKE TO WRITE TO PUT UP YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE FORUM AND CHOOSE FEATURES AND MAKE POSITIVE COMMENTS. PLEASE KEEP ANY ARGUMENTS, WHICH SHOULD NOT OCCUR, FRIENDLY.
Thank you all for the generous support!
You are so right KidKnapper!! It is so important to have supporters and to thank them. Thank you KidKnapper for getting the ball rolling.
I should have joined earlier. I have a heartfelt commitment to those who have mental illness of any kind. Many years ago, I was a imprisoned for protesting against the Vietnam war and to remove me from the scene, I was locked-up in a mental institution. There, I discovered the treatment and abuse of of the mentally ill was something quite commonplace. Neglect, poor treatment, and intolerance for mental illness is still a continuing issue that disturbs me.
Thanks very much Matthew! Way to go on protesting the Viet Nam war. I was terrified I was going to get drafted but luckily I was too young.
Just joined and want to offer my support...and look at all this awesome artwork! Good stuff, folks!
Thanks very much Buck!!!! Great having you. This is a great group and we can use all the support we can get.
I have just discovered this group....and decided to join. I find that even I do not suffer such ilness I support the ones that have it...and am profoundly interested for the "other side"...those aspects of our mind that are coming out of the ordinary, and making suffer the ones that obviously are not like the rest. I´ll get to the forums and see what sharings can be there for our Soul. thanks.
Thanks Rosa. I appreciate your support.
Thank you for giving manic-depressives and their supporters a safe haven of expression and support. Honored to be featured :).
You are very welcome!! Thanks for joining the group and putting up such terrific artwork.
Well I don't wish to be featured, but want to give this great group all of my support! :)
Thanks Marija!!
If you wish to be featured in AFTER PARTY, please get your work in by no later than 12 midnight USA EST.
Thanks to those who have added work. It is great.
Love the idea Chris.
Thank you very much!!!!
I uploaded one more Chris!! :)
Excellent
Chris- it is such a great group- congratulations!!
7 am EST USA; i.e., New York time--AFTER PARTY on Saturday and BLUE FRIDAY LOUNGE on Friday. You are all welcome!!!!
Come to After Party to join in the fun on Saturdays. After Party will take place in BLUE GROUP
THE BLUE FRIDAY LOUNGE WILL OPEN THREE HOURS LATER THIS WEEKEND AND THUS SO WILL THE AFTER PARTY. COME ONE COME ALL. SEE WHO GETS FEATURED!!!!
Hi Chris, I'm a 100% supporter! :)
Thanks very much!! You are so welcome and I really appreciate the support!!
Chris this is such a brilliant group- congratulations to you and everyone of your members for building this great and inspiring presence here!!!
Thanks Rose and we are looking forward to sharing our creativity with everyone during After Party!!!!
Hello all: Today I will choose 10 featured pieces of art. They will be listed in the BLUE LOUNGE After Party on Saturday. Everyone drop in and see what has been featured, chit chat and generally have fun.
Hi Chris... so no more Happy Hour here this week and if I understand it right, it will be combined with the BlueLounge ?? thanks dear take care xx
You have it correct Mel. It will be from 4-6 pm during BLUE LOUNGE and then there will be an After Party for BLUE and M-DaS features.
Would you all like your art to be featured, featured artists, none or both? We would feature them during the Happy Hour of BLUE FRIDAY LOUNGEs and during the After Party. I will be hosting at these points. Come, talk, relax and have fun!
Featured works will be shown on Saturday morning at 5 am DEST USA. Look for the AFTER PARTY listing in my Blurb and in BLUE Group. Check the world clock for time matching 5 am in your area.
We also have a section in which you can write you feelings, stories, about your catharsis, etc. It is in the Forum Posts to the left and is called "Hold On! It's A Roller Coaster Ride--The Writers' Forum."
My Mother has serious manic stages. Since A Child, I learned of manic-depressives, and over the years, I am for some reason her trigger of this. As a child, they had to put me in hiding and pull me out of school. Yet I recently visited her, and I am still her trigger. I realized she doesn't love me and hates me more then love. So if I can give anyone support, and support for me, I would be greatful to be apart of this group. I am new to the site, so bare with me.
You are very welcome here!! I am sorry to hear of your plight and hope that this group will be cathartic.
I was not invited, so I'm forcing myself on this group ;-) Just have to!
Please do. This is a public group and you are most certainly welcome!!
thanks for invite , i respect and support that as well
You are extremely welcome, LOL.
hi Chris! I was wondering if supporters may submit work as well? thanks :)
Of course. All members of the site can submit work anytime they want. You are very welcome to submit work!!
Thank you for the invite. As a PTSD sufferer I have so much empathy for any type of illness!!!
Welcome!!!! PTSD sufferers are just as welcome as Manic-Depressives and other illnesses.
Hi all - I'm glad to have joined this group. As someone diagnosed within the last year, and some hard times, I find art as a way to channel my energies in a way that my artwork does not have to scream "illness!"; but rather, humanity!
Excellent statement!! You are very welcome in the group!
Great group!
Thanks so much! We are really going along now. I am so glad for all of the members.
We must all be on a down cycle :-)
I hope not, although I think I might be :).
Yahoo! and proud to be a member. Support is what makes the world go 'round.
Thanks so much. We are very glad to have you!!!
It's so great that this group does exist - thanks a lot dear Chris! Honored to join, happy to support!
Thanks. I really appreciate your kind words and WELCOME!!
thank you for the invite
You are extremely welcome!!!
Congratulations on the new group LT! It's looking GREAT!
I am chuffed!! I just can't believe how people are coming through. I am hoping to be the top group on the site!! What a great group of people!! Thanks Lisa.
Going strong here Chris- AMAZING GROUP my friend !!!
Thanks Rosie. We are rockin'
Hey Lord! Thank you very much for the invitation. Interesting group. Best wishes dear friend!!!
Thanks Julio. I greatly appreciate your participation and your artwork!!
Thanks for letting me into this group...I don't know what I am but manic-depressive sounds like a fitting title!!!
I can't diagnose you, but I can certainly support your journey. You are very welcome in the group and we are glad to have you!!
Ah . . . . So I'm not the only one?! :-)
You are not and you are very welcome!!
We are the "happy-ies" maniac-depressive artist in history....-__-
I am definitely happy with how this is going!!!!
..and it 'll be better every day....-_-
Yesssssssssssssssss.!!!!
Excellent isn't Fortinero?
Chris you are a GENIUS..!!!!
How amazing this is looking Chris- CONGRATULATIONS to you and all the Members!! TEN pages already!!
This is fabulous!!!
Wow 21 members now!
It is great isn't it! I am going to put your links in and get some more from a couple of friends of mine that work in Mental Health.
*giggling* My immediate thought was of the old song 'there coming to take me away hee haa...etc'
sighs, I tried to add some of my works..
You got it Ellen! I am really glad to see your work!!
Thanks so much Chris! I've had a chance to paint a lot lately, unsure what's coming out or how good they are, but I am having fun! Indeed 'theraputic'...smiles
Many thanks for the invite, I will look forward to contributing!
Thanks Michael! I look forward to your excellent work!
Sounds Cool :)
Thanks Paul. I think that we will all benefit, both supporters and sufferers.
Thanks for the invitation, I hope i can live up to the manic depression. Cool group. I'll see what I can add?!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You will be fine and I am glad that you have joined.
Beautiful group idea, thank you for the invite. You have my support:) I'll try to submit some works in keeping with the group.
Great, I really appreciate it!
Thank you Chris..
You are very welcome!!
Wishing you every success with your Members dear Chris-a beautiful Group in the making no doubt. Creativity and Healing are a well recognised partnership, and in Bipolar that relationship seems to take on such amazing form. CONGRATULATIONS on this new and brave Group!
Thanks so much Rosie. I really appreciate it!!
I have submitted some works I feel are in-keeping with the spirit of this Group Chris- please do not hesitate to just delete my images of they don;t fit. I am here to extend my support to you and all sufferers- Cheers for now!! xxx
A wonderful group and idea Chris ;))) - Depressive phases in his life, surely everyone has it - it's always uphill and downhill - who admits this has not ever lived - for some this will never diagnosed and diagnosed because they are not at all go to the doctor or ask for help. Friends have already told me I was crazy when I had new ideas and thought my work have seen. - I told myself it's creativity. - Friend MIKE ;))
Thanks Mike!! I greatly appreciate it!!!!
Did you want us to add works to the group? If so, I can't find the 'add' button/thingie... ADHD/bi polar, depressive...but balanced now on meds...
Great Ellen!! I sent you a note!
There is a national organization called NAMI.com with other groups that branch off of it like SAMI, for Sacramento alliance? for mentally ill and people who love and support them/us. Just a suggestion for those wanting more information or support! Great job, Chris!
How very insightful of you Chris! Thanks!
Thanks Ellen, I am glad that you are here!
I have lost 2 close friends to this illness. The world needs more information about the gravity of the disease and we need to support people who struggle with it.
Too true Gary.
Very nice Idea, and thanks for the invite!!!
You are welcome and thanks!!
Thanks for the invite. I think we all hit bad times in our lives.
Too true. I set up the site because it is so big on Redbubble. I thought that everyone might care to join and put their work up. It does not have to show depression and does not have to be about depression. If one is not depressed then he or she is a Supporter. The site is for them as well.
I'm not diagnosed as such Chris but I certainly have loved ones who are and wrestle with periodic depression as many of us do! So...I'll be happy to join you though I'm not sure what the criteria actually is. Many of my works - poetry especially - reflects the "shadows" of life, I suppose. Is that what you're after?
You do not have to have any specific art form or any mental problem at all to join. It is for Supporters too. Your poetry and anything else will be a great addition.
WELCOME!!!!
Hope you're doing great Chris, here's my new drawing! ;)