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When you're both depressed and crazy, life has a way of becoming hilarious.

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Knowledge is Necessity

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Living Well With Depression and Bipolar Disorder

living well with depression and bipolar disorder Check out my book.

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About McMan

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In Loving Memory

Kevin Greim

1980-2008

 


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Recovery Articles and Videos

"Mind precedes its objects. They are mind-governed and mind-made." - The Buddha

Mindfulness - The Ultimate Mood Stabilizer

Knowledge is Necessity. If you're one of the lucky ones, your medication will clear your head, restore your judgment, raise your IQ, make you lose 50 pounds, put ten million in your bank account, and have Brad or Angelina (take your pick) salivating over the prospect of 20 minutes alone with you.

On the other hand, if you're like the rest of us, you have your work cut out for you. The encouraging news is you don't have to settle for a miserable half-life. The sobering news is getting well and staying well involves being smart and disciplined - a fairly daunting prospect when we have our illness and a host of side issues to contend with.

The articles in this section serve the dual purpose of letting you know what you're up against and of giving you some answers. The recovery techniques here are simultaneously as old as the hills and backed by modern science, but there are no guarantees. You won't find out if they work for you or not until you put in the work.

The pic to illustrate Recovery is Vermeer's "The Lacemaker." I also use Vermeer to illustrate "Treatment." The Treatment pic has two people in it, suggesting the wisdom of seeking expert help. The Recovery pic has a solitary woman actively engaged in a pursuit, reinforcing the notion that we are in charge.

Recovery Principles

recovery

Recovery is a Journey

Living well should not be a dream.

recovery

Staying Well

An innovative researcher discovers that patients know best.

recovery

Stronger Than We Seem

We know our capabilities better than our clinicians.

recovery

Healing

How do we find peace and acceptance in the face of adversity?

recovery

Doing Recovery

These people are actually DOING it.

recovery

What About the Real Stuff?

People problems, fears, bad habits ...

recovery

Recovery FAQ

The definitive cheat sheet.

Mindfulness

recovery

Mindfulness - The Ultimate Mood Stabilzer

What is arguably the most effective recovery tool requires a highly disciplined mind.

Mindfulness - Living in the Present

Successfully negotiating the present allows us to make peace with our past and face the future with hope.

Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Stress

recovery

You Are What You Eat

It's official. Good food is good for you.

Diet and Obesity

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. Fortunately you don't have to be part of it.

recovery

Sweet and Sour

Moderation is good.

Don't Drink the Diet Coke

Read the label, first.

Sleep

If you have a mood disorder you have sleep issues.

Dreaded Exercise

The catch is you have to do it.

The Stress-Emotions Connection

Feeling an episode coming on? You're probably experiencing major stress.

Spirituality

God Power

This just in - faith and spirituality work.

Meditation and Yoga

Don't just stand there - sit.

The Pursuit of Happiness

recovery

Life's Greatest Challenge

We elude happiness more than happiness eludes us.

recovery

Putting in the Effort

True happiness is doing it the hard way.

recovery

Optimism and Flow

When things go wrong, do you blame yourself?

recovery

Playing to our Strengths

The basic virtues are universal. So why are they news to us?

recovery

A Life of Meaning

Aiming for a life of meaning may be a more realistic goal.

Play and Laughter

recovery

Take Back Our Play!

Remember what being five-years-old was like? Neither do most of us.

Talking About Play

Enjoy the peanut butter and other pearls of wisdom.

The Dark Side of Funny

Snap! Everything in life is suddenly hysterical.

Connecting and Reconnecting

Listening: The Real Secret

Reconnecting with others is all about active listening.

Listening - The Rules

Let your words be few.

Something Very Important

Depression-Proofing Your Home

The front line against depression is the home front.

Where Meds Fit Into All This

Smart Meds Strategies

Meds are a complement to your recovery practices, not the other way around.

Suicide Prevention

Planning for Tomorrow

Living well requires preparing for - and managing - the worst.

Videos