Where Have You Been? Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

– Posted in: Commentary

question-mark-smI‘m about to violate a rule for bloggers: Don’t ever explain a protracted absence from blogging. Blogging experts say that it’s better to “never complain and never explain” and to just pick up blogging where you left off.

However, I feel that I owe it to my readers to let you know why there have been no new posts in over two months, and what I’m doing about it.

The primary focus of this blog is the Anxiety Disorders, obviously. The blog’s genesis arose from my own struggles with multiple Anxiety Disorders, with the hope that I could help someone else. 

But if you read the “About Me” or the “My Story” tabs, you will learn that I also have bipolar disorder with rapid cycling. Dealing with my underlying bipolar disorder can be challenging, to say the least. 

I have been in a depressive cycle for over 2 months, and it has been very difficult to perform the basic functions in my life, much less write blog articles. Though I have good medication that prevents me from going into the deepest depression, I still could not focus or concentrate enough to write. My therapist and I are working on ways for me to continue with this blog when I am depressed, and I believe we have made good progress.

While I’m not out of the woods yet, my bipolar disorder is beginning to cycle away from  the depression. In addition, I have learned some things that will help me write, no matter what mood I happen to be in at the time.

I am working on new articles now, and I expect to resume posting very soon. I definitely am not abandoning this blog — let’s just say I’ve had a long time-out!

13 comments… add one
Jane O. March 13, 2009, 1:51 pm

Hi Mike,
I have been reading your blog for some time now and I was afraid you had given it up! Sorry to hear you’ve been so down. But, glad to know you’re still around and will return to your blog soon. I’ll keep checking…really enjoy your excellent writing.
Take care,
Jane O.

John Roach March 13, 2009, 3:15 pm

Hey Mike, glad to know you’re still around. Be sure to let us know if you need anything.

John Roach’s last blog post..Conflict and character

Tracy March 13, 2009, 3:57 pm

I’m so glad to hear from you! I just wanted to let you know that if there is anything I can do, please let me know.

Tracy’s last blog post..Phoning it in Friday again

Kim Woodbridge March 13, 2009, 7:57 pm

Hi Mike! It’s great to hear from you – your online friends were thinking of you a lot. Same offer here – please let me know if you need anything.

Kim Woodbridge’s last blog post..3 Sites to Help You Find New Recipes

stratosg March 13, 2009, 8:06 pm

Hey Mike! The twitter world went crazy a couple of weeks ago when we were all wondering if you are ok. I am really sad to hear that you have problems with your helth. But, know that we, your online friends, are all here and, ofcourse, the offer for help is the same for me. I hope you get better and come back to us soon…

stratosg’s last blog post..Creating a search page on WordPress

Ari Herzog March 13, 2009, 10:07 pm

Knowing of your health ailments as if the name of your blog was not a ringer, I feared the worst and figured nobody knew any way of letting us weird strangers know! So, I’m relieved to hear all is, well, as well as can be!

And you’re right. No need to apologize. This time, though, I’m thankful you did.

Ari Herzog’s last blog post..What I’m Speaking About in 2 Weeks

Alec Satin - Making Project Management Better March 16, 2009, 8:00 am

Mike,
So glad that you have support, and are working through the valley. As you can see from the comments, you have a lot of us who care.

With love,
Alec

Alec Satin – Making Project Management Better’s last blog post..5 Antidotes to Gloom

John Haydon March 16, 2009, 9:01 am

Mike – I was wondering where you went, but didn’t want tp pry.

You have a great mission to use your own experience to encourage others who have the same challenges (or at least let them know that they are not alone). And one way that you do this is through your blog.

Thinking of you.

John

John Haydon’s last blog post..johnhaydon: @zyOzyfounder LOL!

Tori Deaux March 17, 2009, 2:48 pm

Mike,

It’s so good to “see” you writing again! Sometimes, that “Don’t explain your silence” rule just needs to be tossed – especially because your absence was related to your blog’s subject matter. Reading your blog, seeing that you can work through the rough spots, come back, and continue blogging sends a powerful message about turning your struggles into a positive, helpful influence for the community, and it reflects a great deal of what I admire most about you.

So please keep breaking all those rules, and know we care, even when you’re silent.
Tori

Tori Deaux’s last blog post..It’s Brain Awareness Week: Do YOU Know Where Your Hippocampus Is?

Mike March 21, 2009, 12:29 pm

Thank you to all for your encouragement and understanding. It means to me more than anything else you can do. Mental illness tends to make a person feel isolated and all alone, and your messages let me know that this is just a false distortion of my mental condition.

I’m dealing now with greatly reduced concentration and focus, making it very hard to write. Nevertheless, I’m forging ahead as I can with new articles. I hope to resume posting next week — there’s a new national mental health care report card from NAMI (link in right sidebar) that is particularly important to let readers know about.

Again, thank you all for your comments and emails! Without sounding too mawkish, it’s something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Doug April 11, 2009, 4:38 pm

Hi, Mike. Glad to see you’re back to blogging. Good for you for telling your story, too. I think it’s ok to break that “rule” :) By the way, check out my blog that mentions “The Power of Now.” This is a great book!!

Doug’s last blog post..Embracing the present

Mike April 11, 2009, 11:37 pm

Hi, Doug! Thanks for your comment.

I was hesitant about breaking the rule, but my wife pointed out that I owed it to my readers. I have to say that I have come to agree with her.

And thanks for the Tolle suggestion, and for the quote on your site. As I commented there, I tried to read his book some months back, but had to put it down due to lack of concentration and focus. I’ll pick it up again!

Luke Vongal September 15, 2011, 12:10 pm

Hi, Great work! This is very much helpful for my research and i hope to run through more of your posts someday! How i wish i can see you in person so i can get to know you more.

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