My name is Xanthe Wyse. Diagnosed bipolar disorder (type 1), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder.
I find it easier and less stressful to make improvised, unscripted videos, 'mistakes' and all, raw, unpolished. Also, the viewer gets to see aspects of my diagnoses, despite meds.
In this video, I talk a bit about side effects of bipolar meds including weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
A physical setback such as a recently sprained back is not a big as set back as if the bipolar and PTSD get out of control. The latter can take several months to get back on track.
Talk a bit about some cognitive impairments like memory issues which made writing a novel extremely challenging. The manuscript of Pet Purpose is now with a friend to proof-read.
Pet Purpose is the essence of my story, distilled, filtered, pulled apart, put back together in a new way.
With my disabilities, I have become stronger in other areas (eg creative expression, pattern memory) at the trade off at losing some of my previous abilities academically, cognition, short-term memory etc.
Listening to someone without judging makes all the difference.
My mood is somewhat elevated in this video (consistent with hypomania for me) so jump around a bit which may make it hard to follow, especially near the end, but I know what I am talking about, even if it's hard for others to understand.