Andrea Miklasz is a writer, author, professional drummer/percussionist in Chicago, Illinois, Director of Contemporary Worship Music & sound engineer. She attended Maine South High School (1990), Knox College (BA, English-Writing 1995), Adler University (MA Candidate, 2012-2014) Argosy University (MA candidate 2014-2016)
Andrea Miklasz is a writer and professional drummer/percussionist from Chicago, Illinois, present... more Andrea Miklasz is a writer and professional drummer/percussionist from Chicago, Illinois, presently Director of Contemporary Worship Music at Tabor Lutheran Church in Chicago (2016-) and volunteer sound engineer, drummer/percussionist at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Canfield (2006-). She attended Maine South High School (1990) and Knox College (BA, English-Writing 1995). Andrea completed the MA coursework in Clinical/Community Psychology before leaving Adler University and Argosy University
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Understandably, friends and family feverishly worry about a loved one who is manic/depressive and... more Understandably, friends and family feverishly worry about a loved one who is manic/depressive and in a depressive episode. There are several tips and suggestions to help you adapt to that person's depression, which is just as hard on loved ones as it is on the bipolar patient. From my experience, here are a few: 1. Please, whatever you do, do not ask us why we're depressed. While there may be triggers which precipitate a depressive episode, most of the time, we don't know why this feeling is looming over us. Ignorant questions irritate us further. 2. Try not to veil understanding of how we are feeling unless you're educated on bipolar disorder, because there's no possible way you could comprehend how we feel unless you've experienced it. It's a very dark place, and one we wish no one else would have to visit. Don't say, "Everyone gets depressed," because you have no idea how this type of depression presents itself. 3. Trust that the mood will pass in time. Please don't ask us when. We're just as anxious to feel normal as you are for us to feel normal, though we don't know what "normal' is. We only know "stable," and for those of us who "rapid cycle," stability doesn't last very long before we find ourselves either manic or depressed again. 4. Suggestions such as "Go out and get some fresh air and you'll feel better" don't work. Don't say, "Go exercise, go for a walk," because literally, we can barely move. We don't really feel like doing anything. Friends asking us to go out or do something helps a lot, so if you have free time, see if you can get us out of the house for a while, even if it's just to talk. Don't think your problems or feelings are any less important to us than our own, but we may have trouble iterating it. Just because we are wrapped up in negative thoughts doesn't mean we don't or can't offer constructive, happy thoughts to others. We try our best not to be selfish, but we have to be in order to take care of ourselves. Understand that most days, we need to sleep. A lot. If we're in bed until 2pm, or take a nap, don't chastise us as being "lazy." It is a struggle to get up and function. 5. Most of us mask our symptoms in order TO function and fit into regular lives. We're all good actors. Inevitably, we crash, though. Sometimes, we cry. Sometimes we get angry. Sometimes, we just want to go back to bed. If we cry, we often do it in solitude so as not to draw attention to ourselves or be pestered with questions. 6. Hug us if we ask you to. There's a power of the human touch which alleviates negative emotions and uncomfortable physical sensations, and it releases seratonin into our brains, which we need. If we're at our lowest and you still love us, let us know that. We already feel unlovable. (A lot of that has to do with the amount of criticism we receive BECAUSE we're depressed.) We want to be loved and cared about. We are still good friends and loved ones. 7. We take a lot of medication in order to survive. Please don't criticize our medications, how often we take them, what we take, or why. Don't assume "less is more," because that's not your call. It's between the patient and the psychiatrist. Don't wish we could be free of medications, because that's the quickest way for us to kill ourselves. 8. Most of us don't want to die, but in the depressed moments, sometimes we wish we could. It
Bipolar Disorder: The Gift British actor/personality/genius/self-proclaimed jackass-of-all-trades... more Bipolar Disorder: The Gift British actor/personality/genius/self-proclaimed jackass-of-all-trades Stephen Fry describes, in his documentary, " The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, " bolting out of a local theater after receiving some mixed reviews about a play in which he was starring several years ago, grabbing a duvet, stuffing it in the crevices of his garage door, sitting in his car with his hands on the ignition for two hours, contemplative about starting the engine and suffocating himself to death. During this time, Fry describes envisioning the faces of his parents, of his family, which, to a mental health practitioner, is indicative of an acute psychotic break. Fry fails to carry out his planned suicide. He sought to discover why he experienced moods of extraordinary creativity, heightened mood, prolific work output and grandiosity and a hell of a lot of shopping, yet fell victim to polar opposite, lengthy periods of suicidal ideation, despair and malaise. He visited a doctor who diagnosed him (properly, at that) as being bipolar, a term he'd not previously heard. It's more widely known and accepted as being manic-depressive. Fry wanted to know how he " got it, " and whether or not it would get better or continue to spiral worse. He repeatedly refused medication (chiefly Lithium, the oldest bipolar mood stabilizer used) because of its reputation of sapping patients of personality and creativity, which are certainly evidence against the use of the drugs. Second generation antipsychotics and mood stabilizers (which I take, Geodon and Lamictal, in rather high doses, incidentally) have fewer side effects, but yes, I agree with Fry inasmuch as while they even out bipolar moods, their reputation as zombieizers is certainly valid. Fry interviewed noted actors such as Richard Dreyfus and Carrie Fisher, who both struggle with the illness, and each relied on street drugs and alcohol to self-medicate before they received and were treated medically, Dreyfus finding enormous success in the late 1970's/early 1980's after an arrest nearly imprisoned him. Fisher, of note, still struggles in heavy cycling, and, if you watch the documentary on YouTube, her upward mood swings are VERY typical of someone hypomanic or manic. In an episode of mania, EVERY idea is the BEST idea in the WORLD and you want EVERYONE to know about IT. Every thought is brilliant. Every action is over-the-top exciting. Every plan is extraordinary. Elevated moods, however, can grate on the nerves of those who love you the most. You talk, and talk and talk and talk. (My mom notices that my affect is much louder when I'm manic.) Impulsivity is the rule rather than the exception. Hyper behavior manifests itself in such things as chemical excess, sexual excess, material excess, uncontrollability. Conversely, depressive episodes (depending on their severity) can completely polarize into suicidal plans, whether attempted or successful, as Fry discovers in interviews with family members of those lost to the disease as well as those involuntarily committed to mental institutions for extremes in mood and a lack of functionality, including one of a British physician. Depending on the patient's cycling, mood shifts may last between a few days, weeks or months…fortunate is the soul who cycles only a few times a year. I, on the other hand, ultradian cycle, and my moods can switch from manic to depressive in a matter of hours. That wears me the fuck out. Fry notes and interviews a patient who's written a book on the effect ECT treatment has worked in easing the severity of his bipolar symptoms in the absence of any other pharmaceutical intervention. As far as the completion of Fry's documentary, he was still unmedicated for his bipolar disorder.
2015 GOP attempting to repeal instances of abortion in cases of rape and/or incest. Miklasz revea... more 2015 GOP attempting to repeal instances of abortion in cases of rape and/or incest. Miklasz reveals her own brave story of how she was able to escape from a toxic, dangerous long-term relationship.
Andrea Miklasz is a writer and professional drummer/percussionist from Chicago, Illinois, present... more Andrea Miklasz is a writer and professional drummer/percussionist from Chicago, Illinois, presently Director of Contemporary Worship Music at Tabor Lutheran Church in Chicago (2016-) and volunteer sound engineer, drummer/percussionist at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Canfield (2006-). She attended Maine South High School (1990) and Knox College (BA, English-Writing 1995). Andrea completed the MA coursework in Clinical/Community Psychology before leaving Adler University and Argosy University
.
Understandably, friends and family feverishly worry about a loved one who is manic/depressive and... more Understandably, friends and family feverishly worry about a loved one who is manic/depressive and in a depressive episode. There are several tips and suggestions to help you adapt to that person's depression, which is just as hard on loved ones as it is on the bipolar patient. From my experience, here are a few: 1. Please, whatever you do, do not ask us why we're depressed. While there may be triggers which precipitate a depressive episode, most of the time, we don't know why this feeling is looming over us. Ignorant questions irritate us further. 2. Try not to veil understanding of how we are feeling unless you're educated on bipolar disorder, because there's no possible way you could comprehend how we feel unless you've experienced it. It's a very dark place, and one we wish no one else would have to visit. Don't say, "Everyone gets depressed," because you have no idea how this type of depression presents itself. 3. Trust that the mood will pass in time. Please don't ask us when. We're just as anxious to feel normal as you are for us to feel normal, though we don't know what "normal' is. We only know "stable," and for those of us who "rapid cycle," stability doesn't last very long before we find ourselves either manic or depressed again. 4. Suggestions such as "Go out and get some fresh air and you'll feel better" don't work. Don't say, "Go exercise, go for a walk," because literally, we can barely move. We don't really feel like doing anything. Friends asking us to go out or do something helps a lot, so if you have free time, see if you can get us out of the house for a while, even if it's just to talk. Don't think your problems or feelings are any less important to us than our own, but we may have trouble iterating it. Just because we are wrapped up in negative thoughts doesn't mean we don't or can't offer constructive, happy thoughts to others. We try our best not to be selfish, but we have to be in order to take care of ourselves. Understand that most days, we need to sleep. A lot. If we're in bed until 2pm, or take a nap, don't chastise us as being "lazy." It is a struggle to get up and function. 5. Most of us mask our symptoms in order TO function and fit into regular lives. We're all good actors. Inevitably, we crash, though. Sometimes, we cry. Sometimes we get angry. Sometimes, we just want to go back to bed. If we cry, we often do it in solitude so as not to draw attention to ourselves or be pestered with questions. 6. Hug us if we ask you to. There's a power of the human touch which alleviates negative emotions and uncomfortable physical sensations, and it releases seratonin into our brains, which we need. If we're at our lowest and you still love us, let us know that. We already feel unlovable. (A lot of that has to do with the amount of criticism we receive BECAUSE we're depressed.) We want to be loved and cared about. We are still good friends and loved ones. 7. We take a lot of medication in order to survive. Please don't criticize our medications, how often we take them, what we take, or why. Don't assume "less is more," because that's not your call. It's between the patient and the psychiatrist. Don't wish we could be free of medications, because that's the quickest way for us to kill ourselves. 8. Most of us don't want to die, but in the depressed moments, sometimes we wish we could. It
Bipolar Disorder: The Gift British actor/personality/genius/self-proclaimed jackass-of-all-trades... more Bipolar Disorder: The Gift British actor/personality/genius/self-proclaimed jackass-of-all-trades Stephen Fry describes, in his documentary, " The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, " bolting out of a local theater after receiving some mixed reviews about a play in which he was starring several years ago, grabbing a duvet, stuffing it in the crevices of his garage door, sitting in his car with his hands on the ignition for two hours, contemplative about starting the engine and suffocating himself to death. During this time, Fry describes envisioning the faces of his parents, of his family, which, to a mental health practitioner, is indicative of an acute psychotic break. Fry fails to carry out his planned suicide. He sought to discover why he experienced moods of extraordinary creativity, heightened mood, prolific work output and grandiosity and a hell of a lot of shopping, yet fell victim to polar opposite, lengthy periods of suicidal ideation, despair and malaise. He visited a doctor who diagnosed him (properly, at that) as being bipolar, a term he'd not previously heard. It's more widely known and accepted as being manic-depressive. Fry wanted to know how he " got it, " and whether or not it would get better or continue to spiral worse. He repeatedly refused medication (chiefly Lithium, the oldest bipolar mood stabilizer used) because of its reputation of sapping patients of personality and creativity, which are certainly evidence against the use of the drugs. Second generation antipsychotics and mood stabilizers (which I take, Geodon and Lamictal, in rather high doses, incidentally) have fewer side effects, but yes, I agree with Fry inasmuch as while they even out bipolar moods, their reputation as zombieizers is certainly valid. Fry interviewed noted actors such as Richard Dreyfus and Carrie Fisher, who both struggle with the illness, and each relied on street drugs and alcohol to self-medicate before they received and were treated medically, Dreyfus finding enormous success in the late 1970's/early 1980's after an arrest nearly imprisoned him. Fisher, of note, still struggles in heavy cycling, and, if you watch the documentary on YouTube, her upward mood swings are VERY typical of someone hypomanic or manic. In an episode of mania, EVERY idea is the BEST idea in the WORLD and you want EVERYONE to know about IT. Every thought is brilliant. Every action is over-the-top exciting. Every plan is extraordinary. Elevated moods, however, can grate on the nerves of those who love you the most. You talk, and talk and talk and talk. (My mom notices that my affect is much louder when I'm manic.) Impulsivity is the rule rather than the exception. Hyper behavior manifests itself in such things as chemical excess, sexual excess, material excess, uncontrollability. Conversely, depressive episodes (depending on their severity) can completely polarize into suicidal plans, whether attempted or successful, as Fry discovers in interviews with family members of those lost to the disease as well as those involuntarily committed to mental institutions for extremes in mood and a lack of functionality, including one of a British physician. Depending on the patient's cycling, mood shifts may last between a few days, weeks or months…fortunate is the soul who cycles only a few times a year. I, on the other hand, ultradian cycle, and my moods can switch from manic to depressive in a matter of hours. That wears me the fuck out. Fry notes and interviews a patient who's written a book on the effect ECT treatment has worked in easing the severity of his bipolar symptoms in the absence of any other pharmaceutical intervention. As far as the completion of Fry's documentary, he was still unmedicated for his bipolar disorder.
2015 GOP attempting to repeal instances of abortion in cases of rape and/or incest. Miklasz revea... more 2015 GOP attempting to repeal instances of abortion in cases of rape and/or incest. Miklasz reveals her own brave story of how she was able to escape from a toxic, dangerous long-term relationship.
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Papers by Andrea Miklasz
.
Excerpts from "Rhythms" are at http://www.theoffbeatdrummer.blogspot.com
Abstracts/Articles/Published papers are at
https://knox.academia.edu/AndreaMiklasz
Drum techniques and practice sessions are at http://www.youtube.com/user/anniearchy
Drafts by Andrea Miklasz
Books by Andrea Miklasz
.
Excerpts from "Rhythms" are at http://www.theoffbeatdrummer.blogspot.com
Abstracts/Articles/Published papers are at
https://knox.academia.edu/AndreaMiklasz
Drum techniques and practice sessions are at http://www.youtube.com/user/anniearchy