Jemma's Diary
2006 July to September

Click on the headline to read Jemma's entry for that week.

Periods of creativity often seem to coincide with being ill

18th September 2006
The 'painting a day' project is going well forJemmabut she isaware that the link betweencreative periodsand bipolarity is a complicated one.

The woo-woo factor

11th September 2006
Jemma finds that yoga helps clear her mind. But just how do you strike the new-age but practical balance?

If this were a football match between mania and depression then mania has definitely had most of the possession this week

4th September 2006
Jemma's mood has been up and down this week. Read on to find out how she copes.

Sometimes the effort to stay calm is just too big a stretch

28th August 2006
Jemma is still swinging between feeling quite high to feeling very low. So she took herself off hill walking.

I’m caught in the middle of a small storm of mood swings

21st August 2006
This might just seem like a busy, creative week for Jemma but, really, it’s just a bit too frenetic.

I know it is starting to sound like I am making it up, but I’ve just been stung by a wasp!

14th August 2006
When do you decide something is worth worrying about? I may no longer be so paranoid but I am still a big hypochondriac.

I’m not paranoid: they are out to get me

7th August 2006
Jemma is still being feasted on by the insect world, making her consider her friends advice on paranoia.

It does help me to get to sleep if having things going round and round in my head are keeping me awake

31st July 2006
Fortunately, I have not been needing it too much lately but I will have to get some more.

I must be truly delicious!

24th July 2006
In the last fortnight, I have been bitten by 3 ticks, 6 clegs, a host of midgies, several fleas, a mosquito and an ant that crawled into my pants.

If I have children will they be bi-polar too?

17th July 2006
Jemma has always wanted to have children but worries about how being bi-polar may affect motherhood.

Some stress does seem to be good stress!

10th July 2006
Jemma is under pressure at work and facing a lifetime of responsibilty! However, it all feels positive. Read on to find out more.

I just wanted to stop the world and get off

3rd July 2006
Downers, uppers, magic mushrooms and hallucinogens. Is it as simple as chemicals in = mayhem out?