Open Letter to the Crazy Lady Who Thinks ADHD is Curable Through Diet

Excuse me. I am sorry, but your ignorance is showing.

You can not clump everyone together and say it's diet. We have tried ruling out certain foods, we have tried including certain foods, I have tried it all. Then I stopped and accepted it was just my children's genes.

I am Bipolar, my husband has ADHD ( we didn't not realize this until our son was diagnosed. Too many similarities.) There are many family members with Asperger's  (High functioning Autism). Two of my children (if not all 3... My youngest is showing signs) have ADHD.  My son's ADHD is pretty severe and he has a mood disorder. My eldest daughter has all 3: ASPERGER's, ADHD and Bipolar. She calls herself a Trifecta. I thinks she's more like a triple threat!

If you think for a minute, I haven't tried it all, think again.  I too know enough and been through enough. All it has taught me, is that every person's situation is different and to judge others based on your experiences is nothing but ignorance. Diet does not cure true ADHD. It may elevate some symptoms in some people, but not all. And when you stop said diet, it all comes back. Ya. Not a cure.

BTW, some of us have to be "drugged for life" and are very happy said drugs exist. Without them, I would not be alive today. And, Thanks to those drugs, you wouldn't know my illness if you met me. You definitely wouldn't know I was "drugged." And for all that, I am beyond thankful.

So, you go right ahead and go to your expensive doc. Just don't preach about the pharmacy taking all my money. I spend less than you do and my kids are just as happy. But hey, if the diet is working for you? Awesome. To each their own.

Just don't think for minute you know what is best for me and my kids or Joe Blow and his. Because honey? You're clueless.

Happy Day o' Love

Valentine's Day. Ugh.

Don't get me wrong, I love my man. I love my kids. I love my friends and the rest of my family. I do. I just don't like having a day dedicated to having to prove it.  Or worse, hoping to be worthy enough to receive it.

"How much do you love me? Oh, just a card worth? Wow. And here, I got you chocolate! Bitch."

I know it's not a contest, but it has always felt that way.  Especially in elementary school with the dreaded cardboard mail boxes. I was sure my cards with be met with reactions of disgust. I feared I would get all the ugly ones in return. No one ever seemed thrilled with all the time and effort I put into picking just the right crappy ass card for each classmate. And if I just assigned them at random, the brats would read too much into them and tease the recipient of my sappiest one. No, Sir Poopy Head, I did NOT give you the "key to my heart!" It just says that!! Be glad you one from each kid in the class and shut up!


Needless to say, I was glad that torture stopped after 6th grade.  Well, sort of.

Happy to hear. Hard to bare.

Hi again!  It's me. 

I figured I would start things off by posting a few things I posted in the past regaurding Bipolar disorder on my personal blog, KidLit's Korner.

Today's post...

Happy to Hear. Hard to Bare: I never thought I would be so happy to have any of my children official diagnosed with anything. However, when it seemed my first born was following in the long tradition of suffering from the "family curse," I felt the need to get it documented as soon as possible.

I Came Out. You Can To.

Hello.  My name is Tracey and I am Bipolar. 

I know that sounds like the introduction to a 12 step program and I guess, in a way, it is. The first step: Coming Out! Announcing who I am. Stigma breeds in the darkness of the unknown. The only way to attack it head on is to step out into the light.

I came out of the comfort of darkness, and announced to the world I was Bipolar, a little over 2 years ago.  Seems like it couldn't possibly be that long ago, but now, two years later, I have decided to share even more of my illness with the world in hopes of further breaking down the stigmatic walls of mental illness.

Since my coming out, I have found strength in sharing my struggles, victories and discoveries with others. Knowing that you aren't alone, and connecting with others who get you and accept you for who you are, is a very powerful thing. This blog was created in the hopes of spreading that same strength, camaraderie, and acceptance to others. Whether you are Bipolar or know someone who is, I encourage you to check back often as I attempt to keep track of the ups and downs of my illness, those of my daughter, and some of a few shared by my family and friends. I also hope to someday, include your stories so that we might become an even bigger, louder voice of support and unity.

There are others out there.

Welcome to my blog.

You are not alone.