Okay, I must apologize. I’m changing the name of the blog again. This should be it. The story behind all the change is this:
I started an online private journal in 2004 on blogger. Without any thought whatsoever, I named it “Bipolar Blast.” When I decided to make it public I deleted the whole history because all I had written was gibberish. I was on a lot of drugs and I hadn’t come to my senses yet.
When I started the public blog I had had an awakening of sorts and I didn’t really believe in the label bipolar anymore—certainly not for me. The dilemma was I wanted to reach out to people who identify with the label as I had done for so many years. So I kept the name, again without thinking a whole lot about it—I don’t think I really believed I would be in this for the long haul. In any case the name has never sat well with me.
So one day when particularly bothered by the name, I again, somewhat impulsively, renamed it Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal and Recovery. I am now finding that I feel this is too restrictive for what I am really doing for in point of fact I am talking about healing naturally whether one is on meds or not. The psychiatric drug withdrawal is part of the picture, but there is so much more. And what happens when the withdrawal is over? Well maybe the blog will be too, I don’t know, but I wanted a more inclusive title that will draw those not withdrawing too and allow me to continue indefinitely as well. So I now present you with Beyond Meds. That allows for anyone at any point in their journey with mental health issues to feel a part of what this blog is about. Meds, no meds, coming off meds—everybody welcome to come and learn and discuss the issues at hand. Living with mental health issues is simply not all about the drugs.
Welcome.
I know I’ve been messing with all your minds, so change the link as you feel fit, or not. I don’t expect everyone to keep up with my changing mind. But I think Beyond Meds will look much better in your blogroll than the clumsy and long Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal and Recovery—a journey. Ouch, what a mouthful!
And I’ve bought my own URL so eventually I hope to utilize that as well, though for now the learning curve involved in the transfer is too much for me to take on.
Hey Gabriel…I did take an 8 day break…I had never done that and it felt complete. I was done…
I needed to feel done and now I’m back…
Nice to see you here!!
You’ll always be Gianna to me… I thought you were stopping with the blogging, or at least taking a break. But here you are being more productive than I am…
LOL. … love the name change! good choice GK!
Hi Gianna,
I am new to reading your blog and I think Beyond Meds is a great name that many people will be able to identify with. I wonder which little buggy icon I will get… 🙂
Samantha
Does anyone know of Buzz lightyear – the astronaut in the Toy Story movie. His favourite saying is “to infinity and beyond”. That is what the new new title reminds me of. To infinity and beyond.
Life beyond meds is taking life back into our own hands. It is the knowing and believing that its all possible, the faith that pulls us over the hurdles of withdrawing from drugs
I love it!
I likes it….
Like to add my congratulations to the new title. Beyond Meds – I like the title. It is positive and carries a new energy with it. Its where we all want to be – very motivating.
thank you Stef!! I just may take you up on that at some point…it could take a while though.
If you need any help making the changes to your new domain name, let me know.
I did lifewpmdd.com and poweroverpmdd.com
I like this. It gives you a lot of lattitude.
Glad Bloglines makes the changes for me!
I love the monsters…I think they are cute…
I guess yours isn’t quite as harmless looking as some of them…
We’ve got the options of quilts, monsters, a silhouette of a man or nothing…people with wordpress get their photos showing up.
this is my favorite…
sorry you didn’t get so lucky in the draw…
they go along with your email….if you change your email you can get a new monster!
PS- do i have to look like that big evil bug on the pic?!! LOL
ok Gianna, i’ve put it on my blogroll added onto the ‘psych med withdrawal-beyond meds’ so i can remember it’s you for a while LOL
I think the good point here is how wellness is a constant evolving of one’s self, and I might expect in the future your title to change to a “spiritual journey, life after meds’ but don’t get any ideas yet! 🙂
Mark!
You made me laugh….does that mean I might have chased you away before??
I like Beyond Meds. That would be a goal for all of us. To get beyond our Meds. I’ll continue to check out your post. I don’t think you could chase me away now. I like your take on things.
Whatever you name it, there is real vision and savvy to what you do. I’m just stepping into the blog waters myself, was about to approach the blogroll task with bipolarblast listed, so this is timely. Though it’s hardly the site as I want yet, I’d be honored if at your leisure you’d read and comment on my first post and page.
Sue Westwind
http://www.thenutrientpath.wordpress.com
Gianna,
I always liked “Bipolar Blast” as well because it had such a positive connotation. But I believe that our writing should reflect our personal evolution. And “Beyond Meds” is short and catchy as well, and certainly reflects where you are now!
Susan
thanks for the feedback, ladies,
naturalgal,
I think no matter what I do many people will always call me Bipolar Blast and I left it in the subtitle on purpose because people look the name up on google.
“Beyond Meds” is good. Although “Bipolarblast” is very catchy. It certainly peaked my interest when I first saw that name and made me want to check it out. You could say you blasted the diagnosis and treatment.
Really like the new name Gianna. Much more fitting and also easier on the eyes/tongue. Congrats!
The psychiatric drug withdrawal is part of the picture, but there is so much more. And what happens when the withdrawal is over? Well maybe the blog will be too, I don’t know, but I wanted a more inclusive title that will draw those not withdrawing too and allow me to continue indefinitely as well. So I now present you with Beyond Meds. That allows for anyone at any point in their journey with mental health issues to feel a part of what this blog is about. Meds, no meds, coming off meds—everybody welcome to come and learn and discuss the issues at hand. Living with mental health issues is simply not all about the drugs.
Gianna, I like this title so much better! I think it will encourage people to read your blog much more thoroughly rather than to bypass it because they’re not experiencing withdrawal off of drugs/medications. You’re totally right. MH issues aren’t just all about drugs.
Congrats on the new web domain!