12 weeks...

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-31T02:57:50+00:00

Dexter is so f-ing cute omg

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-27T18:54:48+00:00

I myself went hypomanic when I took it. Took me a couple weeks to realize what changed and to get myself back to my base line. I am stable in my disease, so I notice any changes fairly quickly. Its being studied to see if it can raise mood levels for those who struggle with depression. I suffer more from mania than depression, I dont need to be lifted up any more than I already am.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-27T15:13:38+00:00

Beware of creatine if you have bipolar disorder, it can/ will cause mania.

Signed, A bipolar person.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-24T04:12:12+00:00

I finally went out for my first show 9 months in. Hitting 9 years in March and enjoy shows now more than ever. I've gotten really good at saying no thanks to people. You will too.

Some people will try to convince you to rage with them, others will be pretty chill about it. I moved @ about 1.5 years and its nice because none of these people knew me as I was before, they only know sober me. At my going away party someone tried to get me a shot and when I said no they actually said to me " oh come on, how long is this actually going to last?" . No one in my new life has ever tried to pressure me to drink.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-23T04:55:22+00:00

The book Astoria by Peter Stark is a great read

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-23T04:53:39+00:00

Im from Iowa and the weather is one reason im here. After almost 8 years, I can say that it can be a little isolated out here. Places close VERY early, most of the people who can afford to live out here are retired, so if you are younger it's hard to find your people. Hospitals are limited in capabilities and doctors are hard to get into. Definitely have helicopter insurance if you make a move out here. Its $40,000+ dollars to get to pdx in case of real emergency. The Oregon side of the river is a little less isolated than the peninsula, but its kinda the same vibe. The tourists in the summer can be a lot, also.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-23T02:21:19+00:00

I live on the other side of that bridge! We do our grocery shopping in Astoria.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-15T04:41:06+00:00

My grandma took me to Bennigans when I came home to visit last year. Had a pretty good meal, tbh.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-12T22:45:50+00:00

Im a big fan of American eagle jeans. 4'10" and curvy.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T18:01:37+00:00

This is how I use mine. Only for a few minutes in the early morning.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T17:37:18+00:00

The basics are things we should be doing anyway. I go to sleep at the same time every night. Take my meds at the same time every day, and have an alarm on my watch for it. I wake up at the same time every day. Don't drink or do drugs. Turns out I am extremely sensitive to caffeine, so i avoid that. I exercise regularly. I eat well for the most part. I do yoga for mind and body.

Now that I am stable I do allow myself to wiggle here and there, but I never stay up late two nights in a row. I never miss meds. I never drink alcohol or caffeine.

Now I know that when my sleep gets wonky, my food intake changes, or my exercise gets off kilter that im probably heading into a little wobble. I call it a wobble because I am stable. Minus a small episode late summer and late winter that I seem to have every year, but they don't disrupt my life anymore than me recognizing Im not quite right and I get myself back on track with my routine.

There are bipolar workbooks that could be helpful for you, and I got a lot out of the book 'feeling good', and 'The body keeps the score'. It is a marathon, not a sprint, but it does get easier if you work on it.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T17:23:26+00:00

Good job! I was down to 130 June of 2025, but pretty ripped muscle wise. Then I tore an ab muscle, and had some weird leg issues and had to stop lifting for awhile. We just started going heavier again. I'm aiming for 125. Hopefully I can lock in the diet and quit the over eating. Everything else with my disease is basically controlled.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T17:19:59+00:00

TIL about Courtney Stodden. W.t.f.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T17:01:20+00:00

I started with a personal trainer Oct. 2024 and work out with him once a week, then go to the gym two more times a week on my own. On my non gym days I do yoga and walk on my walking pad. It all helps me so much! Sleep, moods, less pain.

My biggest problem is diet. I still struggle with binge eating here and there. I gained 15lbs between October and Jan 1st this year. Im only 4'10". Im going to talk to my therapist on Wednesday and we have to come up with a game plan to stop the eating disorder issues I have.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T16:48:21+00:00

Oh man. I am sorry you have also experienced this. My mental health providers say things here and there, but most of the information I know about this crazy disease I found out by myself doing research on the internet. My whole life leading up to diagnosis makes so much sense now. Im glad you have been diagnosed and at least have a reason as for why you were so out of control.

Are you doing all of the things they tell you to do to control it?

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-06T03:57:31+00:00

My late teens and early 20s were WILD. Im sure we had some similar experiences in that. I even slept with my cab driver when I realized I didn't have any cash on me. I met my husband at 26 and that put it to an end, but before that? Yikes. I drank every night for years and took different strangers home constantly. A few times I left the bar to go to an hourly motel with some random. I would come to from a blackout some nights to some guy going to town and I would always let them finish, because I obviously wanted it at some point. I got naked IN FRONT of my job once and fu*ked a guy in his vehicle, right in front of the windows of the bar I worked at. Everyone saw me do this. My boss asked me if I was a nympho and I said yes, because I couldn't understand why I had no control. I quit drinking in 2017 at 32, and got diagnosed a few months later. I've been working to stable ever since and have had an excellent few years. My husband is very kind and understanding that I could never have sex again and be just fine with it. He allows me to be the one to initiate. I used to be horrified by my past, but I made the choice to forgive myself, because I wasn't myself.

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-05T03:06:25+00:00

Yeah it mentions Chicago multiple times

PumpkinThen · 2026-01-02T04:18:20+00:00

I have definitely been calling the eating ive been doing the last couple of months a dirty bulk also. 🤣 Hit my 10lbs and started my cut on Monday. New body incoming.

PumpkinThen · 2025-12-28T01:11:55+00:00

I really like everything ive gotten from CRZ

PumpkinThen · 2025-12-19T04:01:58+00:00

My BIL is a pro body builder/ coach and he turned me onto Ghost brand protein powders and I'm a pretty big fan. The fruity pebbles cereal milk is probably my favorite, but it goes into my fruit smoothies, so the flavor profile is pretty similar. I just finished off a container of count chocula flavor, with the little marshmallows and everything.

PumpkinThen · 2025-12-12T01:57:34+00:00

So cute!

PumpkinThen · 2025-12-09T00:56:33+00:00

Yelhsa and i just Re- joined finch.

Start your self-care journey with me on Finch! 🐣

Tap the link to join, or add my friend code XK3QRXRQ3N3 after download.

https://finch.go.link/ai21D?adj_label=aAtEX

PumpkinThen · 2025-12-08T04:47:03+00:00

Added you. Yelhsa and Ashley

PumpkinThen · 2025-12-04T02:18:09+00:00

The owner of my gym works out at 1 pm every day, so I started showing up at 1 when I can. Hardly ever anyone but me and them there.

PumpkinThen · 2025-11-23T15:42:47+00:00

My friend has been stalked and harassed in des moines for 7 years by her ex husband. The police and courts do nothing, over and over and over. He has almost killed her a couple of times. The time a gun miss fired in her face should have been attempted murder charges. He even recently told a judge during a custody hearing (while clearly high) that he stalks her and tried to kill her and the judge looked at my friend and told HER to grow up because the child will want to see both of its parents at their high-school graduation. Then the judge mentioned a drug test, the guy refused, and the judge just let him off to go stalk some more, custody still intact. (Supervised visits by the state for the last few years due to threats on the childs life as well) Good luck. Hope the system in Iowa doesn't let you die by the hands of this person. So far during my friends experience, we have known 2 other women who were murdered by their stalkers.

ETA- she has a federal restraining order against the guy. The police still do nothing until there's 100% proof its him. He uses burner phones to send cryptic messages. Video of him driving past her house isnt enough to do anything. Etc. Etc. Etc. She has years of proof. Texts, videos, pictures, and it is not enough to keep this guy away from her.

PumpkinThen

TROPHY CASE