Natural mood booster: Old nostalgia radio

Dealing with a bipolar mind basically comes down to this: stabilizing your moods (ie. aim for being happy but not manic). Also add in the importance of taking care of your health (sleep, exercise, nutrition, sun, and good healthy relationships), because that plays a big part in managing your moods and vice versa.

Since I've recently (accidentally?) stopped taking all of those uppers and downers and sideway-ers in my pill regimen except for a little bit of the SSRI i've been tapering off of, I've been paying particular attention to ways I can keep myself happy and in tune with myself and the world naturally. One thing I've come across recently is the amazing array of old radio shows you can find and listen to on the Internet for free. I just had to share this with you all- this discovery is too good to keep to myself!

If you run a search for "old nostalgia radio" you'll be directed to a bunch of good sites for these lovely old shows, but to speed things up a little I'll just share one with you that I've really been enjoying as of late:


--> OldTimeRadioNostalgia.Podomatic.com


I personally have been listening to Father Knows Best, which apparently began on the radio as the "beloved family show that both parents and kids loved in the 1940s" -- it only later became a favorite on TV (before I read this, I only knew of it as the TV show.) Described as a "funny situation comedy", they start off with the audition program (the pilot) aired on October 20, 1948 complete with a live in-studio audience which makes it all the more enjoyable. It even has those old spoken commercials that just make me smile.

On this site, you can also listen to tales from Mystery Theatre, The Lone Ranger, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Dick Tracy... lots of fun old stuff that has me conjuring up images of home life with families gathering around the radio before the TV and Internet eras settled in to our lives. I like to turn off the lights and dim my computer screen before closing my eyes to just let the old radio sounds fill up my room with warmth at bedtime. But I bet this would be just as wonderful to listen to at any time during the day or evening, whether while tidying up the apartment, paying some bills, or when just sitting back comfortably to knit or something nice (as my Grandma used to) with your hot cup of tea.

Anyway, since this has me feeling warm and fuzzy, just thought I'd share the love.
Enjoy!

Happy 2008.

Well, it's been a month or so since I last wrote. Doesn't mean I haven't been checking back here, planning to write... because I have. I just didn't really feel like writing. Not that I've been depressed or anything. Or manic, really, either. Maybe a little of one or the other at times but generally I've been okay. Had a good holiday season with family and friends, and I have been keeping busy recently with moving house. Moving nearer to the beach. Leaving the city to be by nature. Kind of. That will be the result, anyway, regardless of the many reasons behind the move.

I haven't seen my psychiatrist in a while. Long story... And meanwhile I stopped taking everything other than Zoloft (because I ran out of all the other meds two weeks ago). So far I seem to be doing fine. Which is great! Even a meager week or two off of prescription sleep aids made it so that my body no longer expected to be pilled to sleep, and I am actually managing to get some real, non-drug induced sleep. I like it.

I'm still not falling asleep instantly and waking refreshed to bluebirds chirping outside my window, mind you, but I must say- not bad. I purchased my first audio book at audible.com , which I turned to for a few nights. Recently I have simply been reading myself to sleep. I'm reading a nice, long, educational biography. Keeps me learning and interested in turning the page, while also making it completely impossible for me to even attempt to finish it in a single sitting. I'm a big big Abe Lincoln fan, and if you're looking for a great book, I highly recommend this one.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Perhaps I'll write more about the book some other time.
Anyway. Do let me know if any of those sleep solutions helped you guys out. Meanwhile, a happy 2008 to you all.