Stephanie’s Comments (group member since Sep 16, 2012)

Stephanie’s comments from the Ask Stephanie Schroeder group.

I’m going to close this discussion now. However, if readers have additional questions or comments, please feel free to message me here on goodreads. Thanks Ann and Andrew!

I told him I needed different meds and some support and he made an appt with me right away. ANd then I went on the search, which I detail in my book, for a therapist that took 9 months. I got a new job almost immediately and it was a little hard going, but kept me busy.

and when I went for my first therapy appt I was rejected for “making too much money”. Ironically, I was on unemployment so I’m not sure what “too much money” meant to them and they knew that when they referred me, so...I called my shrink that I had worked with in the past but had stopped seeing b/c I couldn’t pay him

Yes, I did think I wanted my life to be different. What got me thinking about it was that when I was discharged I was given referrals to a shrink and a therapist as the hospital I was held in for outpatient treatment and no-cast medication. But, it was bad medication for me, I didn’t like it and wanted something different...(more to come)

Thanks for jumping on Andrew. And, I’ll definitely keep you posted about any Tampa Bay appearances!

Though I have been niched into those two pigeonholes by the media. I think many aspects of my story is so much broader than the lesbian/mental illness box.

Thanks for the compliment about the well written and interesting! I tried to make it both, and also accessible to a broad audience, for example you as a straight guy . Not just for lesbians and people with mental illness.

Andrew, I think we crossed on one topic, yes to the new book/material (see above).

As for sales. I think both my publisher and I believe sales and in particular interest beyond sales has far exceeded our expectations.

and a huge support network that works with me in various ways. I make sure I get enough sleep, I never miss my meds, that’s on me to be responsible for, eat relatively health and all that stuff to stay health no matter what one has or doesn’t have in terms of illness, but is especially important with a mental illness - ti have balance!

Yes, I do have some concern about relapse. I don’t worry every day about it, but reading, blogging, talking and writing about bipolar so much I know it happens, to the majority of people, actually. But I do indeed have a much more comprehensive toolkit...

And, I’m working on a new book -totally unrelated to me except it’s a biography about someone I knew, an illustrator who was very esteemed in the progressive arts community. A very interesting character who died two years ago. I’m currently doing research for that book. Look for it in about 10 years:)

Plus, I’m still working with my same therapist--on more “minor” issues, at least to me...

And, I’ve been trying to relax and enjoy life! I’ve been traveling some, I like to travel a lot and, of course, there is more than enough social and political activity in NYC to be a part of when I want to do that.

I have been a corporate publicist since 1999--some of that is in the book and I’m still working as a publicist. I am a freelance journalist and that keeps me pretty busy, since I am now publicizing my book, that takes up a lot of time...I’ve had gigs relating to this book since Thursday!

I think writing about sex and intimacy is very important and healthy, too, because it is in fact a part of life yet it’s so taboo..and lesbian sex is even more taboo. And I wanted to break some silence about it.

Hi Andrew - thanks for joining!

The erotic fiction I’ve written has been grounded in (some) reality so It wasn’t difficult to transition into real life intimacy/sex. And I wanted to show the hyper-sexuality that many bipolar have when they are manic, which I was with Melanie.

and that he called her after reading my book because he said he saw himself in it and understood that his lover, who didn’t want him to seek treatment, was holding him back and not the disorder (whatever it is, and I do not know)...So that is extremely gratifying to say the least!

That’s a great question. Aside from the personal accomplishment, I always hoped it would help people in various situations. And just this week another reader who is becoming a friend and who is a nurse who works with underserved populations said she recommended Beautiful Wreck to a patient, a young gay man who was rejecting treatment, both medication and therapy...

If you all are interested in seeing some of the artifacts I mention in the book, check out my Beautiful Wreck Pinterest board of the same name, it’s VERY interesting: http://pinterest.com/stephs910/beauti... ... there are suicide notes and my suicide journal, some modeling photos I reference, etc.

FYI, I still have the same psychiatrist I started working with whom I reference in the book. So he, my biological family, Veronica, and Joan Nestle are the only people I’m in touch with from that time period.