Using Facebook to disseminate health information

I recently made a new health help sheet which gives people advice on how to help me when I'm ill, (e.g. now.) I couldn't decide whether to put it on Facebook or just email it to my closest friends.

On the one hand, a frivolous social networking site seems like an unsuitable medium for such a serious matter, being public about intimate health problems seems undignified and asking for help at Christmas feels rude. On the other hand, I am seriously ill and support is crucial to my recovery, holidays or not, so why shouldn't I exploit Facebook's information sharing potential?

Sod propriety, I just need to get better.

Christmas Spirit

I've been really annoyed about being ill over Christmas but when I thought about it, it's a wonder that bipolar disorder doesn't flare up at this time of year more often. There's travelling, interrupted routine, poor diet, alcohol everywhere, parties coming out of your ears, lots of colds and flu floating around and reduced medical support. All of the above are bad for manic depression so it's no wonder that it's a vulnerable time of year.

Added to which, there's nothing like an occasion that dictates that you enjoy yourself, to make sure that you feel thoroughly rubbish about not being well enough to have a good time.

Ex-Files

I recently heard from a journalist, Julia Buckley, who's looking for ex-couples to feature in the Observer's Ex Files column. Apparently it's a tasteful column that would cover how we got together, what went wrong, and how we’ve moved on. I'm told, I wouldn't even have to contact my ex, just give out their email address and presumably wait and find out what he or she has to say about me in the national press.

Honestly, I can't think of anything more inappropriate or inflammatory. I wouldn't want to chew over old relationships in private let alone in a newspaper and I certainly wouldn't want to hear that a former partner had volunteered me for this.

I don't even like to imagine the look on my poor ex-fiancé's face if a journalist asked him to go over events that happened between him and a girl he hasn't seen for seven years. One of my ex-boyfriends can hardly even read, so it would be a bit cruel to write about him in a newspaper.

Anyway, if any of you guys fancy it let me know and I'll put you in touch with Julia - I know, I sold it so well.