Dave Mowry

VIDEO: My Bipolar Depression: Is It Good for the Environment?
Using humor as a coping tool, Dave Mowry finds some relief in dealing with depression.

Today I am going to talk about bipolar disorder being good for the environment. Who knew? I read a news story a couple months ago that people are showering way too often. The story said that we only need to shower once a week and that more than that and we are wasting water and washing off essential oils that are good for us. I thought, “ With bipolar depression, I am way ahead of this trend.”

Think of what I am saving shampoo and soap not going down the sewers. I mean, I am good for the environment. And then there is laundry. When I have bipolar depression I am not doing laundry. I’m lucky if I change my clothes. And sometimes I sleep in my clothes so I don’t have to take them off and put them back on. So I am not using phosphates, I am saving water, electricity and gas. Heck, I’m saving the environment.

And I’m thinking that when I am depressed, I don’t drive anywhere, so I save gas and emissions. At this point I am really good for the environment.

So when I disappear in my depression and someone says, “Where have you been?” I say, “ I have been taking care of the environment.” And, when they ask what I have been doing, I say I have just been very environmentally conscious. Who knew?

So I think I am going to enter a contest for the most environmentally friendly person in the world. I think I will win because who else is going to admit that they only take a shower every other week? Good idea huh. So thanks for listening. I appreciate it. Tongue in cheek.

I will see you next time. This is Dave Mowry for BP Magazine for Bipolar vlog. Bye bye.
Tagged with: depression, evironment, humor. bipolar
About the author: Dave Mowry
Has 36 Articles
Dave Mowry Dave Mowry is the author of the new book, “No Really, We Want You to Laugh. Mental Illness and Stand-Up Comedy: Transforming Lives.” The book tells the story of Dave and five others whose lives have been impacted by mental illness Dave has bipolar disorder and severe anxiety and suffered in silence for most of his adult life Five years ago Dave took a stand-up comedy class and it transformed him by showing him how to find humor in his darkest experiences. Dave now teaches stand-up comedy to other folks with a mental illness and sees the same transformation happen in them. Dave recently received the Community Champion Award for his work in mental illness in Oregon. He speaks regularly to large and small groups and was interviewed on the Think Out Loud program on Oregon Public Radio after the Robin Williams suicide. Dave was also featured in an article by The Oregonian newspaper in 2011. The article focused on the fact that most people with a mental illness are not dangerous or threatening. Dave worked as a peer support specialist for NAMI from December 2010 to December 2014. During this time he worked with well over 1200 people and this experience informs his writing, teaching, speaking and performing. Dave and stand-up class graduates perform regularly to audiences from 50 to 500 people in Oregon and Southwest Washington shattering stigma one joke at a time. Dave lives just outside Portland, Oregon with his wife Heather, daughter Meghan and grandson Van.