Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Can Energy Drinks Cause Mania?

Julie Fast — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:22:47 +0000

I write a lot about preventing mania in all of my books. How about some unconventional ideas!

1. Skip the energy drinks. It’s not that the energy drinks are bad for you because they directly cause mania. They don’t. But they can 100% affect your sleep. Messing up your sleep pattern is one of the top causes of mood swings. (Others include getting drunk, high, etc and finally working swing shift.) Who thought a little can would cause so much trouble! I know some people who drink them all day and jump around like a rabbit. Who wants that feeling.

The other night I was watching UFC with my brother at a bar. (It ends early! and I tend not to drink unless I’m manic.) Anyway, the woman next to me ordered her second cran and red bull. I thought- there is no way you could get me to drink that. I’d fly through the roof! Here is what she said when it arrived:

It’s not alcohol, but it gets me plenty high!

Those words are a warning. It may be over the counter- but so are cigarettes. If you have trouble with mania (or anxiety), energy drinks are not your friend.

Julie

What is Bipolar Mania?

Julie Fast — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:21:31 +0000

Mania is an abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood. In the elevated state, the mood is upbeat, euphoric, and happy. In an expansive state, the mood is intense, and emotions are shown with no inhibition. Although many people think that euphoria and expansive moods are the main characteristics of mania, many people in a manic episode experience irritability, anxiety or an uncomfortable sense of increased energy.

Mania is a very dangerous, difficult to spot and often very difficult to treat mood swing once it goes too far.

There are two types of mania in bipolar disorder: full blown mania and hypomania. Full blown mania is a requirement of a bipolar I diagnosis. Hypomania ( milder form of full blown mania with similar symptoms, but with much less intensity) is a milder form of mania that is a requirement for a bipolar II diagnosis. This is one of the main reasons it’s so important for you to know your exact diagnosis.

The number one sign of mania is sleeping a LOT less and not being tired when you get up. For some, it’s not sleeping at all and still being able to function. This is a lot different than insomnia in that insomnia makes you tired the next day.

Mania, especially at the beginning can produce the most amazing, wonderful, exciting, loving and connected feelings in the world. On the other side, mania can be all agitation, anger, restlessness and energy so high a person can’t slow down even to sleep. The main problem with mania is that no matter what feelings are produced, mania causes severe judgment issues and very distorted thinking. This often involves risky sexual and financial behavior. Believe me, when a person comes down from a serious manic episode, it’s like waking up from a bad dream that really happened. Once the episode is over, the manic behavior is often completely impossible for the manic person or those around him or her to understand.

If untreated, mania can ruin careers, relationships, finances and health. It has to be managed daily. Even someone who has not been manic for years and is on meds can have a manic episode. I use my Mania Health Card to take care of my mania before it goes too far.

If mania always felt terrible, it would be easier to treat. It’s the euphoric mania that is hard to let go of!

Julie

PS: My book, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder has a mania recognition section and treatment plan.

Monitor Your Bipolar Disorder Mood Swings

Julie Fast — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:42:21 +0000

I’ve kept a chart of my mood swings for the past year. It’s amazing to see what triggers most of my downswings. Without question, it’s difficult relationships. I knew that this was a problem, but seeing the reality on a piece of paper forced me to make some serious behavioral changes. I have to limit contact with certain people, no matter how much I care for them. I wish I were the type who could have exciting, but difficult people in my life, but as my chart clearly pointed out. I can’t.

There is a mood swing chart and an example of one of my charts at the back of my book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder. The Health Cards can provide you a lot of information as well. I faithfully chart my mood every night. It’s depressing to see how this illness controls my life, but I at least know I am doing what I can to stay stable by seeing the reality of what causes many of my mood swings. Interestingly, the chart has shown me that my hypomanic episodes are usually not triggered by anything I do. Truly interesting. Julie

Get It Done When You’re Depressed

Julie Fast — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:45:46 +0000

Dear Miss Fast,

I want to say “thank you.”

I have read every textbook, self help book, etc. and was still beating my head against a wall until I read your book. I can tell you that Strategy 11, Expect Brain Chatter from Get it Done When You’re Depressed, was the answer to prayer. I don’t know what it was about this specific chapter, but it opened up serious dialogue after 14 years of marriage. This chapter gave me a simple way to explain the on-going dialogue and loop of music in my head and why it is so painful.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Betty

Examining Every Word

Julie Fast — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:29:35 +0000

When I have certain mood swings, I find myself getting really picky about each word a person says. I will look at a sentence from an email, or remember what a person said and then examine it way too closely. Did they mean this- or did they mean that? Are they mad at me? Have I done something wrong?

This kind of examination is destructive for relationships- especially when it happens over email.

I have found that if someone is upset they will usually tell me. If I have done something to offend them, they will usually tell me. If I never hear from someone again, that is their choice. I now remind myself that I am only responsible for my own behaviors. What is said to me or what is sent to me in email is not in my control.

I still have the same worries and tendencies when I’m sick to break apart everything that happens to me, but I resist the impulse of telling others about it and just focus on my own health.

Julie

Comedy Movies: a cure for the down times

Julie Fast — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:26:55 +0000

I’ve recently been re-watching my favorite comedies. These help on the dark days. I was watching a lot of drama shows from England and it was just getting me down. Here are a few comedies I like:

Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
The Castle
Bowfinger
There’s Something About Mary
Team America. (Warning- this is a very adult puppet movie! )
Zoolander

These are laugh out loud movies. There are not many good comedies in the theaters these days! It’s hard to do an adult comedy.

A friend of mine watches a lot of afternoon TV – junky stuff and it really gets her down. It makes no sense to do this when you have bipolar disorder. It just makes the illness worse. Why not watch a comedy!

I’m not trying to sound like a mother, but I know that watching comedies makes a difference! I do sound like my mother.

Julie

Viewer Beware. But wow, it's so funny!