Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Blog about Mental Health Day: The Bipolar Denial Dichotomy

Julie Fast — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:15:05 +0000

The Bipolar Denial Dichotomy

This picture really shows what it’s like to deal with a person who has poorly managed bipolar disorder. One day they will talk- the next day they will yell. It’s no fun for the person on the receiving end. I have been there.

You try to help and they yell at you. It’s like tip toeing around a mean animal on some days and then they are fine like a teddy bear on others. It’s part of the illness in many ways- but the person also has a lot of control in these situations and chooses not to make the steps to get better.

Bipolar is tricky. There is definitely a form where people can’t see they are ill. Research says this is up to 50%. That’s a very high number. These are people who honestly can’t see that their behavior is causing great harm to self and others. Medications can work wonders in these situations.

Then there is the concept of denial: seeing something and refusing to see it as a problem.

Denial – My friend Janea says, “There is no such thing as denial, Julie. There is ignoring, lying to yourself and stubbornness, but there is no denial.” I’m not even sure how to wrap my brain around this!

She means that when a person gets hopping mad when you mention their behavior and are then able to hear what you say on other days- they are either sick and are not able or won’t control their moods, or they know exactly what you’re talking about and just don’t want to deal with it.

Also, there are many, many situations where the person is only mad and rude and yelling towards you and then turns around and talks normally with a friend. That’s not denial. That is a choice.

So, if you love someone who is hot and cold, they can often control it much better than you think. It’s time to hold them accountable.

Julie

Click here to learn more about the Mental Health Blog Day. If you have a blog, make sure you post!

Does Your Partner Have Bipolar Disorder?

Julie Fast — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:32:42 +0000

Group Coaching Calls for Partners of People with Bipolar Disorder

The Bipolar Disorder 101 coaching call was a great success with over 100 participants. The coaching call for parents sold out.

This next series of calls are exclusively for partners of people with bipolar disorder.

“When I went into this relationship there were two people, now bipolar disorder makes it feel like there are three.”

Does bipolar disorder negatively affect your relationship? You’re not alone if it does. Bipolar disorder is notorious for creating relationship problems. It’s also easy for you to get lost when a partner is ill.

Are you interested in the following topics?

Communicating with your partner during mood swings.
Sex. (Just one word and yet so complicated!)
The complex world of medications.
Lack of insight or refusal of the diagnosis.
An end to caretaking.
Successful bipolar disorder management.

Then this coaching call is for you. Whether your relationship is doing well, but you need more bipolar disorder tips or your relationship is currently controlled by the ups and downs of the illness, I will show you how to improve your relationship forever. The calls will answer these questions:

Will my partner get better?
Is bipolar disorder going to ruin our relationship?
Will my partner ever accept the bipolar disorder diagnosis?
Will my partner ever learn to manage this illness successfully?
Will my partner find the right medications?
When will my life be important too?

About the calls: There are two calls in the series. The first focuses on the problems, challenges and questions you, as a partner may have about bipolar disorder. The second call is 100% focused on strategies you can use to create a loving and stable relationship.

I can’t wait for these calls. In 1995 when my partner Ivan was in the hospital for two months in a manic/psychotic episode, I wish there had been something like these calls for me. Then, when he went into a one month suicidal downswing, I wish I had known what to do! As a result of this experience, I wrote Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder for us: the partners.

I wasn’t sure about our future when Ivan was so sick. I cried most days and there was no one to help me. Luckily he recovered and was never that psychotic or manic again, but I will never forget those days. I will never forget how alone I felt. My mind was confused and I kept wondering, ‘where was the ‘Ivan’ I knew and loved?’ He wasn’t there. The bipolar had taken over. I remember looking at him in the face when he was so ill and he wasn’t able to even have a conversation.

It took me a long time to understand this illness and what it does to couples. Now I do understand what it takes to create a successful relationship when one partner has bipolar disorder. I want to pass that knowledge on to you.

These calls are personal advice and strategies for immediate use from someone who knows exactly what you’re going through. My goal is to help you create a relationship that is based on love and serenity and not one focused on bipolar disorder mood swings.

Never forget. Knowing how to help your partner is not innate. It helps to learn proven strategies from someone who has been on both sides.

If you have worked with me or currently work with me as a coaching client, these calls are a great refresher. If you are new to my work, welcome!

Ordering details are below.

Julie

2-Part Coaching Call for Partners- $97 (Less than $50 per hour!)

Two Tuesdays: May 29 and June 5, 2012.
5:30 PM Pacific Time (8:30 PM East Coast)

Get it Done When You’re Depressed…. in the car

Julie Fast — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:13:27 +0000

Get it Done When You’re Depressed

I had an idea today- and I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. I’m going to put a copy of Get it Done When You’re Depressed on the passenger seat of my car= so that when I’m driving around and can’t FOCUS or GET TO WORK or MAKE A DECISION I can just look at the table of contents and know what to do. Yes, I wrote it- but I still have to use it daily.

I hate not being able to easily settle down. I feel so guilty and unhappy when I don’t get my work done.

Julie

GTD: A great car companion.

Bipolar Disorder: True or False

Julie Fast — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:34:11 +0000

True or false?

It’s estimated that 4-6 % of the US population has bipolar disorder.

……………………..

It’s true! Old statistics basically used Bipolar I as a criterion for the 1-2% estimate of people with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is now seen as a spectrum all the way from cyclothymia (a mild form of bipolar disorder), to bipolar II (bipolar disorder with hypomania) and finally Bipolar I- with full blown mania.

I’ve always known that the 1-2% numbers were way too low just from my own experiences. Everywhere I go, someone knows someone with bipolar disorder.

Now you know why the numbers are so different depending on what you read. I think that the more realistic 4-6 % will be used a lot more in the future.

Julie

Bipolar Happens! is on the Kindle. Practically for Free!

Julie Fast — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:58:10 +0000

Bipolar Happens! is on the Kindle.

Practically for Free!

My book Bipolar Happens! 35 Tips and Tricks to Manage Bipolar Disorder started my writing career. The Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder was ready and I used it every day, but it wasn’t yet in book form.

It had always been my dream to write a book. I said to myself, “What would I want to read if I were just diagnosed with bipolar disorder? What would my mother want to read?”

The immediate answer was STORIES!

Bipolar Happens! is a book of stories. They are not traditional- few books tell stories about anxiety, animal hallucinations, euphoric mania and suicide, but I knew they would be interesting to anyone affected by bipolar disorder.

I’ve sold the paperback copy of Bipolar Happens! off the bipolarhappens.com website for over 10 years. It has been extremely popular and many say it is their favorite of my books. Many parents have told me they loved the book because for the first time they were able to see and feel what their child experiences.

This is why I want the book to be readily available to everyone.

My goal was to put the book on the Kindle for free- as a bonus for all of my readers. Then… I found out you can’t put free items on the Kindle, so… it’s $ .99

Can’t beat that!

Click here to read more about Bipolar Happens! on amazon.com

I know you will love Bipolar Happens! We are not in this alone. Stories link us together.

Julie

PS: You do not have to own a Kindle to read a Kindle book. The Kindle application downloads to all smart phones and tablets. It’s important to note that teens and others who are not fond of saying they have bipolar are very open to privately reading my books on phones and tablet.

Happy Reading!

PS: If you’re new to my work, this is a great way to experience my writing style and the quality of my information. If you like it, you can come back for more! The hard copy of Bipolar Happens! is still a part of the Health Cards Treatment System Package.

Julie, I am so glad you have made this terrific book available for such a great price. I have had it for years and it has really made a difference for me. I wrote a review on the Amazon page. Lyn

Bipolar Disorder Medications: Mood stabilizers Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal

Julie Fast — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:29:38 +0000

What is a mood stabilizer?

The only ‘true’ mood stabilizer is lithium. The other three Depakote, Tegretol and Lamictal are called mood stabilizers- though they were not originally created for bipolar disorder. Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol are usually used as anti mania drugs. Lamictal works especially well for depression, psychosis and rapid cycling. I happen to be on Lithium for depression. So it can be used for both mood swings.

If you are familiar with my work, you know how I feel about Lamictal. It changed my life.

I respect my drugs- I struggle- but I respect.

Are you on a mood stabilizer?

Julie