Welcome
Hello. My name is Julie Fast. I’m the author of the bestselling books, Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Get it Done When You’re Depressed. Fifteen years ago my partner was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and spent three months in the hospital in a manic and psychotic episode, and then went into in a severe, suicidal depression. It took many months before he finally stabilized. A year later, after a decade of unexplained mood swings, I, myself, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (Bipolar 2), and eventually my symptoms made me unable to work, maintain relationships or lead a stable, productive life.
After trying numerous bipolar medications with only moderate success, I decided to create a management program for myself that went beyond just medications and treated bipolar disorder comprehensively. I called it the Health Cards System for Bipolar Disorder because it involved creating detailed cards about each of my specific mood swings, symptoms and triggers. I also wrote down ways I could help myself and exactly what I needed from the people around me when I was ill. Using the Health Cards helped me recognize and deal with my symptoms as they arose in ways I never could before. I carried them with me constantly. I gave copies to all of my family members and they became a part of my system as well. The results were amazing. The Heath Cards cut my symptoms in half and literally saved my romantic and family relationships. They also made it possible for me to work again.
In 2002 I decided to publish the Health Cards System as a book. I bought the domain name bipolarhappens.com and began selling the system online. Later I wrote two more companion books to the system, and before I knew it I was getting thousands of orders. People were recommending it to others. Health care professionals were buying it. And today it is the most popular and widely used self-help program for bipolar disorder in the world.
What is this Website About?
When I first published the Health Cards System in 2002, this website was simply one long page describing how the system worked and how to purchase it. Since then I have published three bestselling books on mood disorder management, became a senior columnist for BP Magazine and have spoken at numerous of mental health conferences. I have also talked and corresponded with thousands of individuals and families about how bipolar disorder affects their lives, and through this process I have learned not only the most common misunderstandings people have about the illness, but also the most common questions people have and the most important information they need in order to manage their lives. I wanted to create a website that gave people this information in a concise and easy to digest format, written in a lay person’s language so anybody could understand it. This is that website. I do not believe there is another one like it anywhere. I hope it answers your questions and gives you hope that bipolar disorder can be managed successfully.
