Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Crying

I just received an interesting question: Julie, why do some people with bipolar disorder cry and cry when they are deoressed while others don’t cry at all? I am not sure why people cry. Melissa.

I am not an expert on this, so I asked my coauthor Dr. John Preston for his explanation.

Hi Julie,

Crying likely serves several purposes. The first is crying as a distress signal. Babies do this, and the result is that loving parents are alerted to their discomfort and feed them or rock them. Likewise, crying is a social signal that may elicit support for others. Additionally, crying has been found to result in significant emotional relief. There are basically two types of crying: one is an aborted crying spell; here the person tried not to cry…they hold back tears and this is often accompanied by a [ Read More ]

Vincent Van Gogh

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” — Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Bipolar Disorder and OCD thoughts

Most people I know with bipolar disorder have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) symptoms. They are normal.

It’s hard to get OCD thoughts to stop- but I do have a trick. If I’m obsessing about a person and the person’s name is going over and over in my head or something the person said is looping in my head- I just say to myself- “This will be over soon Julie. This isn’t forever. It’s the bipolar. Learn from this Julie and keep away from the trigger so it doesn’t happen again.”

Sometimes this is easier than fighting and answering the thoughts themselves.

Julie

What Does Mania Feel Like?

Buzzes like a beautiful bumble be on a lovely flower in the summer.

The colors are so beautiful you want to take a picture of everything.

Your desire to be social goes through the roof.

People look so interesting and it’s very easy to say hi and start a conversation.

Sexual thoughts increase and you often act on them.

You want to buy nice clothes, or a car or a new dishwashe.

It feels like a good idea to buy all new furniture for your room.

It’s easy to clean your house.

[ Read More ]

Closed: I hope you had a great holiday season. The next call: Bipolar 102 will be announced soon.

Closed call: Thanks to all who joined in on the call. If you were not able to listen, the recording will be available soon. Those who listened live will receive a special gift regarding travel and bipolar disorder.

I hope you can join us next time if you missed the call. Listening live is fun and who knows what will happen after the call!

The call is closed, but you can read about the topic below.

Free Call: Your Best Holiday Season Ever: Tips and Strategies to Avoid Stress and Create Joy this Holiday Season!

I’m excited to announce the second free bipolarhappens.com coaching call.

Tuesday, November 22nd at 5:30 PST.

(The first call, Bipolar Disorder 101 was a great hit with over 100 participants.)

More [ Read More ]

I left my meds at home.. not good

Have you ever left your bipolar meds at home? It’s not a good feeling. I had a coaching call this morning that went well. I then got things ready to go to my writing office- at Starbucks.

My meds were on the counter- I should have put them in my bag last night- and I didn’t. I managed to leave them on the counter.

So now it’s 5PM and I have missed two med doses. Luckily I have my Lamictal in the car- so I was able to take that- but not my Lithium.

I don’t do well when I miss doses. When I get home later tonight, I will take one pill- then wake up at 2 am or so and take another pill and then the final [ Read More ]