Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Can Charlie Sheen Survive His Own Tour?

Here is a direct article from Dime Wars. It’s the first time I’ve seen a gossip article show some compassion and understanding about Charlie Sheen and his very public manic meltdown.

Here is the text from the article:

Charlie Sheen – Actor Charlie Sheen is changing the face of Hollywood. Charlie Sheen has remained defiant and continues to hold up his middle finger to Hollywood. What does Charlie Sheen get in return? Potentially $7 million dollars in one month.

TMZ reports that “Charlie Sheen Live: My Violent Torpedo of Truth” tour will bring in $7 million dollars in one month for the star.

Sources connected with the concert tour tell us … the deal is for Charlie to perform [ Read More ]

Play with your animals! Even when you’re depressed.

I have a cat named BiBi:

She is a very lively kitty.

When I’m depressed, it’s hard for me to do many things. Work- karaoke with friends, work, creative endeavors. Lots of things. Another problem I have is that it’s very hard for me to play with BiBi. She needs attention, but it just seems like so much work when I’m depressed. It’s easier to just pet her a bit and then do my own thing. When you’re depressed, animals can be a great comfort. I call then depression companions. The problem is that we can get really passive and forget to actually play with them. They need exercise and lively interaction, even when we feel too depressed to do anything.

I [ Read More ]

International Clear Out Your Email Inbox Day!

The other day, my manager Sheri Joi and I decided to tackle my email. It has been so hard for me to get through it lately and even my own ‘get it done when you’re depressed ‘ techniques were not helping much. I tried everything to get caught up. And then I had an idea.

What if I simply gave my computer to Sheri Joi and we did the email together – out loud? Sheri really understands my bipolar and knows that it’s quite hard to even sit down on some days- which is why my email can get out of control. She also knows my business really well.

So, I passed on my email and said, “Let’s get this done!’

She looked at my inbox and said, “Julie!! Julie!! You have 865 email in your inbox!”

Well, no wonder I couldn’t get it all answered. The problem is that the 865 email are all [ Read More ]

Thanks for the great reader comments on the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan… now, dealing with the nuclear threat..

The post on being careful about watching too much media coverage about the natural disasters in Japan really resonated with readers. I think it’s because people with troublesome bipolar are so easily affected by what happens in the world.

Hi Julie,

I was stationed in Japan with the Air Force for a total of 5 yrs near Tokyo and I feel so sad for the Japanese I feel I have a connection with them and It just started my Bipolar a running!!!!

Hi B.

I know what you mean. I lived in Tokyo for two years and in Osaka for one. It’s not too hard to look at buildings falling down or cars crashing- but when I saw a Japanese person in the rubble, I knew I had to turn it off and I did.

We have to take care of ourselves so that we can be there for others as [ Read More ]

Suggestion from Colleen: Donate to the Red Cross to Help the People of Japan

It can be hard on us to look at the pictures, watch the videos and talk to others about what is happening. But we can make a donation to the Red Cross. The link is below. You will notice that the home page of the site has pictures. I suggest skipping these and just going straight to the donation. [ Read More ]

Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Japan

My roommate Dan just told me he stayed up until 3:00 AM watching the internet coverage of the Japanese earthquakes and resulting tsunamis. He said he was very upset by what he saw and that it was, ‘like watching CGI in a big blockbuster movie. But it was real.”

I lived in Japan for three years- my mom lived there for five. We know the country well. I remember many small earthquakes and how we all would do the drills in case the aftershocks were bigger. No one could prepare for what happened yesterday.

You may wonder why I am writing about earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan on a bipolar blog.

I’m writing to ask that people with bipolar disorder turn off the television, get off the internet, fold the newspapers and stop the conversations if the discussions are making you sick. This is a big request. It’s easy for us to watch and [ Read More ]