Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Getting too Skinny! from Guest Blogger Sheri Joi

After my divorce I fell into a depression. There were many harmful things about this state of mind for me but one of these was lack of eating. Some people use food for comfort when they are depressed, I am the opposite. When I am depressed I don’t eat. I share custody of my children and the weeks that they were not with me I would literally lay in bed all week and not eat. Sometimes I would get up and look in the fridge but nothing looked good, nothing sounded good and it all seemed like way to much work just to eat. Even pouring a bowl of cereal seemed like too much work, I literally thought lifting the spoon to my mouth and having to chew was too much effort. It took me a long time to realize that I was [ Read More ]

Charlie Sheen, Mania and Media Exploitation

It’s time to get the word out about Charlie Sheen and mania. He is in a manic episode. I know because I have been there as have the tens of thousands of people who come to my blog every month. Mania has very, very distinct symptoms that are not matched in any other illness- nor are they similar to what a person says when they are drunk or on drugs. This is an important distinction. To prove a point and to help Charlie Sheen get help- I have created a list of manic symptoms that match his quotes. This can be a reference for the media that continues to exploit him instead of recognizing a very obvious illness. Here is the list and please note that it’s simply impossible for a ‘normal’ brain to come up with these quotes. This is mania:

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e Charlie Sheen and Bipolar Mania

I was just on the radio in Dallas. I thought the interviewer did an excellent job. He wanted to help his audience understand bipolar disorder. He was respectful and really seemed to get it that bipolar is an illness. I explained that Charlie Sheen either has bipolar and has hidden it really well- which would not be impossible considering that Hollywood can be pretty insular- but I think he did some crack and brought out the full blown manic episode. I am tired of journalists not doing even just a wee bit of homework before they write their articles. Here is another one I read this morning. I wrote the author with some info on mania. This article is interesting because she does a very good job of recording what Charlie Sheen is actually saying and doing. It could be in Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder on the mania explanation page!

The [ Read More ]

Charlie Sheen and Bipolar Disorder. What is the media’s responsibility?

Where is the help for Charlie Sheen?

I always like to write about those in the public eye who seem to have bipolar disorder. In this case, even I was unable to see what was going on. I’m a big fan of the Dan Patrick Show. It’s all about sports and Charlie Sheen has been a regular guest. A few weeks ago he started calling in himself and asking to be on the air. I heard two interviews. He didn’t sound manic- but he definitely sounded stressed and out of touch with the realities of drug and alcohol use- as most of us with mania have experienced.

Then I noticed him him on a few other shows and he looked terrible. I felt bad for him- it’s not ok for the media to exploit those who [ Read More ]

Guest Blog – Alistair McHarg

Dancing With Your Bipolar Bear

One of life’s great lessons is to accept, master, and ultimately enjoy that which cannot be avoided. Chances are you already know that bipolar disorder is incurable, however, there is a vast spectrum of experience in between being a victim of the illness and living a full, productive, and happy life that includes it. Over the four decades since my first manic episode I have gone from one extreme to the other.

It is not my intention to underestimate or romanticize this rude adversary. I’ve done cracker factory time, engaged in all manner of reckless behavior, and rebuilt my ruined life time and time again. It’s a wonder I’m here at all. That said, let me urge you to hold on tight to this one bit of advice while trudging through the foreign and forbidding landscapes – embrace [ Read More ]

Can People with Bipolar Disorder Get Better?

Yes!

Here is a post from Bonnie. I am always looking for positive stories.

Hi Julie,

I just came across your site today. I can relate to your situation. I’m 44 today. Back when I was 17 in 1983, just as I was entering senior high school, I started acting strange. I didn’t want to sleep and I didn’t want to eat. Eventually I was admitted to our local hospital in the mental ward. I was there 2 weeks. I came home but was still not right. I was saying and doing things out of my character. I was becoming delusional. At the end of the year I was admitted to University Hospital in Seattle for about 2 months. It wasn’t until 1986 that I finally was diagnosed with Bi-polar. Back then it was called Manic Depression. I went to a Naturepathic doctor and he put me on a bunch of vitamins [ Read More ]