Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

BP Magazine Blog is posted!

The Three BP Hope Magazine Bloggers!

I write a separate blog for the wonderful BP Magazine. This blog is very personal – this week is no exception! It’s called: Seeing a fight, going into shock and then getting really sick…

That may peak your interest. I’ve had a tough few weeks for sure. If you go to the blog, please do leave a comment. This is a new blog for the magazine and we want to get it to as many people as possible and your comments really make a difference. I of course love your comments on here as well!

Click here to read the new blog

There are a few of us who blog- I love their posts as it’s such an insight into [ Read More ]

My self perception is not the world’s perspective!

Lately, I’ve had quite a few people tell me how their perceive me. It has been quite eye opening. Here are a few:

Bad Ass, Commanding, Golden, Professional, Self Assured, Intimidating.

Are you kidding me? That can’t be how I’m seen because that is certainly NOT how I see myself. I see myself as someone who just has to get out of bed and hope the depression will not dog me all day! I see myself as someone who wants to be great, but often feels it will be impossible due to this illness. As you may know if you read my work- I’ve stopped feeling sorry for myself regarding bipolar disorder. It’s simply my life. All I can do is deal with it. But it’s always there!

But Bad Ass! Really! On my Harley or something! Haha. It’s such a dual existence. I often go places and put my head in my journal and [ Read More ]

Do you read BP Magazine?

I hope so- it’s an amazing and fun resource. Ie. Serious and yet realistic articles from real people affected by the illness. Lots of family and health care professional information as well. The magazine has started a new blog. I am one of the bloggers. I did my first one on Thursday. The site is really beautiful and easy to navigate. I highly recommend a subscription, especially if you have an off or support group related to bi-polar disorder. The first blog was similar to the blogs and newsletters from BipolarHappens.com. The future entries will be far more person and about the feelings I experience when I get really sick. Like this weekend!

I’ve been a columnist for BP Magazine for over five years. I love the magazine.

Here is the link to visit the BP Magazine blog: http://www.bphope.com/bphopeblog/

[ Read More ]

Lunch with my friend Gayathri

I just had lunch with my friend Gayathri. She is one of the most amazing people I know. She moved here from India in an arranged marriage over 20 years ago and just wrote her story in a new memoir. She had a lot of depression and anxiety when she was growing up. She moved to America with her new husband and a lot of expectations. Her descriptions of what it was like to go to a grocery store for the first time are amazing: “I never knew there were so many types of cereal!”

Gayathri and I became friend through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) seven years ago. We have been friends ever since. Isn’t it great when you meet someone who understands what it’s like to have a mental illness? We have our own language. That is how I feel after I speak to a large crowd and I talk to people [ Read More ]

I just sent a special offer…

to the newsletter list. So please check your spam, because we know that is where most of the email goes these days!

It’s an exciting offer for newsletter subscribers only. If you are not on the newsletter, you can sign up to the right. You can then leave a comment below if you want to receive the special offer.

Today is going to be as best as I can make it- that’s my hope for today. Just keep going and keep working and keep being with people. That is my key. What’s yours? Julie

PS: this is a holiday special offer!

What is it like to work with Julie A. Fast???

During the time that I have been working with Julie, Ive seen the challenges faced by someone with Bipolar disorder. I’ve witnessed the day when it was difficult for her to sit still and even focus because her thoughts were bouncing everywhere. It was hard for me to know how to help her get refocused. She is teaching me what I can do to help. I’ve also been a part of a morning that was a “girl to girl” chat just to clear the thoughts so that a work focus could be resumed and maintained.

There is so much that can be learned from working with someone who has bipolar illness. The discipline of taking care of yourself and planning in detail what you intend to do have been a good addition to my daily routine. There is also a time to be flexible and work back around to the needed focus. I’ve [ Read More ]