Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

COMMENTS: Many posts have comments from readers. If you go to the bottom of a post- you will see a small ‘comments’ button. When you click on this, you will see all of the comments and can reply yourself. I know for sure that readers go back and see what others have said about their comments. This is a great way for us to help each other. It helps me a lot as well. I want to answer everything- but as you can imagine, doing it on my own is hard- but doing it with all of your help is easy! To the right, there is a section that says recent comments. This is a good place to start to see what’s happening on the blog. Also, you can post a comment on any blog. You don’t have to be a member of the blog. But being a member has advantages as you will then [ Read More ]

My mom and I are very close. I see her every day. She and my nephew are the reasons I live in Portland, Oregon. This morning I called her from the place I watch football and asked her to bring me some cash as I forgot mine at home. I told her the story of how I spent five dollars to help a guy with schizophrenia buy some food. He got a grapefruit, a lime, a small pear and some espresso bean chocolate.

After I told her this, she said, “Are you manic Julie! You do this when you’re manic!” I said, “AM I MANIC!” and she said, “You always say you’re not manic when you’re manic.” I got very upset. Not because of what she was saying. We use my Health Cards treatment plan together and she is always supposed to tell me when she thinks I’m manic. I got upset because I [ Read More ]

Hello readers. I just received this email from Cherise. I answered below and know she could use your support as well. How do you handle wanting to do something such as working or going to school full time, but always having to manage the illness first? Here is her post.

Hello Julie,

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 for about 7 years. I have struggled with depression and OCD since about 14. I’m 44 and cycle about every 2 months even though I have tried every medication regimen possible. Now I am on Lamictal, which seems to have the fewest side effects and works most of the time. Right now I am in a downward spiral; my thought are obsessive, I’m borderline suicidal and having nightmares. I hope this lifts soon. I’m a high acheiver and got my nursing degree (RN), but I lost my license, because I got very depressed on the [ Read More ]