A friend of mine sent me a link to an article from the Christian Broadcast Network website called Loving People with Bipolar Disorder by Allison Johnson. I was naturally interested. As we all are! We either have it or care about someone who has it which is why we are here.
I have always been honest in saying that my current path is not a spiritual path as I have struggled in this area for many years- but I do understand the importance that spirituality plays in a person’s life. There are many comments on this blog from readers who say that faith is often the one thing that gets them through the tough times. The article happens to be one that speaks of the Christian faith- for others it may be Buddhism, Islam or as for my dear friend Gayathri who deals with depression regularly- Hindu meditation. It’s a very personal choice. I [ Read More ]
I’ve always known that it has always taken really big changes for me to stay well enough to work. Here are some of the changes I have made in the past few years.
– Celibacy (yes, celibacy!) – Less travel – No contentious relationships – Avoid work situations that will make me sick – Using my Health Cards daily – Visualizing my strategies from Get it Done When You’re Depressed – Watch inspirational reality TV instead of downer TV
I could write a lot more here! By the way, the celibacy thing is just a choice and not something people with bipolar disorder have to do to stay stable! Haha. But my goodness, it has helped. Especially when I get hypomanic and just want to drink beer and meet people.
My problem is that the bipolar has not being doing well. This means that I work every day to stay stable and sometimes the [ Read More ]
Dear Julie, I have this huge problem that started about 2 and half years ago. During a mixed episode of rapid cycling I decided and did leave my husband. Over this past 2 and a half years I have been severly depressed. Well in the past two months my new pdoc changed my medication and I am thinking more clearly and having fewer mood swings then ever. The problem is that I want my husband back. Read answer on www.BipolarHappens.com/bhblog [ Read More ]
This comment from Lynn has one of the best descriptions of rapid cycling that I have heard in a very long time! It’s a reply to the comment on the blog below.
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I am also rapid cycling bipolar. One week I am at my therapist so depressed I can barely explain what I feel, and the next I am so excited about life and plans. Spins the head around. I am trying to think of my life as a giant super-ball, the kind that when you throw it and it hits the wall, it bounces over and over again seemingly forever, a ball I didn’t throw but have to live on. It is my reality. I live on planet bipolar, and accept that meds and hard work only get me functional on planet bipolar. I cannot get off it. That is my reality. No matter what chronic illness I have, diabetes, arthritis, or bipolar, [ Read More ]
I just read your post on your rapid cycling. I didn’t even know what it was a few years ago. My doctors said I was rapid cycling- but I thought that was what happened with all people with bipolar. I didn’t know it’s not that common. Things have been tough lately. I’m Going Up Again.. and Again. And then going way down again and again.
Bipolar is wearing me out. I have had over 10 mood swings in the past three weeks. I know this because I write about my moods in my journal. This has helped a lot since I often just thought I was being bitchy or wimpy or something personal and I can now clearly see it’s a mood swing.
I have been so depressed in the past week I couldn’t stop crying. I always keep going, but it has been hard. I [ Read More ]
If you go down below- you will see a blog about Seroquel and weight gain. Here is an update from Stinker- a great name I must add.
Julie,
First, thank you for answering my question. I have spent two whole days just reading about the medications I am on, and what they are for. I also read chapter 1 of your book “Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder.” Then I went to Healthy Place and found the article “Psychiatric Medication: Medication for Mental Illness.”
I was able to talk with my doctor about my weight gain, and my desire to get off the Seroquel. I told him that my hunger was very intense, and I felt literally like someone who was denied food for a long time. He thought for a while and then decided to increase my intake of Ritalin. I felt very discouraged. I felt like he just wasn’t getting it or listening to [ Read More ]
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