Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Dysphoric Mania: Just work through it Julie!

I’m here in my office using all the ideas I can think of from my books! I have an article due- it’s going well- but getting the work done is literally physically painful! My brain feels like it’s going to explode and my body is very uncomfortable- it’s a mild form of dysphoric mania where my mood is mildly down but my energy is agitated. I’m definitely having trouble concentrating. Dysphoric mania is the opposite of euphoric mania (where things feels good!) – psychosis is often a part of dysphoric mania, though I’m not feeling any psychotic symptoms. When I start seeing things- then I’ll worry about psychosis. This all has to make me laugh a bit. I’m so used to these mood swings- and so used to writing about bipolar disorder that I am no longer even scared of the odd symptoms-

How I will get my work done:

Set an extremely specific goal [ Read More ]

Working through bipolar anxiety

Bipolar anxiety is really common when you’re depressed- and a large part of dysphoric mania where depression and mania are combined.

But there is also just plain old anxiety that visits on its own. I call this free form anxiety as it just sort of floats around and comes in and out in waves. When this happens, as it is today- I have to remind myself that….

You can work through anxiety. Your body will still function and work can still get done. It’s just not comfortable. After over two weeks of solid mood swings, I’m feeling better, but the anxiety is floating around! I’m working on an article on psychosis. I love this topic and am excited to get it done- so I have to work through this anxiety that wants me to stop. It makes my body feel so tense and uncomfortable !

I made a promise to myself a long time [ Read More ]

Bipolar Disorder Medication Side Effects: Dry mouth

Try BreathRx Fresh Breath System- this company provides a mint and gum that increases saliva. There are so many drugs that cause a dry mouth, so this is a life saver! (Get it!) SSRIs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Welbutrin and Celexa are known to cause dry mouth.

Dry mouth from bipolar drugs can make your teeth brittle- which means they can crack more easily! So, keeping your mouth moist helps. A night guard is a good idea as well.

Have you been to the dentist lately?

Julie

Here is a link to the Breath RX products:

https://store.breathrx.com/refresh.php

[ Read More ]

My bipolar disorder treatment plan

Things have been tough- but I’m much better today. I can tell I will be able to work withouth so much PAIN! I am sure you know what I mean. When you get sick- whether it be depression, agitated mania, anxiety, OCD, ADHD stuff- it just makes it hard to sit down and work. I use my tools of course- but it sure is better when I can work wihtout having to use my tools all day.

At least I have them. I recently received a comment asking about my treatment plan. I use my Health Cards treatment plan everyday and have done so since 1999. It has saved my life. I also use the ideas in my books- they are based off the Health Cards. Here are my main treatment plan tips:

1. Have a plan in place BEFORE you get sick. That is what keeps me going- I know that when [ Read More ]

Bipolar Supporter: My husband can’t sleep – Bipolarhappens.com podcast:

Here is a question from Liz.

Her partner has bipolar disorder and recently got out of the hospital. She asks an interesting question- as a partner of someone with the illness, where does help end and needing the person to take care of themselves on their own begin? It’s surely a fine line. I read the question and answer it on the podcast below.

Hi Julie,

I just want to say thank you for having this site and writing your books. My husband was just diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in December after a very scary manic episode where he was on the roof of a McDonalds 45 minutes from our house.

I have learned a lot about bipolar disorder through your book, Loving someone with bipolar disorder and he has just to really begun to read Take charge of Bipolar disorder.

He is on medication and was on sick leave from his job for 6 [ Read More ]

Living with bipolar suicidal thoughts…

Hi, It’s hard for me to write blogs when I’m so suicidal. I wrote a few days ago about a bad experience with Zoloft that put me into a severe downswing.

I just had a conversation with my coauthor Dr. John Preston and he said, “Julie, you always keep the fighting attitude alive. You keep moving even when it’s hard to keep moving.”

And then we asked the question- What’s the alternative!

I don’t want to kill myself, but my brain doesn’t get the message sometimes. I was crying in bed last night with the thoughts, “Is this all there is to my life? Will I always be this sick? Does anyone care about me? Am I going to die from this illness? Will I be alone forever? Does my work have a purpose? Why am I on this earth? I am left out of everything. My life is so small.”

If you have ever [ Read More ]