Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder medication side effects: Dry mouth?

There are a lot of bipolar disorder medications that can cause a dry mouth- anti depressants, mood stabilizers and anti psychotics are equal opportunity employers when it comes to side effects. Our bodies are so different – which means that some of us will have a dry mouth with Tegretol while others will have eye problems- but over all, dry mouth caused by bipolar disorder medications is very common.

My mother, who is on Lamictal, found an excellent product that she says helps a lot. It’s called Breath RX. Those the products are for bad breath, they actually help moisten the mouth more than any other product. They really work.

MANY people with bipolar disorder have trouble with their teeth. I know that I do! One theory states that our mouths get too dry from some med side effects and our teeth get brittle. These breath mints can help as they keep the teeth hydrated! [ Read More ]

Thanks for all of the reader comments!

I really appreciate and learn from reader comments. I read all of them. I try to respond as much as possible. I especially appreciate comments that give different opinions to what I’ve written on the blog and in my books. I really mean this. My view of bipolar disorder is not the only view- that’s for sure!

I’ve learned so much since I became well enough to write my books- this was in 2001. Not that long ago! Since then I’ve found a medication that has helped immensely with my symptoms (Lamictal) and have continued to use my Health Cards treatment plan- but there are definitely areas of my writing regarding myself that are out of date. It can be hard to see your ideas in print when you have changed your situation! For example, in my books Bipolar Happens and Tips for Talking with Health Care Professionals, I mention quite often that I can’t [ Read More ]

Depressing media coverage of our ‘economic’ situation

My media fast

I decided to go on a media fast a few months ago. All of the depressing news about our world economy was not helping the reality of my own economic situation! So I turned off all news. I stopped listening to NPR, reading Yahoo headlines, looking at newspapers and reading business magazines. It has now been over three months. I am such a differnt person. i don’t wake up at 4AM in a panic. I don’t feel like I’m missing much- I can listen to a download of a show if needed. I am worried about the world, but I can only help the world if I’m well.

It has helped immensely. And I still manage to know what is going on in the world as my friends are very informed.

I will do whatever it takes to stay stable so that I can work and make my own money. I [ Read More ]

Cyclothymia- a milder form of bipolar disorder

What is Cyclothymia?

Cyclothymia is harder to diagnosis for sure- I suggest that you start a mood swing chart where you chart your moods every night- it’s easy to do. I will do a blog on it soon with a link to a download mood swing chart- there is one in the back of my book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder along with one of my charts- the book is all book stores- so you could look at it and start your own.

I have charted my mood nightly for the past seven years. It has been invaluable.

Cyclothymia can be so hard to diagnosis as it is often seen as moodiness- the depression is easy to spot- though it can be seen as negativity which further compllicates things! The problem is the mild mania. This is harder to spot- which is why charting the mood helps.

Cyclothymia is cyclical- thus the name! It [ Read More ]

A good night….

I’m well tonight!

Normally I would write that sentence: I’m not sick tonight! but I’m going to be positive this evening.

It always amazes me how normal it is to be normal. I sort of just do things without thinking about them. When the bipolar disorder is going strong- which is about 85% of the time (I chart my moods so that % is pretty accurate!) I often have to struggle and grasp and gasp to keep going. But when I’m well like I am tonight, things are just so much more simple. I can be alone with ease. I make dinner. I read and write my blog. I can DO things. Do you think anyone can understand what I mean unless they have bipolar? I don’t think so! People take the normal stuff for granted. Getting up without thinking your life is pointless is how most people live. I’d like to be most people- [ Read More ]

bipolar mood swings and the beauty of a rose

Bipolar is so very weird. When I’m depressed I can look at this rose and see nothing of beauty. I’ve also had experiences where the beauty of something is painful because I feel so left out.

With mania, the rose is too beautiful. I could look into it forever – which is not exactly true as when I’m manic I don’t do anything for very long. My attention would be grabbed by something even more beautiful.

When my ex partner Ivan was really psychotic and in the hospital- I took him a rose- it had a lot of symbolic meaning to him- it was blood red- it caused pain- etc.

Well, it’s pretty obvious that a rose isn’t just a rose is a rose…. 😉

Today I want to just look at the rose for what it is. A beautiful flower. I live in Portland, Oregon- also known as the rose city. The roses here [ Read More ]