I can EAT. I can talk with friends- play with my nephew and see my friends.
I can even feel ok.
But at the same time- I find it almost impossible to work. It’s so odd how bipolar disorder affects me. My friends will say, “Julie! We all have trouble working sometimes.’ If you have bipolar disorder, you will hear this a lot. People don’t really understand that it’s so different when you can’t work because of bipolar disorder. I literally feel like I’m being pulled apart inside. One part of me wants and needs to work- the other part is doing everything possible to make it difficult. My brain is in what I call the civil war. It’s a fight. Sometimes this is so hard I end up spending much more time trying to work than actually working! but I don’t let it stop me. I will keep fighting so [ Read More ]
hi! I’ve received so many great comments on this page- and I am making a promise to answer as many of them as I can! I will repost the comment as a blog entry and then answer the questions:
coming up….
Omega 3 Fatty Acids and bipolar disorder treatment
Medication changes and their consequences
Relationship issues due to bipolar disorder
Travel and bipolar disorder
Can I get into college? How do I stay in college?
and so many more…. I’ve had focus issues the past few days. It’s hard to have bipolar disorder and work on your own. Do you experience this? Darn, it’s hard to have bipolar and work anywhere with ease!
I always try to have perspective when I’m well. I remind myself that this is what NORMAL feels like. I get up- see people- work – get on with my day and go to bed normally. I sleep! It’s all a miracle and I don’t plan on wasting it.
I’m entering some new work areas and I’m a bit PETRIFIED about the changes I have to make. I like to read Donald Trump books when things are tough. Right now I’m reading – NEVER GIVE UP!
Bipolar disorder can be managed. I am proof- this is what I say to myself on the tough days.
I’ve been at a writer’s conference this weekend- which is why I haven’t done a blog! It’s a big conference in Portland, Oregon where I live.
I taught a class on writing self help books today. I always try to get perspective on where things are in my life. A few years ago, I remember walking around the conference and thinking- I want to teach here one day. I want to know the wonderful people who come here!
Two years later I was teaching. Things take time. The first I attended as a teacher I got quite overstimulated and paranoid.
I’m much better this year. I go home early and make sure I get at least seven hours of sleep. I’m eating better. I try to stay calm when I feel myself getting too excited- and I remind myself that I will NOT listen to the thoughts that tell me others are better [ Read More ]
I received such a great email from a reader named Daphne Stevens that I’m posting parts of it on the blog. I think it helps so much for us to see that we all go through the same challenges with this illness. Daphne and I discussed Lamictal and other meds. Here are her comments: Lamictal, by the way, is my “miracle drug,” too. After two years of trial and error (and a lot of nasty side effects) my doctor and I finally settled on a combination of Lamictal and Seroquel. which levels out both the hypomania and depression. And my depression, while less frequent than hypomania, can be deadly, as you know. Over a lifetime of struggling, I’ve finally learned not to be too afraid of it. I know it will pass, no matter how permanent it feels at the time. Riding it out, being kind to myself, doing what I can, [ Read More ]
This is my amazing nephew David. He’s six. I was pretty depressed yesterday. David came up to me and gave me a hug. I said, “Auntie Wee is sick today.” He said, “I know.”
Wow. That is pretty insightful. I said, “How did you know I was depressed?” He said, “Because you’re always depressed!” I had to laugh! I’m not depressed very often at all anymore, but when he was very young, I was depressed about 50% of the time.
I made a decision when he was born that I would be honest with him about bipolar disorder. When I had a tough day, I’d say, “Auntie Wee is crying because she has an illness called bipolar disorder. ” Then I would explain how the illness caused my depression, but that I was fine on the inside. There were days when I couldn’t play [ Read More ]
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Mom Brain Podcast
Listen to Julie’s latest interview on bipolar disorder and mental health in children, teens and adults on the Mom Brain Podcast with Hilaria Baldwin and Daphne Oz.
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This is my amazing nephew David. He’s six. I was pretty depressed yesterday. David came up to me and gave me a hug. I said, “Auntie Wee is sick today.” He said, “I know.”
