I’d love your help choosing a sub-title for my next book! I’m moving forward with a book of poetry for kids who have serious mental health disorders. It’s whimsical and manages to be fun- despite the intense topic.
It’s called Hortensia and the Magical Brain.
The book is for parents, care givers and health care professionals to read to kids with symptoms of bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis, anger and aggression and ADHD symptoms, just to name a few.
It’s fantastical- in other words, though I will keep it original, it’s a Harry Potter type book where reality and the magical intermix in a fun and educational way.
Here is an original sketch of Hortensia and the Bipolar Witches from illustrator Kaytie Spellman’s magical [ Read More ]
The following is a link to my Psychology Today blog post on the topic of what I call ‘terrorist assisted suicide.’ If you’re depressed right now, I suggest waiting to read this until you are feeling better. I put this topic up here for readers who are interested in my work outside of the bipolar disorder realm. I limit my media when my mood is low and I encourage you to do the same. Julie
It’s easy to spot what we consider traditional depression symptoms: crying, lack of movement, sadness, silence, brain fog, slumped body, lack of desire, fear, hopelessness, helplessness and an overall worry that life is not worth living.
I’m here today to talk about the OTHER depression that is often mistaken for a personality flaw or seen as someone simply being in a bad mood.
I call the first kind of depression WEEPY depression and I call this depression ANGRY and IRRITATED DEPRESSION. People with bipolar tend to experience both, but rarely get help for the second type as helping someone in this kind of a depression is like talking with a really angry snake.
Bipolar Disorder and College: What Parents NEED to Know…. by Julie A. Fast
University life is basically a petri dish for growing bipolar disorder symptoms. I’ll be blunt. People with bipolar disorder tend to have trouble in a college setting. As you surely know, this has zero to do with intelligence and school ability and has everything to do with sleep changes, new relationships, an often out of control drinking and drug culture, familial expectations, grade pressures and for many, being away from home for the first time.
If your child goes to school without a plan to manage bipolar disorder, the illness will probably start to manage your child.
Three Success Strategies to Manage Bipolar Disorder in a University Setting Here are three strategies you can use immediately to prepare for [ Read More ]
Mania peaks in the summer here in the USA. That means that hospitalizations for mania peak in the summer. Think of your past or the past of someone you care about. Is mania a concern? Do you have a plan?
It’s so important to know the signs of mania. If you have the Health Cards or Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, now is the time to get out your Mania Health Card and set up a plan before potential mania starts.
Signs that you might need some help for bipolar disorder depression: – You have not been out of the house in a few days. – Getting out of bed is difficult and on some days impossible. – You’re not eating, brushing your teeth or shaving. – The phone rings, but you CAN’T answer it. – You’re binge watching TV shows and you feel really, really guilty about it. People are worried about you. Your regular self leaves the house, brushes his teeth, feeds the animals, goes to work, interacts with the world and looks forward to life. That person has disappeared. Depression is INSIDIOUS. It creeps up on us and day by day sucks the life out of our lives. We must fight this by taking action. [ 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.
The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
I’d love your help choosing a sub-title for my next book! I’m moving forward with a book of poetry for kids who have serious mental health disorders. It’s whimsical and manages to be fun- despite the intense topic.
g is a link to my Psychology Today blog post on the topic of what I call ‘terrorist assisted suicide.’ If you’re depressed right now, I suggest waiting to read this until you are feeling better. I put this topic up here for readers who are interested in my work outside of the bipolar disorder realm. I limit my media when my mood is low and I encourage you to do the same. Julie
