Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

How I Manage Bipolar Disorder Triggers… and how you can manage them too!

Bp Magazine just shared my trigger article on Facebook. (You can find me on Facebook at Julie A. Fast and Julie A. Fast Books.) I need to read my own articles as it helps me assess where I am a the moment. Bipolar disorder can distort my thoughts and a check in is essential for me to make sure I’m not acting out of the illness and not my true self.

Bipolar disorder and triggers! Oh wow. I needed to read this today! My move to Europe has been a challenge. Of course it has. I had two big bipolar triggers when I got here. I made it through both of them by using the strategies I talk about in the article below. Bipolar clouds my thinking so much that it’s [ Read More ]

What is Dysphoric Mania in Bipolar Disorder?

What is dysphoric mania, Julie? I hear this question a lot. We know SO much about euphoric mania, and yet it’s dysphoric mania that causes the most damage. Have you or a loved one experienced dysphoric (mixed) mania? Read more and find out!

The main difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is the type of mania. Bipolar I has full blown mania- Bipolar II has hypomania. Bipolar II never has full blown mania- if it happens, the diagnosis is changed to Bipolar I. People with Bipolar I can definitely get hypomanic as well as fully manic!

Euphoric and dysphoric mania…..

There are two types of mania seen in both Bipolar I and Bipolar II : euphoric mania and dysphoric mania . Euphoric is just like it sounds. Dysphoric is harder to understand as we [ Read More ]

You Can….Get it Done When You’re Depressed

We can get things done when we are depressed. We can get things done when we are anxious. We can! Here’s my book on the topic. So far today, I’ve used Put Yourself in a Place You Can Work and Be Your Own Drill Sergeant. My biggest issue is focus. Nothing new. The day I crack this problem will be a happy day!

This is the UK version of my book. It’s available all over the world through amazon, but it helps to order it from your specific country. Part of my travels will involve talking with European publishers about translation. It was in Polish at first. Now it’s time for French and Spanish. If you have any publisher ideas, feel free to send them along and my agent will make the [ Read More ]

Pt. 1 Bipolar Disorder and ADHD Focus Problems

This is me at a sports bar testing my theory of tunnel glasses to counteract my ADHD style swivel head behavior when I have trouble focusing.

Trouble focusing on work because if bipolar disorder?

Me too! I had a talk with a professional coach last night who gave me some really good advice. I could hear the wisdom of his words. I believe what he says and I know I can do it and reach my work goals today- but I first have to manage this illness. I thought I would show you what it’s like. This is finally the second part of my Bipolar Disorder and ADD Focus Problems blog for BP Magazine. My motto is treat bipolar disorder first. [ Read More ]

Does Your Partner Have Bipolar Disorder?

A reader, Ruth just left the following comment about her relationship with her partner who was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder:

I am 55. My husband is also 55. He is just being diagnosed with bipolar. It explains so much. But he has never been in a depressive state. He has spent over $30k since the first of January – arrested 3 times for drunk and disorderly – he has virtually every symptom of bipolar except depression

Here is my reply:

Hello Ruth,

There are forms of bipolar disorder where the person has more mania than depression. I suggest reading about dysphoric mania. Many people with heavy mania express their depression in a mixed episode- also called dysphoric mania. You can type in “mania” in the subject search to learn more. My book Take [ Read More ]

Bipolar Disorder Affecting Your Relationships?

You are not alone! I often read through my past articles for Bp Magazine. I’m reminded that my bipolar disorder management plan is daily. I just moved to Europe. I’m staying with a friend in a beautiful, quite and very remote English village. Well, remote in my city girl way of thinking! I planned carefully for this move. I did all I needed to do to prepare MYSELF. Well guess what? The biggest skills I needed when I got here were my relationship skills! What are your greatest strengths as a friend? Julie

Here is the start of the article called Bipolar and the Relationship Trap from Bp Magazine:

Recently, a friend asked me, “Julie, why don’t you write a book about bipolar disorder and relationships?” “I already did that with my first book [ Read More ]