Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder… tips for making it through the tough days.

Oh boy can this illness make a person feel sick. That is just a fact. I guess you can change that sentence around- We can all get sick and tired of having this illness. One thing I want to do on this blog is to encourage people to keep going and going even when the days are really tough. One good thing about bipolar disorder is that it’s episodic- that means mood swings end. You can get better. Sometimes it takes longer than expected- but life can be stable.

I talk a lot about depression as that is what I experience the most- some of my friends talk more about the agitated mania or the psychosis they live with, sometimes for a long stretch of time. I have a friend who [ Read More ]

Do you Have a Child with Bipolar Disorder? Here is a must read article for parents of children with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder changes a child’s behavior and this changes your entire family.

Parents often take in an adult child with bipolar disorder and provide a safe environment but the child is not always cooperative. Chaos can be the result. If you are in this situation The High Jacked House article is for you. Simply click on the link below. It will pop up a PDF file that you can then save to your computer. Feel free to use this article to educate anyone in the family as well as health care professionals. I’ve learned a lot during my years as a family coach. This article reflects the patterns I see in many households. I know you will find it interesting!

Julie

The [ Read More ]

Radio interview with Rock and Roll Stations- what a difference in our mental health stations!

You are going to love this interview! Here’s a radio chat interview I did with the Moose Morning Show on Robin Williams. I’m trying to be balanced when talking about Robin Williams and suicide. I want to respect his memory and help others with depression and bipolar disorder find stability during a tough week.

Lazer 103.3/KAZR-FM’

Twitter: @Lazermoose

Yes. A rock station talking about mental illness. I was SO impressed with their questions and their commitment to fair reporting of mental illness. Wow! Kidos! Julie

Bipolar Happens! is #1 on the Kindle!

Bipolar Happens: 35 Tips and Tricks to Manage Bipolar Disorder is the #1 Bipolar Disorder Book on the Kindle!

That’s exciting. I went to the Kindle store to see how my books Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder were doing on the bipolar disorder page. These books are in the top ten ranking- and then I saw that Bipolar Happens! was #1.

Fantastic! Bipolar Happens! is an enjoyable book about a serious topic.

Guess what- it’s only $.99 I want it to be available to everyone.

Yes, I think this is a great deal and a good way to get helpful information about bipolar disorder at minimum cost. Bipolar Happens! was my first book. I knew I wanted to talk about how I manage the illness, but I [ Read More ]

Robin Williams

Robin Williams has died from apparent suicide. This is a tough one. For ALL of us in the mental health world. Let’s keep perspective. This is a tragedy, but depression has symptoms and suicide is one of them. Most of us have been there. His pain was stronger than his ability to see any hope in the future. It’s what depression does to all of us. This is NO different than his dying from another illness such as cancer.

I ask that all of us who have or care about someone with a mental health disorder pass on the information that suicide is not shameful. It’s not a dirty word. It’s the outcome of an illness. Rest in peace Robin. We have been there and some of us make it out and some [ Read More ]

Upcoming BP Magazine Blog. Partner of a Person with Bipolar Disorder? There is hope. There is help.. even in the most desperate situations.

Hi Guys- I originally posted this for the blog, but realized it was so good it needed to go on my BP Magazine blog, so it will be up soon and I will post the BP Mag link here. I can offer some tips now if you are a partner of someone with bipolar disorder who drinks- to hold you over until the blog is posted!

1. Create an alcohol free zone in the house. It’s easy for the person with bipolar to take over the house when they get drunk. If you make it a rule that they can only drink in the garage or the back yard for example, it frees up your house which in turn frees up your mind so that you can think of how to handle [ Read More ]