Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Watch out for Summer Mania! Do you know the first signs of your manic episodes?

Watch out for summer mania- my latest post on FACEBOOK.

April may be the cruelest month, but August is the mania month! What are your first signs of mania? Write them below and maybe we can prevent a few hospitalizations this year. Mine is always a ridiculous need to buy drawing and writing implements to the point that I can spend $100 on Sharpies and drawing paper. I also have the thought- oh, life is finally so good! So good! Here are a few more:

You can find the rest of this on my Julie A. Fast FACEBOOK page. I’m spreading the blogging love!

Bipolar Disorder and Keeping Your Friends

Bipolar Disorder and Friendship

I lost many of my friends when I was really ill with bipolar disorder.

That was over 10 years ago. When I started to get better through using my treatment plan 24 freaking hours a day! I thought carefully about the things I needed to change and learn in order to become a good friend. Here is my biggest suggestion if you want to do the same:

If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything. This is a great place to start when you want to make friends. No one likes negativity. No one wants to hear how rotten your life is. I used to be super negative and I always complained about how terrible it is to have bipolar disorder. Now I just go [ Read More ]

Ten FACTS I’ve Learned from Coaching Family Members and Partners of People with Bipolar Disorder

I’ve been a coach for family members and partners of people with bipolar disorder for over five years. I’ve learned a LOT in this time that I rarely see in books or online. I’d like to share this with you. It’s not completely scientific as it’s from my own research. I’ve talked with thousands of family members and partners since starting BipolarHappens.com in 2002, so the pool of information is very large.

1. People with bipolar disorder go to college at a much higher rate than the national average.

2. The pot, marijuana, weed, etc on the market today is much, much higher in THC than in the past and can cause psychosis in people with bipolar disorder. People are talking about this now- I didn’t learn about it until working with [ Read More ]

Bipolar Happens! is in the Top Ten of Bipolar Disorder Books on the Kindle!

Bipolar Happens: 35 Tips and Tricks to Manage Bipolar Disorder is in the top ten of Bipolar Disorder books 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 up there as well.

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 [ Read More ]

Accepting New Family Member and Partner Coaching Clients

Writing books on bipolar disorder has been my career for over ten years. I enjoy writing and plan to do a lot more. (It can be a challenge when the mood swings are paying a visit, that’s for sure.)

Over four years ago, I started coaching partners and family members of people with bipolar disorder as an addition to my writing career.

I never, ever thought I would find work that I enjoy as much as I enjoy coaching. I feel at home with the parents and partners as I have been where they are- and I remain calm during the crises that many of my clients are going through while we are working together. Bipolar disorder is like a puzzle. It’s not always easy to find the right pieces on your own. [ Read More ]

Very Good Job! Good for You Julie!

Before I created The Health Cards- I used to be terrifically hard on myself. I don’t think I praised myself for years- except when I was manic of course and then the praise was a bit grandiose. 😉

I now praise myself each time I accomplish something. Always. It’s automatic now- even when I’m depressed. When I finish something, I have the thought- Good for you Julie!

Do you do this? It took me a while to master the technique, but I’m glad I did. It’s a lot better than what my mind used to say.

Julie