Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Just Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? I know what you’re going through!

I remember how it feels.

When I was finally diagnosed in 1995 (after a slightly manic trip to China!), I was very relieved to have an explanation for why I had been so odd for so long. Many questions were answered.

If you were diagnosed, you may be very scared, worried or even incredulous. What? I have a serious mental illness! No way! Then you read all of the symptoms and it makes sense.

If you love someone with the illness, you are probably scared and worried

Here are some facts about bipolar disorder:

– People with bipolar disorder can absolutely get better after a diagnosis! Most do.

– Bipolar disorder medications work. They have side effects and they can make you fat and upset, tired and cranky, but they work. They save lives in many ways. I tried 22 meds until I found the right medications. My meds changed recently as my [ Read More ]

Advice for a tough night….

Bipolar Disorder Poll: What Symptom is the Hardest for Your Family and Friends to Understand?

Over 200 readers have voted. I want to put this poll up again to see if the mood has changed in the past few years. What is your answer? If you care about someone with bipolar disorder, please give your opinion as well. I’m actually surprised at the results. I thought that the highest vote would be mania! Let’s see what it’s like in 2014! Julie

Take Our Poll (function(d,c,j){if(!d.getElementById(j)){var pd=d.createElement(c),s;pd.id=j;pd.src=’https://www.bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/wp-content/plugins/polldaddy/js/polldaddy-shortcode.js’;s=d.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(pd,s);} else if(typeof jQuery !==’undefined’)jQuery(d.body).trigger(‘pd-script-load’);}(document,’script’,’pd-polldaddy-loader’));

What is the Difference between Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder?

It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between bipolar disorder and schizo affective disorder once you know what to look for.

Bipolar disorder is an episodic disorder that has two main mood swings: MANIA and DEPRESSION. A person with bipolar disorder can also have psychosis. Statistically, 70% of people with bipolar disorder one will have psychosis when they are in a full blown manic episode. This means that most people with bipolar disorder one have psychosis. People with bipolar disorder two can also have psychosis- I do- but it rarely comes with hypomania which is the type of mania you see in bipolar disorder two. This means that SOME people with bipolar disorder two will have psychosis, but it will almost always be associated with depression.

Here is the important point to remember: [ Read More ]

Book contest with Sherry Joiner author of Sherry Goes Sane: Living a Life with Schizoaffective Disorder

Win a painting in the Sherry Goes Sane book contest!

Click here for information on how you can win this beautiful picture from my friend and fellow mental health writer Sherry Joiner the author of Sherry Goes Sane: Living a Life with Schizoaffective Disorder. I love to support other mental health writers.

Many of my readers have schizoaffective disorder- it’s similar to bipolar disorder of course, but comes with its own challenges. Sherry is SUCH a success story! I know you will love her book! Julie

Bipolar Disorder on the Road Book Excerpt 2: Why does travel trigger bipolar disorder symptoms?

Click here to read part one of this series on bipolar disorder and travel.

What is the goal of my next book On the Road with Bipolar Disorder: Four Steps to Successful and Stable Travel?

The goal of this book is to help you manage your bipolar disorder before, during and after you travel. It’s a four step process:

1. Prep

2. Travel

3. You’re There

4. Back Home

Have you ever noticed that stories in the news about troublesome bipolar disorder behavior often involve travel? This happens because travel condenses a large number of bipolar disorder triggers into a very short period of time. Here are the most common bipolar disorder triggers due to travel:

1. Travel [ Read More ]