Hello to everyone! This is a reminder that I’m speaking for Cedar Hills Hospital here in Portland, Oregon on the topic of bipolar disorder. The talk is specifically for health care professionals, but many people with bipolar disorder or those who care about someone with the illness will be there. Here is the email the hospital sent out- the links are not live, so I added a live link at the bottom if you would like to register. I love meeting readers and clients! Maybe I will see you there! Julie
I’m watching the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fights with my brother Ed. We love hanging out once a month to watch the mma skills and have fun chatting and talking smack. We usually go to a bar where there is a TV in each corner. I do ok in this environment. I’ve learned to just pick a spot and stick to one TV.
Unfortunately, our regular bar can no longer afford the $1200 the UFC wants to show the fights. (Astonishing!) So I’m here at a Buffalo Wild Wings. The people are nice- the TV is huge and I can actually hear the commentators. It’s going to be packed.
The problem?
My bipolar brain.
As you can see from the picture below, there isn’t one TV in a corner. [ Read More ]
When my former partner Ivan got really sick in 1994, he told me he believed he was a genius. This upset him a lot because there was a part of him who knew this was an odd thing to feel, but the other part believed it. When he got so ill he could no longer have a coherent conversation, he definitely thought he knew more than most people. I found a piece of paper where he was listing all of his thoughts- one said, “I am genius.”
Grandiosity is characterize by a person truly, truly believing that they are better than everyone and they make sure people know it! I remember being manic once and looking in the mirror and thinking- I am more beautiful than every person I know! That [ Read More ]
Update: 6/23/14 Great news- I am available for coaching again. I left this post up as an example of how I deal with the stresses of bipolar and work by limiting my work load when needed. Julie
I’m finally accepting that I can’t be three people at once and will have to take a break from new clients in my coaching practice. It’s by far my favorite work, but reality has to be faced!
For this reason, I posted the following on my coaching page:
Hello, thank you for visiting my coaching page. My practice is currently full. I have a waiting list I want to complete before taking new clients. Please check my blog for news on when I will have available appointments. If you have already sent in a query, please [ Read More ]
How I get things done … on the days it’s hard to even get out of bed!
One of my strategies in Get it Done When You’re Depressed says- we usually worry much longer about getting something done than the time it actually takes to do the project. How true. I’ve recently worried for over a week about a project that I finally did this morning in a very short amount of time.
I’m a columnist for the wonderful Bp Magazine. I love writing the column and am very proud of my work. I didn’t miss a deadline for over five years. Then, as my bipolar disorder got really bad a few years ago and I had to go back on meds, I found myself getting behind with my writing. It has been a challenge. I made my deadline [ Read More ]
My name is Gayathri Ramprasad. I’m the author of the upcoming memoir from Hazelden Shadows in the Sun: Healing from Depression and Finding the Light Within.
Julie and I have been friends and mental health colleagues for almost ten years. It’s exciting to finally announce that the book we originally discussed in a restaurant booth when we were both starting our mental health advocacy work is finally a reality. The book comes out in March, but Julie wanted me to introduce myself to everyone before we talk more about the release.
I was born and raised in Bangalore, India, amidst ancient traditions, and a large, loving extended family of twenty-three – grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. My happy childhood, however, gave way to a traumatic adolescence. [ 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.
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