Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Why Do People With Bipolar Disorder Go Off Their Meds?

My latest blog tells the story of two mothers whose daughters went off their bipolar disorder meds.

They asked me why they didn’t notice this was happening.

My latest blog for BP Magazine answers their question.

Click here to read the blog. Make sure to leave a comment if you have any questions or advice!

Julie

What Makes You Happy?

Bipolar Disorder one and Bipolar Disorder two

#2 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIPOLAR I(ONE) AND BIPOLAR II (TWO)? It’s often difficult to know the difference between the two main types of bipolar disorder. It can even be difficult for health care professionals to explain unless they have had special training on the topic. When you know the facts, you can see that the difference between the two is actually quite simple.

Bipolar I and Bipolar II (two)have the exact same symptoms in terms of depression and both have mania. The difference between the two diagnoses is the type of mania a person experiences. Bipolar I (one) has full blown mania while Bipolar I has hypomania.

What is the difference between full blown mania and hypomania you may wonder? The difference is intensity.

Full blown mania if untreated usually leads to a hospital stay- especially if it’s someone’s first episode. This episode usually starts around the age of 20. The mania can [ Read More ]

Is Irritability a Sign of Bipolar Hypomania?

Hi, I just received this question from Sandra:

Q. Julie, is irritability a sign of hypo-mania? I’m also going from calm and patient to incredibly angry in minutes (seconds?). Any ideas? I do have an appointment to see my therapist today.

Sandra

A: Oh yes, mania can cause irritation and anger. It’s called dysphoric mania. You can also be scattered, unable to do tasks calmly and act snappy and cry in frustration. The main problem is that it affects your sleep. If you have dysphoric mania is also called mixed mania or agitated mania.

If you go from mania to depression and back, it’s called rapid cycling. I’ve lived with constant rapid cycling for years. It can be managed with a good treatment plan.

If you’re on new meds or have had a change in meds, this can cause the dysphoric mania. If [ Read More ]

My Motto: Do What You Can, When You Can, If You Can

I’m often embarrassed at how little I can get done due to bipolar disorder. It’s so easy to be hard on myself for what I see as a PERSONAL PROBLEM. I have days where I can’t work at all. Not even an hour. It has been like this forever, but I’m still ridiculously upset when it happens.

The reality? Bipolar disorder is often dis-abling. I may want to answer my Facebook comments or record a short blog or even clean my room, but the task it too overwhelming. There are many days I simply can’t do what I want to do- even if it’s the most basic of tasks.

I hate it. We all hate it.

The only way out is to do what you can. For example, I have writings from the past ten years that are a wealth of information about managing this illness.

[ Read More ]

Grief, Bipolar Depression and Lamictal

I just received this question from Eileen:

Julie,

It seems that I am having a very rough time managing my bipolar type 2 when my life is turned upside down and had to take a temporary leave of absence from work to take care of my Mom and spend time with her in her final stages of terminal cancer.

I am not functioning well at all.

Suggestions ? I am going to re read some of your books that I have but am not going to do everything at once. Fortunately my Mom has 24 hour paid caregivers around the clock and is receiving Hospice care.. Yet, my emotions are all over the wall and I am on a low dose of Lamotrigine at 25 mg and wondered if I should up the dose .

Thanks

Hi Eileen,

First off, 25 mg. of Lamictal [ Read More ]