Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder and ignorance….

I used to hear these comments a lot before I was diagnosed. (I still hear some of them now!)

Why can’t Julie just settle down?
Why is Julie always doing things that make her sick?
What is Julie’s problem?
Why is Julie so weird?

They were often said to my mom.

My mom and I both know what to say now- we have educated everyone we know about the illness. The Health Cards helped as they educated her first.

Now, I see it as an educational/informational opportunity.

Here is what I say:

I know my behavior seems odd… (fill in the behavior here). It’s normal for people with bipolar disorder to be this way- most of us have trouble with… (fill in the problem here!) We try hard to function in a normal way, but just like someone with a physical illness like (choose your illness!) we have so many darn challenges. I love the books by… (Julie!) I think you would find some interesting info about bipolar disorder that can help you see that I’m not weird, I just have a weird illness.

Then it’s up to them to either remain ignorant or support you. You’ve done your best. I’ve found that almost everyone responds to this in a positive way unless they have their own mood issues they are not addressing….

Julie

PS: My books Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder have specific sections for family members. If you can get them to read the books, life will be a lot easier for you!

Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Suicidal thoughts are normal when you have bipolar disorder.

I remember driving one day when I was very stressed and unhappy. I was on a busy road and saw a red light up ahead. My mind said, “Julie, you can just run that red light and a car will hit you and all will be taken care of!” These thoughts used to scare me a lot. I now know they’re a response to stress. When I told my friend Lani this story she said, “Well, your brain thought is was helping!”

So true. These thoughts are not real. They are manufactured by a bipolar brain. Don’t believe them.

If you are suicidal right now, you have options other than killing yourself.

#1 Say to yourself: I have bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts are normal. Say it over and over again until you get help.

#2 Call anyone and do anything to get help and be honest when you talk to someone. “I’m suicidal and I need help.” You can walk directly to an ER and do this. Crisis lines are there to help. They know what they are doing. Call a friend.

#3 Don’t worry if you’re embarrassed. Better embarrassed than no longer on the planet.

When I’m suicidal, it’s always a sign that my meds are not working or that an event has happened to send me over the edge. I try to focus on fixing those things instead of listening to the suicidal thoughts. These suicidal thoughts are often the result of something you can definitely change. Once it is changed, you can get back to baseline. If you kill yourself over an event it’s not effective. It’s more effective to deal with the situation or leave it completely.

There are definitely situations where the bipolar is 100% responsible for the suicidal thoughts. Nothing has happened and there is no reason you should be so miserable. These suicidal thoughts have to be taken very seriously as your brain is really malfunctioning. This is when medications are 100% essential. Don’t hesitate to take meds.

Keeping yourself alive is all that matters when you’re suicidal. If you can’t do this for yourself-turn yourself over to someone who can.

Remember: No one stays suicidal all of the time. It ends.

If you had brain cancer you would ask for help with ease. Asking for help with suicidal bipolar thoughts is no different.

Julie

PS: I had my first suicidal episode at 19. I am now 48. It can be managed.

Bipolar Disorder and Exercise

I’ve had a lot of physical injuries since my bipolar disorder diagnosis in 1995. A lot of it has to do with the 23 medications I tried. The up and down weight gain and the stress the meds put on my immune system have really taken a toll!

These days I focus on my physical health all day long. I still struggle with my diet-oh well. The future can always be different.

But I always exercise.

Why am I writing this? Because our physical bodies are something we can control when we have bipolar disorder. Most of us can exercise- even when depressed.

I remind myself that the depression in my life is a reality- but so is my ability to take care of my body when my mind is not healthy.

What do you think?

Exercise makes us feel good!

Julie

PS: That’s not me on the ball, though I do have one at home.

A reader shares her life experiences with bipolar mania.

Hey, Julie. I was just listening to your radio show on iTunes. I am a little behind. I thought, it was funny, they did not give you any information when you were first diagnosed. In 1999, I (at 23 years old) was very manic and I was told I was Bipolar.

They gave me some pills and the doctor told me and my family to look it up on the Internet. Which just fueled my manic state because I was like you- I needed more help.

I do not have the support of my whole family. I have three brothers and three sisters. So some of them act like I am the only one with a problem. But I have the support of my best friend and her mother who understand me, and they understand what being Bipolar is like for me. I love your show and I love the information you send me. ‘

Oh a little advice, if I am manic, I try to do things that are good (like writing a letter, or cleaning, one time I know I was having a major episode, so I did three weeks worth of work for my college classes so when I came down I had the work done so I could focus on me!) I know it will not last, so I try to have as much fun as I can. I did have spending problems to the point that I had to file bankruptcy. So when I am manic, I try not to go shopping. I try to be with people who know I am Bipolar so they can tell me if I go overboard.

Congrats on the show.

I had a mental health radio show in 2008. It was pretty amazing. If you go to iTunes and look up Julie Fast, you can listen to the show!

Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You!

Wow. Thank you for all of your support for the Bipolar Disorder 101 group coaching call. I really appreciate the comments and am glad so many people enjoyed the call. I know I’m a speed demon! I will send out the number to access the recording this weekend, so please check back on the blog. The Group Coaching tab on the menu bar has information on the next coaching events.

Thanks to the over 100 people who joined the call! Julie

PS: We had listeners from Australia, Japan and England. Great!

Click below to find out how to listen to a recording of the call for free. You can download the call as well.

Click here to listen to the Bipolar Disorder 101 Coaching Call

Julie

PS: This is a great call for those who don’t want to talk about the diagnosis. They can listen in private which really helps a lot when you are struggling with a bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Newsletter: Lamictal and bipolar disorder sleep problems

Hi Julie,

I was recently diagnosed with bipolar.I am now taking Lamictal. The only side effect Ive had is sleeplessness. I ‘ sleep, I cant sleep, I quit coffee. I quit drinking coke. I have done everything to sleep. I get maybe 3 hours if ‘ lucky. I’m new to this drug on my first week so I am on a low dosage. 25mg. for the first 14 days. Does this get better?? Do you sleep finally as the dose gets bigger! UGH!!

Hi Deborah,

There are so many different side effects with each drug. The drugs can even cause opposite side effects such as making one person sleepy and the other revved up. I have not heard of Lamictal causing sleeplessness, but it’s certainly a possibility. Also, that really is a small dose. It’s very good to start small and go up. The general dose is 250mg though it ranges greatly. My mom takes 100mg and I take 500mg! I started at 10mg.

Sleep problems can really exacerbate bipolar disorder as they can lead to mania- on the other hand- mania can cause the sleep problems. Here’s how to know the difference:

When a person has sleep problems with mania, they don’t tend to be tired the next day. They can get up and get on with their day with energy. Do you feel normal the next day?

Sleep problems due to a drug often make the person tired, upset and unfocused the next day- or even abnormally tired, such as falling asleep in the middle of the day and drooling on a pillow. I call this pass out sleeping.

The question is how you feel the next day after you don’t sleep.

Next question, Did you try any other meds before you went on Lamictal? Are they still in your system?

Side effects definitely lessen, but sleep issues are too serious to ignore. I would talk with your doctor and explain the symptoms. It may be you need a sleep aid such as Ativan (which is what I use) to help you sleep so the Lamictal can work. But… you don’t really want to take that every night. Another option is one of the new drugs such as Lunesta. Also, ask your doctor about using Benedryl as well. All of these have risks.

There are definitely choices, but you really need to tell your doctor what is happening as you have to make sure it’s not mania!

Julie

PS: Here is some advice from Shana:

Hi Julie, just wanted to let you know that sleeplessness is a side effect of lamictal. Strangely, it is not one identified often by the manufacturer or by medical sites. However it is repeated as anecdotal on various side effect forums on the ‘net.

I myself experienced it. It was terrible. Thankfully it went away after a few months!

** I love to hear from readers who have experienced similar symptoms. So now we know- Lamictal can definitely cause sleeplessness- when this happens, definitely talk to your doctor and get some sleep help. You may need to change drugs. many of us, Lamictal is definitely worth it. I really need to start calling it Generic Lamotrigine!

julie

PS: Lamotrigine is the generic name for Lamictal