Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Friends and the Health Cards

Before I wrote the Health Cards to help manage my bipolar disorder- my friends had no idea what was going on with me. Actually, I had no idea what was going on with me!
I have taught my friends how to use the cards. They know my symptoms now- because I showed them my symptoms from the third column in the cards. This isn’t an intuitive thing to do. Many people with bipolar disorder keep silent about their symptoms. I couldn’t. They affected my friendships too much. I have a friend- a guy friend – who always asks me, ”Julie, when you say ‘I’m sick today’- what does that mean?” I am so impressed and thankful that he truly wants to know what bipolar does to me.” So, I tell him what it means and now he knows when I say ‘I’m sick today’ that I’m depressed and having a tough time functioning. He can then remember what my Health Cards say about depression and how he can help me. Instead of being freaked out, he asked questions. That is what the Health Cards are all about.

Click here to read about The Health Cards. It’s a bit difficult to see what they are from the title alone- this section of the webpage explains them well! They changed my relationships for ever. I know they can do the same for you. Julie

Teenagers and a Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

My bipolar disorder symptoms started with hypomania at 17. I didn’t realize this until I sat down and really thought about my teenage years. Many people have their first major episode in their 20’s- mine started earlier. My ex partner had a lot of depression before he had his first major manic/psychotic episode at 22. That was a terrible time for sure. When I think back of what he told me about college- he was definitely depressed for a long time. He told me he thought about suicide when he was a little kid. He didn’t have an episode after that for a long time- then college at 19 and he got depressed and left school.

If you have bipolar disorder, it’s really interesting to write a paragraph about what you remember between the ages of 13-19. What was the first sign you had bipolar and how long did it take from that time for you to get diagnosed?

If you have a child with bipolar disorder, what were their teenage years like?

I wasnt diagnosed until age 31. I wish it had been at 17! The earlier the diagnosis the better. If you’re a teen with bipolar, you’re lucky it was caught early. Now you can decide your future instead of bipolar disorder controlling your future!

When you’re diagnosed early, the world is your oyster. (Odd saying isn’t it!)

Julie

Work Your Way Out of Bipolar Depression

This is a long blog because it’s such an important topic- depression and work!

A friend of mine told me he was so depressed last week he watched TV all day on his day off. Of course he felt awful and wished he had done something different. I reminded him that this was very rare- since we have been working together, he has been much more productive and rarely has one of those Wheel of Fortune, soap opera, the Price is Right days!

I reminded him that depression has SO many ways to wreck our lives. It can be:

– Agitated. This is where we can’t sit still, we feel restless, can’t sleep and generally can’t sit down. We can be pretty snarky and snippy at these times.

– ADHD symptoms. This kind of depression makes it hard to focus and we tend to walk around aimlessly and get nothing done.

– Catatonic. This is the can’t get out of bed, sit in front of the TV, don’t take a bath, can’t move depression. It’s awful.

– Internal voice. This depression chatters at you all day- you will never be happy, have a partner, make money, get what you want, go where you want to go. You’re worthless, hopeless, stupid, fat, ugly and your life is pointless. It talks to us with this all day long. It’s just lovely isn’t it!!! We all hate it.

There are more types of depression, OCD, crying, etc etc. I could go on forever. I experience them all regularly.

So what is the point of this? Why do I say Work Your Way Out of Depression? Because just doing one thing- just one- you can work your way out of the pit depression has dropped you in. This is what I reminded my friend. He can remember the ideas in Get it Done When You’re Depressed and do just one of them in order to get up off the couch. It just takes one action to break the hold depression has on you. Sure, it often comes right back when you take your first action- but that is ok, because then you take your next one. Step, by step- you can work your way out of depression.

Guess what- writing this blog is my first step this morning to work my way out of the depression that has been dogging me for weeks. I wake up in a down mood, I get in my car and go to my office. I make my to do list- remind myself that this is an illness- and get to work. Step by step. When I was first diagnosed, just getting out of bed was a miracle- now I can work so much more. You can too. If you are reading this and feel stuck in the hell of depression- do one thing right now and change your brain so that you can do the next thing and then the next and get out of your house and take some action. My friend will do this the next time I’m sure- he usually does! We all have tough days- don’t let this be one of them.

You can do it!! I can do it!!

Julie

Relief for Parents

Bipolar has been terrible on my mom. She spent so many years trying to figure out how to help me. To be honest, I didn’t know what would help me before I started my Health Cards!

Things are so different now. Sometimes I get mad at her when she says, “Julie, you’re showing the signs of mania. You have to be careful. Are you doing something about it?” I taught her to ask these questions and it helps, but I often just think, good god woman! Just leave me alone!

I am a mess without her help though- she sees what I can’t. We are a team.

I still don’t think my father really understands me- we live in different states. But I know he is trying. He has read my books and says, “I’m trying hard understand this Julie, but it’s just not easy for me.” I appreciate his honesty.

I just realized that ‘we live in different states’ is a double entendre!

You have to teach your family what you need- and as a family member you have to educate yourself fully in order to understand this darn complicated illness!

Julie

PS: Growing up my dad was a submarine officer and then a pilot. He is a very interesting man. (yes, all of my long hair is gone!)

Click on the link to download a PDF file of my article:

The High Jacked House by Julie A. Fast

Don’t Forget to Read the Comments!

Many of the posts on this blog have insightful, interesting and very helpful comments after my posts. I read every comment and I learn so much from all of you!

Julie

Set a time to exercise with a friend every week. Rain or shine.

When depression makes it difficult for you to get out of the house, having plans with a dependable friend really helps. When you walk with someone you care about – or maybe even a new friend, you not only get the benefits of the exercise, but talking with the person can often take your mind off depression. Set a time to walk at least once a week.

Find someone you can talk to about your plan to walk on a schedule and ask them to pick you up. If you know someone is arriving at a certain time, you are more likely to get ready. You have to be a part of this as well. Make a rule with yourself that you won’t cancel. Even if you feel too depressed

I’m always trying to think of ways to get out and exercise when I get depressed- making someone else set the time and then expect me to be there really helps. Plus the conversation is good!

My friend Sheri and I walk a few hours at a time in downtown Portland. It’s the best I have felt in my life.

Julie