Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might get manic or is getting manic. If you’re feeling the symptoms of mania right now. You know what to do!
PS: Sun is a wonderful thing- but it can also be very sneaky. Be careful!
I’m very proud of the BipolarHappens.com newseltter. The following is an example of the quality advice you will receive when you sign up to your right. I try to make the newsletters fun and informative.
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Five Mistakes People With Bipolar Disorder Need to Avoid!
1. Overuse of caffeine. Ah yes, coffee, tea, Mountain Dew, energy drinks and even the natural stuff. They keep you up for a while and then either lead to the shakes or a crash. They then cause sleep problems. If you have more than one regular coffee a day, simply ask yourself if it affects your sleep. If it doesn’t, then have it! If, like me, only one iced coffee late in the afternoon will keep me up for hours, then you have to think if it’s worth it.
2. Stay in relationships that are argumentative. There is nothing worse for bipolar disorder than fighting. When I used to allow fights to happen in my family, I would have an immediate suicidal thought such as, “I just want to die.” In order to stop the thoughts and the pain that comes with them, I stopped arguing. This meant that certain people had to go. It also meant that my contact with some family members had to change. Yes, it was me or them. I chose me. I’m the one who gets sick and has to live with the anxiety and the depression. Interestingly, many people understand this and know that I have to leave contentious situations no matter what. That helps.
3. Let irritation take over. Bipolar disorder can lead to a lot of irritation and anger. This can even lead to violence. I remember one day a few years ago that was pretty bad. I could feel that I was irritated and that I needed to just calm down and make sure I didn’t take it out on anyone. Yes, I did have a coffee! That is going to stop! A man pulled out in front of me on a busy road and literally drove across two lanes to get to a side street. I honked my horn and thought- ‘my god, what a stupid driver.’ Then he flipped me off. I was already irritated enough and this sent me a bit over the edge. I actually had the thought that I needed to chase him down and show him he can’t flip me off when he is the one who is stupid! It’s hard to explain to others that this feeling is different than just normal anger. When it’s bipolar disorder related, if feels like a need. As though it would be the right thing to do. Reasoning leaves and it’s all emotion. I’ve learned to fight this and you can too. Because I was already aware that I was irritated for no reason, I kept myself from chasing down the car. I then realized that I needed to change direction in my own day and see what was really going on. I did and the irritation left by the afternoon.
That sounds like a boxing match. People who have full blown mania have Bipolar I. People who have hypomania have Bipolar II. It’s extremely important that you know what diagnosis you have.
I have quite a few friends with bipolar I. All of them have been in the hospital because of psychotic mania. If you have been hospitalized or you know someone who has been hospitalized for mania- they have Bipolar I.
I have Bipolar II. This means that I have all of the same depression symptoms as Bipolar I, but my mania is milder- which is why it’s called hypomania. Hypomania is so sneaky- it can destroy your life just like full blown mania- but because it’s milder it’s usually seen as a lack of personal control and is often not diagnosed.
Do you have full blown mania or hypomania? I talk about this in all of my books. It’s important to know the difference.
Group Coaching Call for Partners of People
with Bipolar Disorder
“When I went into this relationship there were two people, now bipolar disorder makes it feel like there are three.”
Does bipolar disorder negatively affect your relationship? You’re not alone if it does. Bipolar disorder is notorious for creating relationship problems. It’s also easy for you to get lost when a partner is ill.
Are you interested in the following topics?
Communicating with your partner during mood swings.
Sex. (Just one word and yet so complicated!)
The complex world of medications.
Lack of insight or refusal of the diagnosis.
An end to caretaking.
Successful bipolar disorder management.
Then this coaching call is for you. Whether your relationship is doing well, but you need more bipolar disorder tips or your relationship is currently controlled by the ups and downs of the illness, I will show you how to improve your relationship forever. The calls will also answer these questions:
Will my partner get better?
Is bipolar disorder going to ruin our relationship?
Will my partner ever accept the bipolar disorder diagnosis?
Will my partner ever learn to manage this illness successfully?
Will my partner find the right medications?
When will my life be important too?
About the calls: There are two calls in the series. The first focuses on the problems, challenges and questions you, as a partner may have about bipolar disorder. The second call is 100% focused on strategies you can use to create a loving and stable relationship.
When I have a lot of mood swings- managing bipolar disorder becomes my job. Everything I do has to be examined- will this help me get better? Will this make me more ill?
It’s hard. I just want to be a person who gets up, works, sees friends and family, has fun and goes to bed. That is my dream! I have lived it a few times.
When the bipolar comes back, I have to be ready for it.
This afternoon, I saw a nice looking woman who was in her 50’s walking down the street. She was very well dressed. The well part of me thought, “Wow, those are great shoes!” The sick part of me thought, “What is the point of even looking at her shoes, we will all be dead eventually.”
It takes a lot of work to have conflicting thoughts like these- you have to know what is real and what is ridiculous! Managing bipolar is my job when I’m sick. I do it 24 hours a day until I’m better.
Julie
A guy I know named Elijah painted these amazing shoes!
Hi, I just received this comment about a presetation I gave to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) a few weeks ago.
Julie. . . .we attended your speech in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday night. My daughter is having a hard time right now and any little “light” that she can see is SO important, so you can imagine how important it has been for her to be exposed to your hopeful messages. the time you took to speak to us afterwords was invaluble. When we were in the car she said, “Julie wasn’t ashamed- she just stood up there. ” I can’t thank you enoug for the time that you took to speak with us afterward! We bought the Health Cards. Haven’t had time to look at it yet, but WILL. Many thanks. Rebecca.
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When I meet wonderful people at my talks, I’m always happy to see mothers and fathers with their child. There is so much fear, worry, and a desire for education in these parents. I always feel good when I can chat with them. I have been there and my mother has been there. I have also been there as a sister, so I do understand the family connection. It’s different than a connection between a partner or friend.
Often the children are a bit stunned looking as they are in a crisis or just got out of the hospital. I can tell if someone is on a high dose of anti psychotics or if they are just worn out from a bad episode. I can also usually tell if someone has attempted suicide. Nothing surprises me as this is an illness with very set behavior. We all act the same when we have bipolar disorder- because it’s an illness.
Seeing the children reminds me of myself over the years and of what my mother has been through. But I’m always positive. If I can stand there helping them after all of these years of hell and fear, then they can do the same. There were many, many years I didn’t think I would make it, but I did. Bipolar disorder is a treatable illness.
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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.
The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
Watch Out for Summer Mania is my most popular article from BP Magazine.
