Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Lithium Ups and Downs

I started lithium a few months ago. It has been over fifteen years since
I last tried the drug, so this was a big decision.

My bipolar (the bipolar- what do you call your bipolar?) has steadily gotten worse over the past five years. It’s a downward curve that I constantly try to straighten. Thus the lithium. I started out with a typical dose and waited and waited and when that didn’t work, I went up to a higher dose. Within a week, I felt like I was living life under water. All I wanted to do was eat (a lot), watch European soccer and get into bed. It was truly awful. I stopped working on creative projects and had trouble focusing.

Interestingly, I was still very able to do the coaching I love, meet my work deadlines and hang out with friends- but everything else was a fog.

One day I thought- oh no! It’s the lithium! Pretty dumb that it took me that long. So I went back down to the original dosage and the underwater feeling is gone. I am still on lithium. It helps with the big down swings. I need it, but it’s always a trade off between medications and side effects. How are your meds? Or the meds of the person you care about? IS THE DOSE CORRECT?

Julie

Do you take bipolar disorder sick days? I do!

I have NEVER in the ten years since I started writing professionally finished a project without experiencing significant bipolar disorder symptoms when it was over.

It’s unfair! How can bipolar show up after something good is accomplished!

It’s just the nature of the illness. Stress can be joyful or negative and bipolar doesn’t care. Stress is a trigger either way.

One solution is to expect the inevitable and plan ahead. I give myself a few sick days after I finish a big project. True sick days where I respect the bipolar and take care of myself. I have to plan fun things to do on these sick days. I have to tell my friends and family what to expect and then I have to EASE UP on myself and let myself get back to my baseline.

I need movies and karaoke and places to go when I’m crying and unhappy.

When you have bipolar disorder or care about someone with the illness, be ready for a mood swing after a big event ends. Any kind of event. It helps to talk about this ahead of time and be prepared. My Health Cards (my treatment system) are waiting for these times. I know what to do now.

I promise myself to prepare for the inevitable after my next project and praise myself that I WILL work again no matter what my brain is saying. That I CAN get things done. I remind myself that depression lies.

I hope this helps you as well- I don’t want you to accomplish great things and then have bipolar take them away. I want you to be in charge.

Julie

Demi Lovato Talks About Bipolar Disorder on Her MTV Special: Demi Lovato: Stay Strong premieres March 6 @ 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Demi Lovato is a 20 year old pop singer who came to fame on the Disney Channel. Her very public break down in 2010 was in every tabloid and magazine you can imagine. She went into rehab and seems to be doing better.

Her special, Demi Lovato: Stay Strong will debut on MTV on March 6th. It’s great to see someone who is open about having bipolar disorder. This is especially important for teens. She may be a bit young for my musical tastes, but her message will touch everyone I’m sure.

The most original comments are from world famous blogger Perez Hilton. Here is what he said:

Gurl is always aiming higher and higher!!
That’s why we love Demi Lovato so much!!

The trailer for the MTV special is on the Perez Hilton site. Click here.

Here is another link with more background on her struggles with substance abuse, eating disorders, cutting and bipolar disorder. It’s a positive show on some very serious topics.

What Went Wrong in Demi Lovato’s Life?

She turned that headline around. Good for her!

Here is the MTV link with more about the show.

Demi Lovato: Stay Strong premieres March 6 @ 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

A Very Scientific Bipolar Disorder Poll

s319 Email

It’s Sunday evening. At this time, I have 319 emails in my inbox. This email haunts me! I think of it constantly. How did it take such control over my life? 🙂

I wrote a book on getting things done when you’re depressed, so I know what to do and that is to face facts:

I am spending more time worrying about the email than actually answering the email! It’s a waste of time and energy.

So, I have to sit down and do it.

I have to consistently remind myself that bipolar disorder is an illness that makes it hard to get things done- We can keep going even when it feels impossible.

Don’t you sometimes feel that people with bipolar disorder have it too hard work wise?

Julie

Bipolar Disorder and Triggers- watch out because they are sneaky!

I walked into a trigger this weekend. This is like walking into a brick wall that you refuse to see- even when it’s staring you in the face. It’s a hallmark of bipolar disorder.

My bipolar brain says, “Sure Julie! Of course you can do that!” and then once I do it, my stable brain says, “Oh no Julie. Look what you’ve done! You caused the monster to come out once again!”

I know better. I write the books right? I know not to be so hard on myself. This is a tricky illness. I can get mildly manic and not realize it and then make a decision that seems just fine at the time- in the past, these decisions usually involved money and men- and of course…. beer. 🙂

The good news is that I have the plan from my books that I put into place as soon as I make a mistake with a trigger. This shortens the inevitable mood swings from triggers and lets me get back to my life often in days or a week instead of the months and even a year I used to experience.

Bipolar disorder is a triggered illness- if you can learn your triggers and then avoid them whenever possible- you can stay a LOT more stable!

And drink less beer!

Julie