Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Schizoaffective Disorder and Toastmasters

Dawn just sent the following question:

Hi Julie,
I have decided that I will embark on a speaking career about my journey with schizoaffective disorder. Can you give me any suggestions on how to get started?
Thanks,
Dawn

Hi Dawn,

Absolutely! I started with Toastmasters and was in a club for two years. That is definitely where I would start. I also found it opened a new world of friendship when I was unable to work. I loved it. There are many clubs all over the world- it’s essential to pick a club that fits with your schedule and style. Here are some tips:

1. Find an established club.

2. Check to see how long current members have been there- this is often an indication of a strong club.

3. Ask how many members participate in the contests- not everyone has to do this- but speaking contests are a great way to know if your club is successful.

4. Ask about consistent attendance- this is a great measure of a club as well. If you go to www.toastmasters.org, you can type in a zip code and find a club near you.

Toastmasters changed my life in so many ways. I learned to speak publically of course, but it also helped me lead meetings, mead deadlines and definitely gave me a reason to stay on time and make it to every meeting, even when I was very depressed.

I am so glad you are going to talk about schizoaffective disorder. I work with many families in my coaching where they have a family member with schizoaffective. I will write a blog on the topic to give people more information.

Julie

PS: A quick definition of schizo affective disorder: People with schizoaffective disorder have bipolar disorder along with psychotic symptoms that are separate from the mania and depression. It’s a combination of both illnesses, but is far more on the bipolar side than the schizophrenia side. If you type schizoaffective disorder in the search box on the top right of the page you can find more entries. Thanks to Dawn for the question.

A note from Dawn:

Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for your suggestions and encouragement! I really appreciate them.
Thanks again,
Dawn

Hi Dawn,

I have found that all of the people I know with bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder feel better when they are around like minded people with good intentions. This may be hard on anxiety, depression and irritation, but if a person is able to at least go to an event and check it out- it can help the illness get better quickly.

The first book I ever wrote was Bipolar Happens! (It’s on www.BipolarHappens.com) I talk a lot about my journey from staying at home with depression, panic attacks and general pain and negativity to a social life with many friends. It has not been easy and it’s always a struggle, but at least I got out and did things like Toastmasters! Please keep me posted. I can tell that good things are ahead and that you will change the way we think of schizoaffective disorder. The people at Toastmasters will learn a lot!

Julie

Bipolar Disorder, Stress and a Glass of Water

Kathy C., a blog reader just sent me this. It’s long and sweet and defintely worth reading. I am putting up more ideas from readers, guest writers and guest authors. If you know of anyone who would be great for the blog, just let me know. Maybe it’s you!

Stress FACTOR…..

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience,

Raised a glass of water and asked;

‘How heavy is this glass of water?’

Answers called out ranged from 8-10oz.

The lecturer replied, ‘The absolute weight doesn’t matter.

It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.’

He continued,

‘And that’s the way it is with stress management..

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

We won’t be able to carry on. ‘

‘As with the glass of water,

You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.’

‘So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you’re carrying now,

Let them down for a moment if you can.’

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you’re the pigeon,

And some days you’re the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,

Just in case you have to eat them.

* Always wear stuff that will make you look good

If you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be

“Recalled” by their maker.

* If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,

It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,

Because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can’t dance well.

Just get up and dance.

* When everything’s coming your way,

You’re in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you.

The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,

But you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons… Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery

on a detour.

Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today….

I feel I could take each one of these truisms and talk about how they apply to bipolar!

Julie

Yahoo Shine Article: Six Surprising Signs of Depression

Liz Brody wrote an excellent article for Yahoo Shine on the six surprising signs of depression- I know I have experienced all of them! Here is the beginning of Liz Brody’s article and a link below.

Six Surprising Signs of Depression by Liz Brody

Here’s a “what-if” scenario: Your husband starts working late every night, you forget the last time you were physically intimate, and he seems to have lost interest in you. Shall we cut to the chase? The guy’s having an affair. Slam dunk, change your Facebook status.

Maybe not. These signs are some of the lesser-known symptoms of depression. which affects nearly 1 out of 10 Americans, according to CDC figures released just in time for National Depression Screening Day. Throughout the country today, October 7, you can get a free, anonymous mental health evaluation at one of 1,500 facilities or by taking a three-minute test online. “You can do the screening for yourself, or for a loved one you’re worried about,” says Kathryn Quirk, spokesperson for Screening for Mental Health, which developed the special day that screened 250,000 people last year. “Depression is a treatable, under-diagnosed disease. And this is where you can take the first step.”

Click here to read the rest of Liz’s article:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/6-surprising-signs-of-depression-2397387/

Have you or the person you care about experienced the symptoms she describes?

PS: I would like to add a 7th: Irritation. Did you know that there are two different types of depression? WEEPY AND IRRITATED. I have both. What about you?

Julie

PSS: Here is another link for Depression Screening Day- which is apparently today!

http://www.thirdage.com/news/depression-screening-day-october-7_10-7-2010

Bipolar Mania and Obsessions

I just recieved this comment from Melissa. Most of us have been here. That is for sure. It’s so important to remember that we are not weird or obsessive when we aren’t ill. Most of us are darn normal! It’s the illness- which means we have to become experts at managing the illness. Here is Melissa’s comment and my reply:

Julie,

I’m revved up and getting amped out. I can’t concentrate on my work. I’m seeing the three S’s – speeding, spending ; sex – on the increase. I battle with it constantly it seems and today I seem to be losing. I was triggered by the possibility of not getting to see someone I’ve been fantasizing about anymore so I’ve been trying to contact him. No-no. I took my PRN but it really isn’t helping. Good grief I’m having problems with this and I’m rambling to boot. Sorry. Melissa,

Hi Melissa,

Oh yes! We all know this feeling! It’s impossible to explain to others isn’t it. Maybe a fighter pilot- race car driver or extreme skier can understand?

The obsessions that come with mania are awful- and we will do things to calm the obsessions such as calling someone too much to get the relief of hearing his or her voice. But it starts all over again and then we get embarrassed and upset with ourselves and have to call them again to calm that down.

I have been there- but managed to stop the behavior two years ago by becoming celibate! – this doesn’t mean the impulse isn’t still there- it is- and often in full force- but I can control it more. I do not plan to remain celebate- but for now, I have to in order to do my work and have a ‘normal’ life.

I am so glad you wrote on the blog as it shows you have some insight into what’s going on. Fantasizing about someone you can’t have- or who isn’t interested in you is a black hole of pain. No matter what- keep yourself from calling- if this means running around the block, calling a therapist or friend, writing on the blog or whatever- throw your phone in the river! Ha ha. I’ve felt like doing this in the past. Remember, all obsessions pass if you don’t give into them.

When you get through this episode, you can work on preventing the mania the next time. Not dating has been a challenge lately and it can be lonely- but it’s keeping me well.

Let me know how you are! Julie

Bipolarity and The Social Network aka Facebook

I just had another client email where someone used the term bipolarity. Amazing. I heard it for the first time just a month ago. That is the power of the internet. Speaking of the internet, I saw the movie The Social Network yesterday. I strongly recommend it. There is so much to learn from the movie that has to do with bipolar disorder management. Here is what I mean:

1. If we act without knowing why we act, we will be in trouble. In other words, if you’re depressed and it is distorting your mind, you will act based off of the distortion and cause damage in your life. I did it until I created my management plan (Health Cards, Take Charge, Etc). Now I always try to say to myself- why am I doing this? Is it me? Jealousy? Bipolar? In the past it was mostly BIPOLARITY. Now I am pretty aware of why I do what I do.

2. Friends matter. Nurture them and keep them and get rid of the ones who don’t bring joy to your life. People who manage the illness well know the importance of friends.

3. Even if you’re depressed, you can enjoy a good movie. I did.

Julie

Reader Question: What is the difference between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?

What is the difference between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder- bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia share some symptoms, but in reality are very different. When my ex partner Ivan got extremely sick in 1994 and was committed to the hospital in a manic/psychotic episode, the first step was to rule out schizophrenia as they look so similar when the symptoms are full blown. Schizophrenia is characterized by chronic psychotic symptoms whereas the psychosis in bipolar disorder is episodic.

Of course the duration of psychosis can vary in both. When a person has bipolar disorder along with chronic, stand alone psychosis, the illness is called schizoaffective disorder. Psychosis comes in two basic forms- hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations include seeing, feeling, smelling or hearing something that isn’t there. I’ve had a lot of hallucinations over the years to seeing rats run around chairs, hearing voices that tell me to leave where I am, and seeing my wrists cut when they really weren’t!

Delusions are different- delusions are false beliefs. Such as believing a radio station is sending you private messages or that the government has planted a receiver in your brain. I have had only one delusion in my life- I thought a billboard had a special message for me. It was not fun. Schizophrenia is all about hallucinations and delusions- bipolar disorder is much more about depression and mania.

Julie