Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

An update from Julie: My toe and my psychosis article!

Hello!

As you may have read in my post from last week- I broke my toe. Thanks to all who wrote such nice messages. I have to admit- a broken toe- some 100 degree days here in normally moderate Portland, Oregon and the finishing touches on a 20 page article on psychosis for healthyplace.com can take a toll on a person!

But, the mood has been good. I am so thankful for that. I have continued to work.

How is the weather where you are? There are readers below the equator who may be quite cold right now. I has been so hot here, the air conditioners in the restaurants aren’t strong enough to keep them cool!

Julie

I broke my toe!

I have had many things happen physically since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Lot’s of tripping- balance problems and vision problems from bipolar disorder medication side effects. It’s odd how depression can make a person so vulnerable.

Well, I have no excuses for this one. I just stepped off a curb the wrong way! I am so thankful my mood has been stable. I have a lot of work to do and made a plan to get it all done this weekend. I said to myself, “You have a writing project that is due and you are almost done! Don’t let anything stop you from getting it done!” I broke the toe about two hours later.

This is a blog to make you smile! The toe will be fine. I am thankful I am well enough to handle it with ease!

The foot is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get an xray of our brain that shows an exact spot for bipolar disorder and then the doctor could say- there it is! We can fix that! I am sure that the PET scans of brains of people with bipolar disorder will teach us a lot. Julie

Mania and Sleep Reader Comments

Thanks to everyone for such amazing and insightful comments on the Mania and Sleep blog post. The topic is obviously so important. It really is such a chicken and the egg problem. I can be in bed and unable to sleep and I have to go through my list- am I just wound up because I stayed out late? Will I get to sleep eventually? Is it possible it’s agitated depression? What if it’s hypomania?

Then I have to truly assess if I will actually get to sleep if i just lie there. I listen to my Ipod podcasts – which helps a lot. I do sleep exercises (counting something!) and breathing. I do it all! And if I’m still awake, I say to myself. “Ok Julie, it’s essential that you sleep at least seven hours. Take your sleep meds!”

Why is it such a struggle? I think we all want to just sleep normally and bipolar can make this super hard- so the chicken and the egg- does the sleep trouble come from a trigger than can then lead to bipolar symptoms- or does the bipolar make it hard to sleep!

If you look at the blog post below, you will see a small button at the top of the post where you can click to read the comments. Wow, I learn so much from everyone.

Julie

A mania tip: If you are slightly manic and go to a crowded beach all day- it can increase the mania because of the sunlight. Wear super dark glasses and sit under an umbrella. Isn’t it amazing that the sun can affect us so strongly!

Reader Question: Bipolar Disorder and Natural Treatments

Julie,

I love your book on Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder. I am bipolar and my partner and I have been working with it for HOURS since I got out of the hospital (a true hellhole) a few days ago. I see that you work with a naturopath, but I see no mention of natural remedies that I have found VERY useful, such as Rescue Remedy and other floral remedies, essential oils, homeopathy, and special vitamin and mineral supplements. Any reason why?

Hi Satina, Thank you for your kind comments.

I’m so glad the book is helping your relationship. That book was born from a lot of pain, but it has helped so many people.I mention natural remedies in all of my other books- Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder was meant more for the partner than the person with the illness, so direct bipolar disorder treatment was not explored fully.

I mention Rescue Remedy in a lot of my work, especially in Bipolar Happens, as well as herbs and other naturally based supplements. But… I do have to stress that they are best used with medications and a solid treatment plan – and that we have to be really careful as certain supplements can interact with meds or even exacerbate symptoms. I have to be super careful with all supplements, especially those that affect serotonin!

I also feel that yoga and especially yoga breathing is a great tool for bipolar disorder management. I have a yoga mat in my office and do a short session when the anxiety gets bad. I listen to the yoga classes straight from Itunes.

I remember when my former partner Ivan came home from the hospital. He had been through SO much. He was manic and psychotic for over a month. I’m sorry your experience in the hosptial was a bad one- Ivan had a better experience as he really was too ill to manage the illness on his own. It was much easier for me that he was there. I was very scared and had no idea how to help him. I was so happy to have him home, but it certainly took time for him to acclimate back to his old life. He has always used his diet as a way to stay healthy and tried a lot of nasty tasting Chinese herbs!

I often use massage in combination with acupuncture for stress- and see my naturopathic nurse practitioner for my medication needs. Massage is also a great way to relax.I believe in a combination of western and naturopathic health care. There is a place for both. And I certainly believe that books are an important part of any plan. (And don’t forget the love of pets!)

One issue is the expense of natural treatments- more insurance plans are waking up and letting people explore their options, but there is still a long way to go. I often trade my skills such as working with an acupuncturist who wants to write a book.

It helps to get creative. I am so glad your partner is there to help and that you are working together!

Julie

Bipolar Disorder: Relationships and Respect: Reader Question

Here is a reader question from my blog on respect in relationships:

Hey Julie!

Here’s a terrible question. What if the person who is not treating you with love and respect is your husband of 16 years? My friends comment on how he treats me. He’s not a complete ogre – just mostly. But I’m afraid to address the issues and stand up to him and advocate for what I need. Any thoughts?

Hi M,

This is not a terrible question AT ALL. It’s essential that we know who exacerbates our mood swings before we can actually do something about it. At least you’re not lying to yourself and that’s admirable. Here is my advice- the day that you decide you are worth more than the pain- and that you will not longer be treated disrespectfully is the day that you will stand up to him and say-

I love you. But I am no longer willing to allow you to treat me this way. I am changing and doing all that I can to manage my illness. I would like your help and support, but if you feel you can’t give it to me- I will find support in another way. I know who I am and what I want from life. I choose to have people in my life who respect this. Can we work on this together?

At this point you’re probably saying- Julie, you’re crazy- he will never listen to me! But that is not the point. What matters is that you say it over and over again. I have also found that just being silent helps. If there is no fuel there is no fire.

My brother is so moody that I literally have no idea what mood he will be in day to day- but I know who I am and how I will react. I am stable and steady around him. He does not control me nor does he have to affect my moods. It took me a long time to realize this. He’s a wonderful man when he’s normal and a mean and yelling man when he’s not. I encourage the normal and don’t react to the meanness- instead I say – This is not ok. I will not be treated this way. I would like to have a good relationship with you, but I won’t put up with this. And then I walk away. Just the other night he got mad at me and yelled about something so stupid! I just sat there until it ended and we went on with the conversation. For most of the time we have a great relationship. He knows full well that he’s unreasonable and he’s not a happy person in many ways- but he’s my brother so I let him be who he is- but our time together is determined by his mood. There are defintely times when I cry and get depressed becuase of his behavior- it’s a typical physiological reaction to our interaction- but it’s a lot less than it used to be.

It’s hard to do this- but my health is far more important than his anger. He has to deal with that on his own. You have spent 16 years with your husband. It’s now time to decide if you want to spend 16 more years with a man who treats you disrespectfully. If the answer is yes, then it’s time for you to change and see if he can keep up! 🙂

Wow, I went off on a tangent, but I hope this helps!

Julie

PS: I have learned a lot from the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. My book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder is great even when you have the illness. It teaches skills for both partners regarding the illness and the communication problems that can arise!

Podcast: Reader Question: How do I find balance when I’m over extended!

I just received this bipolarhappens.com blog reader question from Melissa. I started to write a response and then thought- wait a minute! This would make a great question for the podcast. So, here is the question and the podcast at the end has my answer:

My prescriber and therapist contend that my lifestyle is the root of many of my problems. I just can’t seem to even visualize what a calmer lifestyle would look like let alone try for it. I have three children – one with special needs -, I work around 40 hours a week, I commute for an hour each direction and I manage the household. Yes I do have a husband which helps take some of the pressure off and then in other ways puts more pressure on. I also dabble in a party plan business and am trying to lose weight and get healthier – including starting training for a half-marathon. This probably sounds bananas to other people but I’m just not sure what to cut out. I have never known anything else. I have trouble stepping away from the cape I guess. Any input would be great.

Thanks

– Melissa –

Click on the arrow to hear the answer.

Finding Balance.