Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Amazing Parenting Resource Website

I am going to speak to a branch of the Stand Up Parenting organization in the next few months. I am quite amazed at the quality of what they offer for parents in terms of learning skills to work with teens and adult children. It definietly translates to parents of children with bipolar disorder.

http://www.standupparenting.org/

A dear friend of mine has a 14 year old son who is really acting like a 14 year old! He said to me, “Where are the groups for parents who are great parents who need more skills to deal with teens!”

I look foward to speaking to the group here in Portland, Oregon.

Julie

Bipolar Depression and hot chili soup

Well, these are actually tips to trick depression!

Go about your day even when the depression is lurking at your back and knocking at your door. It may feel like you can’t get out and get things done, but you can. Your legs still work- and you are still you.

Watch There is Something About Mary or Bowfinger.

Find the Success Baby picture on this blog.

Remind yourself over and over again that depression feels the same every single time- no matter when the situation. This means it’s an illness and not you.

Eat some hot sundubo Korean soup. I am not joking here- very hot chilies release endorphins. You can also eat hot Thai food.

Julie

A Thought for the Day

Just because one things goes ‘wrong’ it doesn’t mean that all things are going wrong!

Bipolar is a tricky task master- it says- oh, something just caused you some trouble? That’s because it has always caused you trouble and it will always cause you trouble in the future. Things will always go wrong for you!

In truth, all and I mean all situations are separate experiences. What lead to the moment and what comes after the moment are separate as well. Don’t judge one moment in time against all of your life.

We can get through anything- especially the little things that bipolar disorder tells us are so important.

Most events are not that important. They come and go. Things go wrong and we move on. What matters is that we don’t connect these events to other events to create a stream of WRONGNESS!

It’s just one event at at time. Julie

This is a note to myself….. as well as readers. 😉

Help for bipolar disorder rapid cycling: Answer to reader question

A Reader Question for Julie Fast

I just received a comment from Reanna about her rapid cycling that won’t stop. I have been there so I understand! She asked a question about bipolar disorder treatment. Here is the question and my answer:Julie,Reading your posts has been very helpful–thank you! I have been having a horrible time with “mixed episodes” in where I will be up for a few hours, then out of no where, boom, I am down, then up, then down! My dr. ordered blood tests, but any suggestions on coping methods until the tests kick in?Reanna

Hi Reanna, Oh yes, I certainly understand. I have done that rapid cycling. It’s hard to get all of the terms straight with this illness! When you go up and then down- that is rapid cycling. A lot of rapid cycling. We are similar. I can have five or more mood swings a day. I always say it makes me feel like a rag doll someone is throwing up in the air over and over again!A mixed episode (also called dysphoric mania) is not up and down in discrete mood swings- it means that you are depressed and manic at the same time- which is also called dysphoric mania. The best way to describe this is that instead of the rag doll being thrown up and down, it’s begin yanking from all sides. It hurts inside and out!

It’s interesting that you’re getting a blood test- that is always important. It is used to rule out thyroid problems as well as to check the levels of meds you may be on such as checking lithium levels. There is no blood test for bipolar disorder. One day there will be!Also, if you have rapid cycling like this- it’s rarely a good idea for you to take anti depressants- and if you ever do, they absolutely must be with a strong mood stablizer such as Lithium, Tegretol or Depakote- or with an anti psychotic such as Zyprexa, Risperdal or Serequel- you can take them with Lamictal- but Lamictal is often not strong enough to hold back the rapid cycling caused by anti depressants. Also, anti depressants in people with rapid cycling have a chance of causing suicidal episodes. I just went through this with Zoloft! I’m glad you have a doctor to help you with this!

These drugs help- but they can have a lot of side effects- so the right combination at the right dose is essential.As for tips, I really love my Health Cards Treatment Plan, but as you are going up and down so much- I think that Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder is your best choice for now. It has a lot of explanation, but also a lot of tips. It’s an easy read. Remember, even if you just implement a few changes- you can get a lot better. I use my treatment plan every day- and I stay well enough to have a good life. You can defintely do the same!

Julie

There is more information on rapid cycling and mixed mania in the categories to your right.

Bipolar disorder anxiety and work!

I’m sitting here at my desk writing my column for BP Magazine. The topic is great- the length requirement is great. I have been writing these columns for years and usually enjoy the process. Today, things are tough. My anxiety is just hitting me from all sides! I feel it in my body- my brain and all around me. There is nothing wrong- I’m on track to write the article, even though I’m a few days past my deadline.Anxiety can be so debilitating because it’s so physical. I can sit and work when I’m depressed or mildly hypomanic. I can even work when I’m mildly psychotic. But anxiety is tough!!!!!I have to finish this though- I need a plan.

1. Change my writing position. I have a crate I use on top of my desk where I can stand up and write instead of sitting.

2. Do a few minutes of yoga. I have yoga lessons on my Itunes- I can just play a lesson right from my computer. I like yogajournal.com

3. Remind myself that I will feel 1000x better if I get this done today and sent to my editor. Otherwise, it’s just another work albatross I have to carry around.

4. And, as always- I will keep something very important in mind.. all day… I have bipolar disorder. Anxiety is a normal part of bipolar disorder. It comes and goes. This will be gone by the end of the day I’m sure. Especially when I finish this article.I’m glad I have my treatment plan. It helps me remember what anxiety feels like so that I’m not confused about what is happening. Oh, it’s so uncomfortable! But I can definitely work through it! Do you have anxiety that makes it difficult to work? Julie

Here is a picture of a stand up desk. I have had a lot of success with this style of working- but I have to admit, I don’t have a treadmill attached to my desk. I just use a plastic bin! 🙂

Basic Questions About Bipolar Depression

How does depression find all of the bad and or depressing memories in our brain and then replay them over and over again. Where are the positive memories and how does depression skip them? Does this mean that negative memories are stored in a certain part of the brain that depression can access- or does it mean that we have negative and positive neurotransmitters – and the negative neurotransmitters are the ones triggered? Maybe serotonin goes both ways!Maybe depression blocks out the chemicals in our brains that produce positive thoughts?I have endless questions about depression. It’s the same with mania. Where does a thought and feeling such as, “I’m a genius, ” come from?Why is it so easy to write depressing music when we’re depressed?Fascinating stuff. I have to approach depression with a spirit of fascination and discovery- because that is the only way we will find answers to these very complex questions.What do you think about when you think about bipolar depression? The PET scans below tell us something, but what? The more we know, the better the medications! And eventually, we may be able to control these brain changes on our own!Julie