How I manage bipolar disorder successfully……I get a lot of questions from readers asking how I can do so well despite having chronic bipolar disorder mood swings. Here is my long answer. There is a short answer as well. I will put that at the end! **
I can vividly recall what my life was like in 1995. I was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I had NO idea what do to about it. There were literally no treatment plan books on the market- Kay Redfield Jamison’s book An Unquiet Mind came out that year and I devoured it! I felt hope from the book, but didn’t learn how to manage the illness. My medical bills were large and not being able to work put a huge strain on my partner Ivan. After two more years of medication troubles and constant mood swings, I said enough is enough and decided to create a plan of my own. I wanted to stay alive and work and have friends and have a life! I called this plan the Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder. You can read more about it on this blog.
That was over 15 years ago and I have reached my goals- I can work. I have a lot of friends and life is so much better than it was then. Do I still have bipolar mood swings? Yes I do! I have bipolar disorder symptoms daily, but by managing the illness with my treatment plan I have saved thousands of dollars in hospital bills, stopped all impulsive spending, no longer make disastrous relationship decisions and have created a system that lets me easily recognize my earliest signs bipolar disorder symptoms so that I can counteract each and every one of them with the right steps to really manage my life and get on with the life I want to live.
My family and close friends know exactly what to do when and now easily recognize and understand my bipolar disorder symptoms. They no longer have to live with the fear, confusion and worry that our loved ones pften face. They know exactly how to help and what each of the earliest signs look like. Having a treatment plan has taught them of what to do and how to really help with this often confusing and complex illness. Just the other day- I went out for lunch with my friend Avi. After about an hour he said, “Julie, you told me to be honest with you. And I’m seeing the signs that you’re manic.” I was so upset! I said, “It must be because I drank regular coffee! ” I wasn’t upset with him- but with the illness. I was finally feeling good- but because he knew the Health Cards I got an honest opinion on my mood and I listened. I’ve even taught my five year old nephew David about bipolar and what it looks like when I get sick.
He doesn’t think it’s a big deal!Most importantly, creating the system has saved my life! And having a treatment plan in place has allowed me to work again. Something I couldn’t do for many, many years. Diagnosis and medications are the very first steps to taking back your life with bipolar disorder but the professionals agree, this may only take care 30 to 50% of the symptoms. I get 50% relief from my Lamictal. Bipolar disorder is an extremely comprehensive illness that can and does affect all areas of your life. It takes a full and comprehensive treatment plan to manage it. I still have bipolar disorder mood swings and side effects from the meds- but I will take that over what life was like for me in 1995. I’m proud of the work I have done and hope it can help others in the same way!
I’m here in my office using all the ideas I can think of from my books! I have an article due- it’s going well- but getting the work done is literally physically painful! My brain feels like it’s going to explode and my body is very uncomfortable- it’s a mild form of dysphoric mania where my mood is mildly down but my energy is agitated. I’m definitely having trouble concentrating. Dysphoric mania is the opposite of euphoric mania (where things feels good!) – psychosis is often a part of dysphoric mania, though I’m not feeling any psychotic symptoms. When I start seeing things- then I’ll worry about psychosis. This all has to make me laugh a bit. I’m so used to these mood swings- and so used to writing about bipolar disorder that I am no longer even scared of the odd symptoms-
How I will get my work done:
Set an extremely specific goal for myself: Regarding my article- there are many, many steps to the process- but everything starts with one step- so I decide on one thing and focus on it until it’s done. Such as getting all of my quotes in the right sections of the article. When I get off track, I say- Julie, do the quotes only- then you can move on to something else. This definitely lessens the worry.
I know where a lot of this is coming from- I had a reaction to Zoloft- this led to a two week suicidal downswing, then three and a half days of mania- one day of euthymia ( a stable mood!), then a few days of going in and out of depression and now the dysphoric mania.
This is the same bipolar I’ve always had, but now I have a plan in place to manage it. My tips in Get it Done When You’re Depressed help with mild dysphoric mania.
Bipolar anxiety is really common when you’re depressed- and a large part of dysphoric mania where depression and mania are combined.
But there is also just plain old anxiety that visits on its own. I call this free form anxiety as it just sort of floats around and comes in and out in waves. When this happens, as it is today- I have to remind myself that….
You can work through anxiety. Your body will still function and work can still get done. It’s just not comfortable. After over two weeks of solid mood swings, I’m feeling better, but the anxiety is floating around! I’m working on an article on psychosis. I love this topic and am excited to get it done- so I have to work through this anxiety that wants me to stop. It makes my body feel so tense and uncomfortable !
I made a promise to myself a long time ago- I said, “Julie, if you’re well enough to walk around, see friends and go to a BBQ when you’re depressed and anxious, you’re well enough to sit down and work.” That’s true.
I am here working- I’m almost done with my article. As I wrote that I felt a wave of anxiety. Oh well! I’m going to work anyway! It helps to sit straight in my chair and talk in a slow, deep breath that fills my lungs to capacity. I then hold it and blow it out very slowly. This at least makes me focus on the moment so I can get started with a project.
Julie
If you have itunes on your computer, you can download yoga podcasts and plan them straight from your computer while you do some yoga. It really helps. I like the one from yogajournal.com. You can also listen directly from their site.
Try BreathRx Fresh Breath System- this company provides a mint and gum that increases saliva. There are so many drugs that cause a dry mouth, so this is a life saver! (Get it!) SSRIs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Welbutrin and Celexa are known to cause dry mouth.
Dry mouth from bipolar drugs can make your teeth brittle- which means they can crack more easily! So, keeping your mouth moist helps. A night guard is a good idea as well.
Things have been tough- but I’m much better today. I can tell I will be able to work withouth so much PAIN! I am sure you know what I mean. When you get sick- whether it be depression, agitated mania, anxiety, OCD, ADHD stuff- it just makes it hard to sit down and work. I use my tools of course- but it sure is better when I can work wihtout having to use my tools all day.
At least I have them. I recently received a comment asking about my treatment plan. I use my Health Cards treatment plan everyday and have done so since 1999. It has saved my life. I also use the ideas in my books- they are based off the Health Cards. Here are my main treatment plan tips:
1. Have a plan in place BEFORE you get sick. That is what keeps me going- I know that when the mood swings start- I have something ready to help automatically.
2. Surround yourself with people who know you have bipolar disorder and can help just by being there. They don’t have to talk about it with you, help you feel better, give you advice or feel sad for you- they just have to be there when you want to hang out.
3. Create strong bonds with people who can handle your tough days. These are special people!
4. Remind yourself constnatly when you’re sick that IT’s AN ILLNESS>> I CAN SURVIVE THIS.
5. Go easy on yourself when you do something that makes you sick.
6. Take your meds- and if you haven’t found the right meds, keep trying forever.
I could go on and on. These are just some of the basics- my books talk about all of my ideas in detail. I do read my own books- they are treatment plans already in place that I can use when I get sick. That is the ultimate goal of managing the illness.
Her partner has bipolar disorder and recently got out of the hospital. She asks an interesting question- as a partner of someone with the illness, where does help end and needing the person to take care of themselves on their own begin? It’s surely a fine line. I read the question and answer it on the podcast below.
Hi Julie,
I just want to say thank you for having this site and writing your books. My husband was just diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in December after a very scary manic episode where he was on the roof of a McDonalds 45 minutes from our house.
I have learned a lot about bipolar disorder through your book, Loving someone with bipolar disorder and he has just to really begun to read Take charge of Bipolar disorder.
He is on medication and was on sick leave from his job for 6 months and has just returned last week on a light duty schedule. We have a long way to go. As you know, there are bad days and good days. One of our biggest problems is when it is time to go to sleep at night. He cannot go to sleep unless I am in bed with him. We seem to go through the same ritual every night. He goes to bed much earlier than me because he has to get up much earlier for work. He sits on the side of the bed and says, “this can’t be happening to me or I hate feeling this way. After about 10-15 minutes, he then lays down and puts his sleep machine on (sleep apnea) and falls asleep within 5-10 minutes. It is very frustrating for both of us. Any suggestions.
Hi Liz,
I like to answer reader questions on a podcast because it’s just so much more personal when I say in my own voice- I have been there, my ex who has bipolar one has been there, most of the readers and their family members have too!
This illness is frustrating, but it is treatable.
You can listen to the audio below for my answers to your question.
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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.
Most importantly, creating the system has saved my life! And having a treatment plan in place has allowed me to work again. Something I couldn’t do for many, many years. Diagnosis and medications are the very first steps to taking back your life with bipolar disorder but the professionals agree, this may only take care 30 to 50% of the symptoms. I get 50% relief from my Lamictal. Bipolar disorder is an extremely comprehensive illness that can and does affect all areas of your life. It takes a full and comprehensive treatment plan to manage it. I still have bipolar disorder mood swings and side effects from the meds- but I will take that over what life was like for me in 1995. I’m proud of the work I have done and hope it can help others in the same way!
