Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder and Internet OCD! Facebook

I believe that I have to practice what I teach.

Every once in a while, I will try something new and think- oh, that’s such a great idea! It will be fun and will help my business. So, I started a FACEBOOK account. Well, if you read this blog a lot, I am sure you know where this is going. Fun for others can turn into a bit of an obsession for me. It’s not that I was obsessed with Facebook- it’s that my brain found it stressful. I am sure you know what I mean. It was an experiment that I am glad I tried. It IS good for business to get myself out there so that I can connect with readers. and it IS a good idea to keep up to date with my writing friends and their projects.

In theory.

I want to stay well- especially when it comes to internet use. Treat bipolar first is my motto and has been for over 10 years. Thus, I am closing my Facebook account! My dear friend Sherri- who has bipolar one- had to do the same thing. I need to use my energy for work, instead of spending time on the internet.

Have you had similar experiences? I would love to hear them!

julie

Bipolar Disorder and Rapid Cycling after something great happens!!!!!

Too Many Mood Swings to Count in Just 24 Hours!

I turned in a large, important and wonderful project on Sunday night. It’s now Tuesday. The project is a proposal for my new book. This is a big undertaking, so I know I have to be extra careful about my health.
I was careful! Early to bed early to rise! No late nights- decided to put a hold on a daily phone call I often have with a very stressed and negative friend, etc. I am really working hard to stay stable.

This certainly helped me finish the proposal. I was so elated to have it done! Real pleasure.

Then I went up.. .and down.. and up.. then WAY down and finally back up. That was just on Sunday!

The same thing happened all day yesterday. Finally, but 11 that night, I was worn out, but up again. I took an Ativan and then another half. That is about my limit unless I want to be really tired the next day. But at 2AM, I realized I was not going to sleep at all, so I took another half. My body doesn’t like that. I got to sleep, but am very tired today- even after a nap! It’s a drug thing!

Sometimes the facts of bipolar are much stronger than my wish for what will happen. Getting the proposal in was such an accomplishment- but my brain only saw it with stress and say congratulations with rapid cycling?
Have you ever had more than five mood swings a day! What do you do?

Julie

Reader Comment: Success and bipolar downswings

I just wrote a post about how I often have downswings after really great events. Such as turning in my latest book proposal. The post is below. Here is an excellent reader commnet on the post:

Hi Julie
I quite often get a downswing after something really good. This then makes me feel even worse as i feel ungrateful for not being able to enjoy something good. Other times i have to be careful that i dont allow mania to set in but in doing this, it can also lead to a downswing. I quite often feel i am living a “catch 22”.

Hi Joanne,

Wow Joanne. It is SO helpful for me to hear that others go through this! I am going to post your comment on the top of the blog so that people can see it. I will then add some tips on what to do to prevent this and manage it when it does happen! Please feel free to add your tips as well to the post.

Julie

Do other people on the blog go through this? I would love to hear your ideas on management! Julie

Bipolar Mood Swings are so ridiculous..

I mean that! They literally make no sense.

I just finished a book proposal for my next book. It was a huge undertaking and I was literally elated when I hit the send button on my email.

In the past, I would get depressed when I finished a large project. This time, I was even happy the next day! I thought to myself- wow, maybe the depression skipped me this time!

Then I realized I was slightly manic- I wrote about it below. This upset me as it’s not fair… I always say it’s not fair and I sound like a little baby- but it’s not fair!

Last night, around 4PM I went straight down. This was 24 hours after sending the proposal. So I guess I didn’t slip by the depression after all. It was a bad down swing. At first I wasn’t sure why I was depressed. I kept saying to myself- this isn’t real! You felt great yesterday! all of these worried thoughts aren’t real.

And of course they weren’t real. I took a walk and listened to a funny radio show- Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me from NPR- and I talked myself out of that depression the best I could. I then went to a movie and wrote positive and realistic thoughts in my journal. I read my depression Health Card.

The downswing was gone by the time I went to bed.

I know that my brain chemistry is 100% affected by a negative trigger such as an argument with my sister in law- unfortunately, my brain chemistry gets messed up by something extremely positive as well.

Have you ever had a down swing after experiencing something really great? Julie

Bipolar Disorder and Exercise

Bipolar Disorder and Exercise. Why it helps.
There are a few technical reasons:

1. It increases serotonin
2. It creates endorphins

There are also tons of health reasons that I’m sure you know.

But did you know that exercise helps depression for one psychological reason?
When you get one thing done, such as taking a short walk, your brain finds it a lot easier to get the next thing done. Exercise cuts down on depression brain resistance! How can your brain tell you that you never get anything done and that you’re a failure if you just exercised! You have duped the brain and that is a secret to managing the illness.

I have 50 ways to get things done in my book Get it Done When You’re Depressed. I use them all. That is how I write my books even when I’m crying from the stress. We can get things done when we’re depressed, we just have to bypass our ill brains and exercise is one of the best ways to do this.

One of my favorite strategies in the book is to Think Like an Athlete. I use that tip a lot! I just wrote a blog about exercise and how it helped me manage a pretty bad anxiety mood swing!

Julie Fast

PS: I just read this blog post again as I posted it and I am going to take a walk. I’m rapid cycling and a walk can help that. It sure if frustrating to be up for a few hours and then to go down. The exercise will definitely help.

Shh.. it’s a secret I even want to keep from myself!

I’m slightly manic. I’ve always found it very easy to admit to myself and others that I’m depressed. It’s not that way with mania. Mania is so secretive. I get the little voice that says..

– Maybe you’re just happy!
– Maybe this is a good day which is why you’re getting a lot done.
– Maybe it’s caffeine- considering that I drink mostly decaf, I doubt that.

The truth is that I am manic when I think I’m manic.

I created my Health Cards Treatment System in 1999 and since using it, I’ve done a lot better mania wise. It still sneaks up on me- that is for sure, but the information I have on my Health Cards reminds me what my brain says when I’m hypomanic.

– Julie, you’re just creative.
– Julie, you just sent in a book proposal- anyone would be happy!

It’s all untrue. I’m slightly manic and I have to admit it and keep it under control.

I am so thankful for the Health Cards- the system works. I just have to be honest with myself and use it!

What are your mania signs? It sure helps to have a system in place to keep them from getting out of control.

I simply can’t say enough about the Health Cards. If you have not read about them, here is a link:

www.bipolarhappens.com

In the past, my mom would say that she thought I was manic- I’d get angry and tell her that she had no idea what she was talking about! Now that we have the Health Cards she can pull out the info and show it to me!

I’m more open to her pointing things out considering that I wrote down my symptoms and showed them to her!

Julie