Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Work and Depression: The Football Cure!

It’s Sunday and I woke up slightly down with a lot of email to answer! I’m going to watch football for most of the day so that I can do all of my email. I’m a big believer that we have to continually search for a work environment that works for us individually. You may think that watching football and working is crazy, but I’m the type that needs a lot of noise and distraction if I’m not doing well- ie, I like to work in a lively environment when I’m depressed. I hear a lot of chatter in my head and the football just makes it easier for me to concentrate. I work at the library with my headphones if I have to do serious writing. Getting there is a problem though. It’s just a brain struggle sometimes. Where do you get the most work done? julie

Bipolar Depression just keeps on coming back…..

I woke up depressed. It’s a bummer as I was on a pretty good streak. Eight days without depression. Well, that’s a pretty good length of stability.I’m so used to mood swings, that I actually do get excited and thankful for the stable days I can string together. It’s a bummer though.

I was talking with my dear radio co-host Avi yesterday. He was depressed for many, many years and then after a lot of work, meds and therapy he got a lot better. He was depressed a few days ago and said, “It’s always so shocking when it comes back.”

It’s true. When I woke up this morning and it was here, I just thought.. oh crap.. here is is again. Time to use the program. So, I’m at my computer and I’m going to work on my new book- because if I don’t, it will only exacerbate the depressed.

Today is going to be a good day. Waking up depressed simply doesn’t mean I have to stay depressed!

If you haven’t heard my awesome radio shows, click on the radio tab to your right. You can hear Avi’s beautiful voice and hear more about his story.

Julie

Medication Side Effects: Stomach Problems

Did you know that there is Serotonin in our stomachs? It has the second highest concentration of the neurotransmitter after our brains.

This is why SSRI drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft and many others can cause stomach problems. As my coauthor Dr. John Preston says, “There’s no way to harpoon a drug straight to the neurotransmitters in your brain. They have to go through the whole body which is why they cause so many side effects.”

I remember being so sick I couldn’t work. I was always in the bathroom. That may be more than you want to know about me! but it’s important to know that you’re not alone if drugs are making your stomach rumble.

Side effects can include nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, bloated stomach, acid reflux, etc. etc.

Lovely!

Here are some tips on keeping your stomach happy:

1. First of all, talk with your doctor if things are really bad. It’s better to get help and possibly change doses or drugs than to just quit because of the side effects.

2. Drink organic apple cider vinegar in water. This can REALLY help, especially if you have acid reflux. Make sure it’s organic and slighly cloudy. You don’t want the cheap stuff! You really can get used to the taste. Put two tablespoons in a large glass of water and drink it throughout the day. I can now practically drink it straight!

3. Drink keifer or eat plan yogurt. This calms the stomach so much!

4. Try yoga. The gentle stomach poses can help move around stomach juices and get things flowing- in the right way.

5. Change the times you take your meds. Maybe you can spread them out or take them at night. Talk with your doctor.

There are many things you can do to help mild to medium stomach side effects. Sometimes, just waiting it out can help. If your side effects are severe, don’t just go off your meds as you can have a whole lot more trouble than your stomach! Get help and get the right meds! Your doctor, naturopath or nurse practitioner can really help with this.

Julie

A Great Bipolar Book! You, Me and Apollo

I often get sent books for review. I don’t read the treatment books as I want to keep my ideas fresh, but I do enjoy reading success stories! I recently received a short and sweet book called You, Me and Apollo by J.D. Stottlemire. It’s a really hopeful and informative book. Here’s my review:

“People with bipolar disorder and their family members are often in a crisis when they read a book on bipolar disorder. It’s hard for authors to find the right balance between the truth of the illness and the reality of how hard it is to treat. You, Me and Apollo finds this balance. I, as a person with chronic bipolar disorder felt better after reading this book. It’s fun to read, concise and very hopeful. I especially like how the author tied in the space program to his story.

The book is a great accompaniment to the more treatment oriented books on the market- as instead of being a story of how horrible the illness can be, it’s a story of how all of us with bipolar disorder and the people who care about us can find our place in the world.”

Here is J.D’s web page: http://www.youmeandapollo.com/apollo.html

Julie Fast

Bipolar Disorder and a Low Carb Diet

I’ve struggled with my weight since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1995. I certainly had weight issues before that, but there were small time compared to what I’ve been through in the past 10 years.

Statistics show that those of us with severe mental illnesses die a LOT earlier than those without an illness. When I heard this, I said, ok. That’s not going to be me! I’ve written about this on the blog before. I have found that a low carb diet is working well for me in terms of my sugar cravings and my up and down weight. I’ve lost a lot of the weight I gained last year after taking Serequel.

Here is a book that can give you more information on this way of eating. It’s not really a diet as it’s life long.
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting

Definitely leave your comments on what works for you!

My goal is to be at my gorgeous, healthy weight by this time next year. I can’t keep going up and down every six months. It’s not healthy and it’s not fun! I will keep you posted on my progress.

Julie

Work and the Bipolar Wall

I spoke at the NAMI Oregon Conference yesterday. The day went really well and I met some wonderful people. I even managed to get to sleep normally last night.

Then I woke up with a lot of worries. I know what this means. I have too much to do. It’s not that I don’t have the time to do it. It’s never a time issue with me. My problem is that I have a bipolar wall that I smack up against if I don’t take care of myself. This means that I have to take care of things today so that I can function next week.

Many people feel stress about having a lot to do. This is different. I can’t even call it worry. It’s the feeling so many of us get that prevents us from working at regular jobs- ie. 9-5 jobs. It’s like a wave of … I’m honestly not even sure what to call it. The bipolar wave doesn’t have one name. It’s a wave of fear, worry, stress, unreasonable doubt and physical nervous pain. It’s the feeling- that’s often real- that you simply can’t keep doing what you’ve been doing.

It’s a few hours later now, so I know it’s not as bad as it seemed this morning- but I still have to listen. I’ve had this feeling during projects that weren’t going well.

If I want to have a career in speaking- and I certainly do, then I have to modify my life even more. That is something I’m willing to do.

julie