Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Solutions to Work Worries

This is an addition to the above post. So, I know that I have hit the overwhelmed work feeling. Here is what I’m going to do:

#1 I have a business partner who can help with my speaking gigs. The speaking part is what I love- the negotiations, set up, book sales and follow up are truly too much for me. I get overwhelmed by something as simple as sending my speaking info to my web master for the web page! And yet this is so needed for my career.

#2 I can put everything on hold that doesn’t have to be done. I tend to work on five things at once and worry that I will miss something if I don’t get it ALL done. Yes, I do miss a lot financially because of this work stress, but I have to stay healthy. This means that all of my work next week will be about writing my next book. A draft is due on October 15th.

Just by doing these two things I think I will be able to stay well enough to work and finish the important stuff.

Julie

Julie Fast on Britney Spears: video

Hello! Here is a copy of a television interview I did about Britney Spears when she was having such a hard time.

I love being on television, but watching it later is hard! I have to remain positive. It’s easy to be hard on how you look. I know, the message is what’s important!

Julie

What is the real me?

I know WHO the real me is…. my question is WHAT is the real me in terms of energy, happiness, work ability etc. I often mistake hypomania for the ‘real me.’ I’ve written down all of my average behavior so that I can use it as a comparison when I think I’m in a mood swing. But the hypomania takes me by surprise a lot.

I can be hypomanic for only a few hours a day and not know it. When you rapid cycle a lot, you can miss the mania and then get broadsided by the depression.

I think the real me is gregarious, happy, focused, calm and industrious. I’m not over talkative- over sexual- over alcohol crazed and over the top! What about you?

Julie

If you click on the mania subject button to your right, you can read about the difference between hypomania and mania.

Unfocused: NAMI Oregon Conference

I’m speaking at the NAMI Oregon yearly conference tomorrow. I have a class in the morning and then will speak at the luncheon. The most difficult part of all of this is getting my books, post cards order sheets and travel stuff. I worry that I won’t be able to sleep and that I will get overstimulated. Yada, yada, yada. If I let my mind go no this way, I will go bonkers.

It makes a lot more sense to actually load my car ahead of time and print out what I need. That way I can get to bed early and be ready for the drive. This is not a bipolar thing- it’s a normal speaking thing. It becomes a bipolar thing if I don’t take care of myself now. So I’m going to! It’s human nature that we often worry more than we actually do things. It will only take me a few hours to get ready. I have already spent a few hours this morning worrying about getting ready. That is just dumb!

Julie

I’d Love Your Help!

Well, as you probably know, an author lives for book reviews! If you have read my books Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Get it Done When You’re Depressed, I’d love it if you would post a review of the books on amazon.com.

When you are there, please feel free to check the section that says Tags Customers Associate with This Product. This helps when people go to amazon.com to search for books on mood disorders in general. It helps me a lot if everyone does this section whether they write a review or not.

Of course, be totally honest when you write. I don’t read the reviews – but they are so important for people deciding what books to buy.

Your support is so appreciated! Here are the links to each book:

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner

http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Bipolar-Disorder-Julie/dp/1572243422/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222400708&sr=8-1

wow, that is a long link!

Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder: A Four Step Plan for You and Your Loved Ones to Manage the Illness and Create Lasting Stability

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Charge-Bipolar-Disorder-Stability/dp/0446697613/ref=pd_cp_b_3_img?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1572243422&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DWZC6XAEJ58XZA9TVT1

Get it Done When You’re Depressed: 50 Strategies for Keeping Your Life on Track

http://www.amazon.com/Get-Done-When-Youre-Depressed/dp/1592577067/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222400883&sr=1-1

Thanks to everyone! Julie

Lamictal Side Effects: Reader Question

Hi,

Here is a great question from Dana regarding medications.

Hi Julie,

I’m on the Lamictal starter pack and still taking 25 mg a day. I’ve been increasingly manic, irritable and aggressive. I have no tolerance for other people and haven’t been able to attend school. Is this normal? Will it be better at 100mg?

Dana

Hi Dana,

First of all, it’s great that you’re aware of what’s going on. Sometimes side effects happen so subtly that people stay in a state of physical and mental agitation before they realize what’s happening.

Lamictal, like all drugs works in different doses for different people. For example, my mother gets a lot of help from 75mg and I’m on 500mg. If she goes above 75mg she gets the jaw clenching that comes with the drug. If I go under 500mg I get pretty bad withdrawal symptoms including bad twitching and super bad leg pain.

Your health care professional was really smart to start you on a small dose as going up slowly on Lamictal really helps minimize side effects.

It’s super important that you contact your doctor with your question. Any time a drug makes you feel manic, this is dangerous as it can lead to rapid cycling.

I have not heard of Lamictal causing mania and agitation, so that is new to me, but your health care professional will definitely know what do to. Here are questions you can ask yourself so that you can give your HCP the info needed:

Are you taking other meds that may be interacting with the Lamictal?

Did you stop a drug to go on this drug? IE, could you be having withdrawal from something else?
Have you had a trigger in your life that is messing with your sleep?

Speaking of sleep, the number one sign of mania is sleeping a lot less but not being tired. You may feel agitated and worn out, but not necessarily tired.

There are many things that could be happening, but it’s probably the drug. Only you and your HCP can work on dosage. Lamictal is notorious for withdrawal symptoms, so don’t do anything drastic. If you and your HCP decide to change the dose or the drug, do it slowly!

I hope this helps. Hang in there. It took me many, many years to find the right med at the right dose. It takes time, but you can find the same relief.

Julie