Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

bipolar blog reader comment – school, meds and uneducated family members

Ok! I keep saying I’m going to reply to comments when I can. I just have to do it instead of thinking about doing it!
Here is a comment about school:

Hi Julie,

I was going to school full time for three terms but this summer my doctor and I decided to change my meds. YUCK…I have been feeling horrible and really had two steps backwards as far as treatment goes. I am thinking of taking fall term off so that I can get medical help, read your cards and books and get well again. It is sometimes discouraging to try medications and have them mess you up more than help. To make matters worse my family and friends seem to think I can think my way out of this without medications or help…I am still hopeful for the future but I am struggling but I guess with bipolar WE are always struggling. smile

** end comment**

I managed to pick a comment that doesn’t have a question- ?- but here are my comments:

I too was having lovely medication problems last night. My Lamictal makes my legs hurt if I don’t have a high enough dose. It’s frustrating. I know that finding the right drug and then finding the right dose takes time. It’s worth it though. I’m so impressed that you have so much AWARENESS! of what is going on with you. So many people are confused or unsure of why something is happening. I can tell that you know it’s bipolar disorder.

School is the same as work. We can all do it- but we often have to do it on our terms. The fact that you were able to go three sessions in a row is fantastic.

Can you just take one class instead of not going at all? I had to do that. If you have to take time off, that is smart as well. All that matters is the degree- how long it takes to get it is of no consequence in the long run.

It took me eight years and four colleges to get a degree! I am glad I kept going.

As for family and friends who don’t understand- it’s up to you to educate them. They are not being cruel- they are being ignorant in the true sense of the word:

1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.

All of my books have ideas on how to tell people about bipolar so that they can understand what WE go through and then how they can help us.

I wrote this out on the blog below.

You are AMAZING. I mean that.

Julie

Bipolar disorder and work woes!

things I can do….

I can EAT. I can talk with friends- play with my nephew and see my friends.

I can even feel ok.

But at the same time- I find it almost impossible to work. It’s so odd how bipolar disorder affects me. My friends will say,
“Julie! We all have trouble working sometimes.’ If you have bipolar disorder, you will hear this a lot. People don’t really understand that it’s so different when you can’t work because of bipolar disorder. I literally feel like I’m being pulled apart inside. One part of me wants and needs to work- the other part is doing everything possible to make it difficult. My brain is in what I call the civil war. It’s a fight. Sometimes this is so hard I end up spending much more time trying to work than actually working! but I don’t let it stop me. I will keep fighting so that I can do the work that improves my future.

If you care about someone with bipolar who has trouble working- you can go to the menu on the right and check the work button to read all about my terrific troubles with work! It’s a normal symptom of the illness. We have to learn how to get around it.

Julie

Bipolarhappens.com blog: reader comments

hi! I’ve received so many great comments on this page- and I am making a promise to answer as many of them as I can! I will repost the comment as a blog entry and then answer the questions:

coming up….

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and bipolar disorder treatment

Medication changes and their consequences

Relationship issues due to bipolar disorder

Travel and bipolar disorder

Can I get into college? How do I stay in college?

and so many more…. I’ve had focus issues the past few days. It’s hard to have bipolar disorder and work on your own. Do you experience this? Darn, it’s hard to have bipolar and work anywhere with ease!

but we can do it….

Today is a good day bipolar wise….

I always try to have perspective when I’m well. I remind myself that this is what NORMAL feels like. I get up- see people- work – get on with my day and go to bed normally. I sleep! It’s all a miracle and I don’t plan on wasting it.

I’m entering some new work areas and I’m a bit PETRIFIED about the changes I have to make. I like to read Donald Trump books when things are tough. Right now I’m reading – NEVER GIVE UP!

Bipolar disorder can be managed. I am proof- this is what I say to myself on the tough days.

Julie

Writer’s Conference in Oregon

I’ve been at a writer’s conference this weekend- which is why I haven’t done a blog! It’s a big conference in Portland, Oregon where I live.

I taught a class on writing self help books today. I always try to get perspective on where things are in my life. A few years ago, I remember walking around the conference and thinking- I want to teach here one day. I want to know the wonderful people who come here!

Two years later I was teaching. Things take time. The first I attended as a teacher I got quite overstimulated and paranoid.

I’m much better this year. I go home early and make sure I get at least seven hours of sleep. I’m eating better. I try to stay calm when I feel myself getting too excited- and I remind myself that I will NOT listen to the thoughts that tell me others are better than I am and that I will always be on the outside of the ‘cool’ crowd.

I could be at the Oscars and my brain would say that I’m not in the ‘cool crowd!’ This is not a bipolar thing- it’s a self confidence thing.

Depression took away my belief in myself for many, many years. I’m now consciously working on this. I want to be someone who can feel good when I accomplish something. It has been a struggle!

Julie

bipolarhappens.com Reader Comment

Bipolarhappens.com Reader Comment

I received such a great email from a reader named Daphne Stevens that I’m posting parts of it on the blog. I think it helps so much for us to see that we all go through the same challenges with this illness. Daphne and I discussed Lamictal and other meds. Here are her comments:
Lamictal, by the way, is my “miracle drug,” too. After two years of trial and error (and a lot of nasty side effects) my doctor and I finally settled on a combination of Lamictal and Seroquel. which levels out both the hypomania and depression. And my depression, while less frequent than hypomania, can be deadly, as you know. Over a lifetime of struggling, I’ve finally learned not to be too afraid of it. I know it will pass, no matter how permanent it feels at the time. Riding it out, being kind to myself, doing what I can, occasionally letting myself collapse into being downright pitiful–it’s part of fighting those nasty lies Depression whispers in our ears.

She is so right! You can visit daphnestevens.com to read more about her work!

Julie