Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Can Pets Help with Bipolar Disorder Mood Swings? Can Pets Help with Physical Pain?

Yes, they can! They help my mind and body. I’ll write soon about my back injury from a biking accident, but I wanted to share this picture of myself with my cat Bibi and one with my mom’s dog Cookie. I’m in an anti gravity chair to help my back. The family pets keep me company! They are so intuitive.

Dealing with a serious physical injury while still managing my bipolar disorder has taught me to love my body.

I have an appreciation for what the body does instead of just dwelling on how my body looks. I now love and respect my body and can’t wait until I can walk, sit and stand with ease! I will never complain again about being too fat (when I wasn’t at all! ) And I will never again judge myself by how I look.

I’ve learned that strength, health and mobility are what matter. If you have a stable mind and a healthy body you can accomplish anything.

I haven’t written about my accident as I was waiting to get better before explaining it all- but alas, I’m still getting better so it’s time to explain why I don’t answer my blog comments as quickly as I would like! 😉 I’m able to do my coaching and professional writing gigs, but writing my latest book and speaking are out for awhile. It has been a lesson in coping with what’s on your plate at the time- even if it’s something icky! Like liver and onions. Wow, I doubt this reference will make sense outside of the US. 😉 The best treatment for pain is a positive attitude. Julie

Accepting New Family and Partner Coaching Clients

Writing books on bipolar disorder has been my career for over ten years. I enjoy writing and plan to do a lot more. (It can be a challenge when the mood swings are paying a visit, that’s for sure.)

Over four years ago, I started coaching partners and family members of people with bipolar disorder as an addition to my writing career.

I never, ever thought I would find work that I enjoy as much as I enjoy coaching. I feel at home with the parents and partners as I have been where they are- and I remain calm during the crises that many of my clients are going through while we are working together. Bipolar disorder is like a puzzle. It’s not always easy to find the right pieces on your own. It helps to have a coach as a guide.

My coaching practice has room for new clients. I take new clients about once a month-and then help them as best I can. It’s a partnership that saves relationships and often lives.

Coaching is not for everyone, but if you are concerned about your relationship with a person with bipolar disorder, it may be a good fit for you. The following link will tell you more. I look forward to talking.

Julie Fast Family and Partner Coaching

Julie

Quick help for Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Three Tips to Get Things Done When You Have Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Management tips: How I get things done! I find it amazing that on some days I can look at my bills and other ‘to do’ items and just sit down and get them done without over-thinking things! Then there are days where just the idea of paying bills or answering email is so overwhelming I simply shut down. This is one bipolar disorder symptom that is very hard to explain, but it’s very real and needs to be addressed. Here are some tips:

1. HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP YOU MAKE MONEY. If you are missing money making opportunities because of feeling overwhelmed, it makes total sense to hire someone who helps you bring the money into your life. The cost of the person you hire comes directly out of the money you make. I’ve found that I lose money when I don’t have a manager. My manager Tamia often just sits next to me while I work and makes sure I stay on track, especially on the tough days when my brain feels like mush.

2. READ GET IT DONE WHEN YOU’RE DEPRESSED: I love this book as it’s not about managing depression- it’s about working even though you have depression. It also works well for anxiety and ADD symptoms. The 50 strategies in the book are the ones I use daily to keep myself focused.

3. SPEND MONEY IF YOU HAVE IT: A clean house completely changes your ability to get things done. If you have the money, hire someone to clean your house, do the gardening, make your meals or anything else that you can easily hand off to someone who does a great job. I find that people who have money tend to beat themselves up over not getting things done when it’s so simple to hire someone to do the basics! People with bipolar disorder do have money.

These are a few out of the ordinary ways to get things done on the tough days!

Julie

What are the Signs of Bipolar Disorder Euphoric Mania?

As you may know, I’m a bipolar coach and I specialize in working with parents and partners who have a loved one with bipolar disorder. One of the most common questions I receive is from parents and partners about how they can better recognize mania. Here are some tips on how to recognize euphoric mania. (I will do a post on how to recognize dysphoric mania in the next few days.) If you’re not sure of the difference between the two, please use the search button to the right of the page and either type in euphoric or dysphoric to read more about the two types of mania.

Mania is a “Euphoric” high. You feel like you can do no wrong, you feel great, you’re invincible, you can’t believe you’ve ever been depressed. You are sure you will never be depressed again! Life is good!

You think: This is the best drug in the world and it’s free!

This leads you to spend money recklessly, make big decisions at the spur of the moment and always feel that things will somehow work out. In fact, if you’re really manic, you’re not thinking realistically at all. It’s just pure physical sensation. I say it’s like you’ve been coated in joy juice.

Euphoric mania is awesome at the beginning- when it’s in the hypomanic phase.

For those who are naturally outgoing and good speakers, the early signs of euphoric mania are usually missed. But when you know what to look for, you can see the mania signs in yourself or your loved one. If someone is usually more reserved, you will really notice when the mania starts!

Here are three way to recognize euphoric mania:

1. Look for pressured speech: Most people in a bipolar euphoric manic episode won’t let you talk. They only want to talk about themselves and their ideas. You are just a listening vehicle. When I get manic, it feels like my ideas and words are pressing on the back of my teeth and I just HAVE TO GET THEM OUT! It feels so good!

2. Sleep changes: All people who are experiencing mania will need less sleep. When I’m manic, I have thoughts such as Sleep is such a waste of time! It’s 3 AM and I’m still awake, I don’t think I even need to sleep tonight! or It’s so great to finally get things done- this is the real me! People who are manic do not have insomnia. It’s truly a situation where the person doesn’t need the sleep and can get by on 4-6 hours a night. When mania goes full blown, some people go for weeks without sleeping. I always know I’m manic if I feel the desire to go out and party even though it’s time for bed.

3. People who are in a euphoric mania mood swing are very goal driven. Projects that may have been dormant for years get done in a few hours- it’s easy to clean the house, pay the bills, do your taxes, make jewelry, complete to do lists and so much more! When I’m manic like this, I become very crafty and start so many projects there is no way they will get finished- unless I stay manic for a long time.

If you care about someone with bipolar disorder and are not quite sure when they are starting to get euphoric mania, observe how much they are talking about themselves and their dreams and projects. And definitely check out their rate of speech. That will give you a clue and you can go from there.

Julie

PS. I’m up to date with my waiting list and have a few openings come up in my coaching practice. If you are a parent or a partner of someone with bipolar disorder and you are in crisis, need help and information regarding your relationship, this coaching is for you. To begin the process, please check out my coaching page and fill out an intake. I will reply with information on how to set up an intake call. During the call, I will hear more of your story, explain my rates and offer ideas on how we can best work together. The call is 30 minutes and at no charge. Knowing how to handle a situation can change your life. Please note my coaching is only for parents and partners. Thank you!