I find books by athletes to be inspiration for anyone who needs it! I stared using sports analogies in my treatment plans a long time ago. Get it Done When You’re Depressed has a strategy called Think Like an Athlete.
Have you ever noticed that almost all top level athletes rarely take a sick day? They rarely complain about their health. They push forward even when things are difficult. This is what it takes to play in the big leagues- and I find it inspirational.
These area few of my favorite athlete books:
I just received a question from Michael asking- Do your books come in ebook format?
Hi Michael,
I started my career with ebooks. My Health Cards Treatment Plan for Bipolar Disorder and my books Tips for Talking with Health Care Professionals and Bipolar Happens are available in ebook form. Click here to visit my original website. The Health Cards are only available off this site.
My books Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Getit Done When You’re Depressed were all traditionally published as paperbacks. They are also available in ebook form for the Kindle.
My book Bipolar Happens! is available on the Kindle for just .99 Click here to read more about Bipolar Happens! on the Kindle.
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Getit Done When You’re Depressed are in the library. If they are not in the library in your area, you can request that they purchase copies. You can even get them on loan as eBooks.
I love the immediacy with ebooks. Especially when you’re in a crisis or need more information about bipolar disorder as quickly as possible. I’ve also found that people like the privacy of eBooks. Especially teenagers.
I love to share mental health books that are well written, life changing and ultimately life affirming. Sherry Goes Sane: Living a Life with Schizo-Affective Disorder is one of these books.
What amazes me about Sherry- and I know you will feel the same when you read her incredible book- is that she has been through SO much and yet still manages to be a positive and loving force in the world. Sherry Goes Sane is a truly artistic book written in what I call a kaleidoscope writing style. It’s very James Joycian. You can visit amazon.com to read more about Sherry Goes Sane.
I’ve read Sherry’s book twice. The first time I didn’t know her well. Now, a few years later, she is one of my most trusted and closest friends. She is who I call when I feel too sick to call anyone!
When you visit Sherry’s website, you will see that she is having a contest where you can win one of her paintings. And wow, she is a beautiful painter. I own three of her paintings.
Here is a picture of Sherry holding a picture she painted of a younger me! I’m lucky to know her.. Julie
I’m working with Sherry today on her contest. Here’s a picture of the painting one of her lucky readers will win! She’s sitting with my mom’s dog Cookie. Details of the contest soon!
Oh my, the socialite has changed. That’s me. I made two huge goals this year regarding health and wealth. They take a great deal of concentration, planning and wellness. To stay well enough to work the 20-25 hours a week I know I’m capable of working, I had to make great changes- in many ways they require a lot of sacrifice. Here are a few…
I go home early instead of hanging out, talking and drinking with friends. I’m home by 10PM on most nights and try to have lights out by midnight. This is hard when I get slightly manic, but I still make myself get in bed. I always need sleep meds, but they work a LOT better if I take care of my ‘sleep hygiene’ first!
I can’t listen to anything too stimulating before bed such as loud music, conversations, DVD’s etc. I listen to calm sports radio shows or Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me from National Public Radio here in the States. I know that if I go to karaoke and stay past 11, I will have trouble getting to sleep. It’s fine to hit karaoke once or twice a week, but more than that messes up my schedule!
It’s not as boring as it may sound. I still go out at night- I just don’t stay out late and I’m always sure to hang out with people who make me feel GOOD about myself!
Marie just left a comment on a mania post. It was very insightful and helpful.
And… she asked this question- it REALLY made me think. She said….
I would like to have one really good healthy day in which I did not question myself! How about you?
At first, my answer was- oh yes! Just one day this week! Then I had another thought- it’s rather esoteric.
This illness stinks. It has been terrible for me this week and it may be terrible today- luckily I woke up pretty stable- but overall, I am a different person because of this illness.
I have to manage bipolar disorder 24 hours a day in order to stay stable. I watch what I say, do and really try to counteract what I think when I’m sick. This makes me a better friend, partner, daughter, student, teacher, etc.
We have to be more aware when we have bipolar disorder – which means we can be more aware of the people around us. Most people aren’t like this. They are just living life (lucky!) – but we have to examine our lives continually in order to stay well. We might as well make the most of it.
This is one of my most popular posts for the BP Magazine blog. I Love Coffee- but my bipolar anxiety hates it…
I love the taste of coffee.
I sometimes let my guard down for real iced coffee. Not the decaf Americano iced coffee, but the kind of coffee that is cold brewed. Yum!
Click here to read the rest of my BP Magazine blog on the topic.
PS: Caffeine exacerbates the side effects of many bipolar disorder medications, especially those that are ‘activating’ such as Abilify and anti depressants such as Effexor, Prozac and Zoloft. But… to be honest, I was able to drink plenty of caffeine when I was on lithium as it was so sedating!
What is your experience with caffeine?
PS: As I’ve gotten older- my ability to deal with caffeine has gotten better!
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The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
