Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

I’m here in Monterey Bay, California for three days of presentations.  I can’t wait to meet everyone. I brought lots of books and many, many stories to share. Please stop by and say hi. You can read all of the details on my Julie A. Fast Facebook page.  It’s a great place to leave me a message during the events. I will check it regularly. If there is a topic you would like me to cover in one of my sessions or if you have a question, please post it on Facebook and I will make sure I answer it this week. Julie

My mother is a genius when it comes to helping me with bipolar disorder, but it didn’t start out that way. It took her many years to know how to help me. I created my treatment program (The Health Cards) in 1998. There was definitely a learning curve for my family. When someone has bipolar disorder, family members want to help, but they rarely know how. All of the comforting techniques that work on others don’t work when a person is in a mood swing. Family members have to educate themselves.

It’s natural to say, “But you have so much!” when someone you love is depressed. It never works. It’s natural to say, “Why can’t you just focus? It’s a really simple thing to clean your house.” It’s natural to say, “It’s just dinner? Why is it so hard for you to cook dinner?” These questions are pointless as the person with bipolar doesn’t know the answers until they learn to manage the illness.

I always say, “You don’t have to understand why a person can’t do things when they’re having mood swings, but you can believe that what they’re going through is real and help them find a way to get better.”

Empathy is great, but it’s not really possible unless you have bipolar disorder- support is what matters to us.

Here is what makes my mother special:

1. She is not scared like she used to be.  The Health Cards have given her a tool that works, so she knows what to do when I get sick.  For example, when we first started using them, she had to say, “Get out your cards Julie. You’re psychotic. What do you need to do?” If I was too sick to get them out, she said, “I’m getting your psychotic card out now Julie. I will see what it says to do.” As you can see, this gives us tools when I’m too sick to help myself.

2. She edits my books so she knows my tips! In fact, she’s editing the book I’m currently writing with a friend. The one that is taking forever to get done.  I have anxiety episodes every time I even sit down to write.  She took the files and told me they were fine.  Anxiety distorts my thinking- my mom knows my writing well enough to tell me if it’s good!

3. She isn’t embarrassed that I have bipolar and tells all of her friends she is proud of me.

4. She educates others. I once heard her say, “When you have to tell someone that your child has bipolar disorder, remember that the person you’re talking to probably has no idea what it is. It helps if you explain it while you give out the information. I say, ‘My daughter has bipolar disorder. You may have heard about it as it’s in the news a lot. She has mood swings and it can be really tough, but she works hard to manage it.” This lets others know it’s an illness and not something to be ashamed of.

My mom is a genius because she educates herself in order to help me. I am indebted to her and proud of her too. It isn’t easy having a child with a mental health disorder, but she simply couldn’t be a better mom!

Julie

PS:  She is coming with me to California for my presentations on May 6-8th. She will be in the audience when I give the keynote at the Fiesta of Hope Dinner. Please find her and say hello!

I am sitting here with author, speaker and mental health advocate Gayathri Ramprasad. (Click here to read her original guest post.)

She just told me this story.

“The Indian national motto says:  Satyameva Jayate. In English it means, “Truth Alone Triumphs.”  As a child I was raised by parents who taught me that honesty is the greatest virtue- they were hardworking and modest people. And yet I remember at age 25 in 1987 sitting in a psychiatrist’s office in Bangalore, India getting my diagnosis of depression and anxiety and in a heartbeat believing  that my truth about mental illness would destroy not just me and my family but generations to come.

Unfortunately things haven’t changed a whole lot- we are still so terrified to share the truth about our mental illness whether at home, in our community, at work or places of worship- we are terrified to share our truth and yet I go back to the philosophy on the flag- Does truth alone triumph?

Does it?

My answer finally is YES. Ultimately the truth is that mental illness is a human experience and a part of the continuum from illness to wellness. People with mental illness can thrive- it’s a truth.  My life is a testament to this motto.  And it’s a truth I want to share with the world.”

Truth Alone Triumphs

Gayathri! You are an amazing woman!   Julie

Click here to read more about Shadows in the Sun.