Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

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

Bipolar Disorder Medications: Tip from a Reader

Jennifer left the following suggestion on one of my ‘I missed my Lamictal!” posts. It’s such a good one, I put it here!

“What I do so I don’t miss my meds is my pill box has an alarm on it and goes off when I need to take my meds just in case I forget. I’ve never missed a dose in years. Hope this helps in some small way.”

“Reaching out to help one person at a time-Jennifer”

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Thanks to Jennifer! I am going to do this. I have also thought of setting an alarm on my phone. Please leave your comments if you have any other ideas! I had NO idea these pill boxes even existed!

Julie

Bipolar Happiness: It is alway possible to have the life you want!

Today is a good day to focus on the many POSITIVE bipolar disorder stories I know:

– My friend Marsha was in and out of the hospital for all of her 20’s. She now has the right treatment plan with a good med and has not been in the hospital for ten years! She is also in a stable relationship.

– After 22 tries, I found medications that ended my depression.

– An ex of mine wasn’t able to work due to office stress. Once he found the right job, he can work full time and loves what he does! (Management didn’t agree with him at all.)

– People with bipolar get sick all of the time- it’s the nature of the illness, but I know many who still live the life they want.

Fishing guide, gardener, teacher, business owner, speaker and writer. (All friends!)

I monitor my friends’ moods closely and learn a lot.

There are those on this site who went back to school after years of being sick, received masters degrees- even though it took many years.

You can raise wonderful children and maintain strong relationships with your children.

Parents take heart! People with bipolar disorder DO get better and can create a life that incorporates their loves, dreams and goals into a management plan that works.

I’m writing a book right now! I just write less on the tough days. I never stop writing. It keeps me alive.

Never give up. Time changes everything.

Julie

Bipolar Disorder Medications: Lithium

Lithium is the only true mood stabilizer used in bipolar disorder treatment. It’s usually used as an anti- mania drug and works miracles for many people. Unfortunately, lithium comes with a myriad of side effects including a risk of kidney problems.

I know people with bipolar disorder who have been on Lithium for 20 years without any adverse side effects. For this reason, Lithium is usually the first drug of choice when a person has a first manic episode. Lithium is a naturally existing salt, which is why drug companies can’t make any profit from Lithium! It’s one of the cheapest drugs on the market.

If you’re lucky enough to respond well to the drug, it’s a good way to prevent mania.

Caveat: It’s not uncommon for those doing well on lithium to think that all is well because they feel so good and haven’t been manic for years. They decide to go off the lithium and the mania shows up very quickly.

Lithium is also used for bipolar disorder depression. My side effects were beyond terrible when I started lithium for my suicidal depression- excessive and terrible! But I was depression free for the first time in over 15 years. I stuck it out and the side effects are much better.

I wouldn’t take lithium if I didn’t have to- but if a person doesn’t want to take big pharma manufactured drugs, lithium is a good choice.

Julie

What is manic pressured speech? Why can’t I stop talking!!!

I recently wrote a blog post for BP Magazine on the topic of talking too darn much when you’re manic. I know what it feels like from both sides. I’ve talked so much I’ve worn myself out and I recently went through a friend’s manic episode where she was talking so fast- and her flight of ideas were out of control- I couldn’t keep up!

“Julie, I’m not manic. Am I manic? ‘I’m going to walk it off. I just got up this morning- well I didn’t really sleep- but I got up and took an hour power walk and then I went to the gym and swam for two hours. Do you think that exercise will cure this mania? I do! I think it can. I’m just going to keep walking and walking and get better that way.”

You can’t get a word in. When you’re manic, you try to hard not to talk! But sometimes you can’t help it. Here is my post from BP Magazine.

Talking Over People When You’re Manic

Please leave comments on the post. I know that people get so much out of reading about other people’s experiences!

Julie

I highly recommend BP Magazine. The information is educational, interesting, has my column! and the price is right.

Is it bipolar behavior or is is conscious behavior?

The Bipolar Disorder Denial Dichotomy

This picture really shows what it’s like to deal with a person who has poorly managed bipolar disorder. One day they will talk- the next day they will yell. It’s no fun for the person on the receiving end. I have been there.

You try to help and they yell at you. It’s like tip toeing around a mean animal on some days and then they are fine like a teddy bear on others. It’s part of the illness in many ways- but the person often has a lot of control in these situations and chooses not to make the steps to get better.

Bipolar is tricky.

There is definitely a form where people can’t see they are ill. Research says this is up to 50%. That’s a very high number. These are people who honestly can’t see that their behavior is causing great harm to self and others. Medications can work wonders in these situations.

Then there is the concept of denial: such as being aware of something and yet refusing to see it as a problem.

Denial – My friend Janea says, “There is no such thing as denial, Julie. There is ignoring, lying to yourself and stubbornness, but there is no denial.” I’m not even sure how to wrap my brain around this!

She means that when a person gets hopping mad when you mention their behavior and yet are able to hear what you have to say on other days- they are either sick or they know exactly what you’re talking about and just don’t want to deal with it. It’s much easier to make you the problem.

Also, there are many, many situations where the person is only mad and rude and abusive towards you and then turns around and talks normally with a friend. That’s not denial. That is a choice.

So, if you love someone who is hot and cold, they can often control it much better than you think. It may be time to hold them accountable.

Julie

PS: Never forget that aggressive behaviors that happen only during a mood swing are usually a sign that a person is ill and not that they are in denial.