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Thank you, Julie
 I’ve kept a chart of my mood swings for the past year. It’s amazing to see what triggers most of my downswings. Without question,it’s difficult relationships. I knew that this was a problem,but seeing the reality on a piece of paper forced me to make some serious behavioral changes. I have to limit contact with certain people,no matter how much I care for them. I wish I were the type who could have exciting,but difficult people in my life,but as my chart clearly pointed out. I can’t. There is a mood swing chart and an example of one of my charts at the back of my book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder. The Health Cards can provide you a lot of information as well. I faithfully chart my mood every night. It’s depressing to see how this illness controls my life,but I at least know I am doing what I can to stay stable by seeing the reality of what causes many of my mood swings. Interestingly,the chart has shown me that my hypomanic episodes are usually not triggered by anything I do. Truly interesting. Julie Dear Miss Fast, I want to say “thank you.” I have read every textbook, self help book, etc. and was still beating my head against a wall until I read your book. I can tell you that Strategy 11, Expect Brain Chatter from Get it Done When You’re Depressed, was the answer to prayer. I don’t know what it was about this specific chapter, but it opened up serious dialogue after 14 years of marriage. This chapter gave me a simple way to explain the on-going dialogue and loop of music in my head and why it is so painful. Thank you again. Sincerely, Betty
When I have certain mood swings,I find myself getting really picky about each word a person says. I will look at a sentence from an email,or remember what a person said and then examine it way too closely. Did they mean this- or did they mean that? Are they mad at me? Have I done something wrong? This kind of examination is destructive for relationships- especially when it happens over email. I have found that if someone is upset they will usually tell me. If I have done something to offend them,they will usually tell me. If I never hear from someone again,that is their choice. I now remind myself that I am only responsible for my own behaviors. What is said to me or what is sent to me in email is not in my control. I still have the same worries and tendencies when I’m sick to break apart everything that happens to me,but I resist the impulse of telling others about it and just focus on my own health. Julie  I’ve recently been re-watching my favorite comedies. These help on the dark days. I was watching a lot of drama shows from England and it was just getting me down. Here are a few comedies I like:
These are laugh out loud movies. There are not many good comedies in the theaters these days! It’s hard to do an adult comedy. A friend of mine watches a lot of afternoon TV – junky stuff and it really gets her down. It makes no sense to do this when you have bipolar disorder. It just makes the illness worse. Why not watch a comedy! I’m not trying to sound like a mother,but I know that watching comedies makes a difference! I do sound like my mother. Julie  Viewer Beware. But wow,it's so funny!  Mania only exists in bipolar disorder. It’s a chemically elevated mood that can be euphoric (happy,creative and sometimes delusional!) or dysphoric /mixed (agitated, depressed and uncomfortable.) Mania is often more difficult to treat than depression. OCD:A form of anxiety characterized by obsessive thoughts that are seemingly calmed by compulsive behavior- only to show up again! OCD can be treated with antidepressants,but behavioral therapy has the most success. Bipolar Depression:The downswing of bipolar disorder that is almost always complicated by the presence of other symptoms such as anxiety. It can be present with mania in a dysphoric/mixed episode. It’s not advisable to use antidepressants for bipolar depression as they can cause mania. Bipolar depression is much more difficult to treat than unipolar depression. Bipolar disorder is complicated. It’s important to know all of its symptoms. Julie | |
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