I often receive questions about anxiety and bipolar disorder. It’s estimated that 90% of people with depression experience some form of depression. This means that most of us with bipolar disorder will experience anxiety at some point. Anxiety can limit so much that we want to do. Luckily there are many things you can do to manage and ultimately prevent anxiety from taking over your ability to enjoy yourself. The following is an example of the questions I regularly receive from readers:
Q. I have a great boyfriend,who is used to visiting his friends on a regular basis. Our relationship is still quite new (9 months) and I’m used to isolating. It’s the only issue we have in our relationship. My hesitancy to go out and meet new people. Are there any tools you can think of to make going out and meeting his friends less frightening for me so we can have more [ Read More ]
Let’s start out with a story about cabbage. (A conversation between my mom and myself) Mom:Why don’t you put some cabbage on your salad? Julie:I want to have cabbage on my salad but it is just too hard to do it. Mom:Julie! It’s too hard to have cabbage? What is your problem? Julie:It’s not just cabbage,Mom! It’s getting it out of the fridge. Taking off the old leaves,finding a place to cut it,making sure the knife is clean,slicing it,putting it on the salad and then cleaning up the cutting board. It is too much right now. Mom:It really is just cabbage,Julie. Why does everything have to be so hard for you? Julie:Mom. It is not a *normal* thing! It is not a cabbage thing. It is a*bipolar* thing. It is an overwhelmed thing. It has nothing to do with cabbage. Things are hard [ Read More ]
Dear Julie,Today’s OPRAH’s topic is bi-polar disorder. I have bi-polar and used to work on “General Hospital.” The show will feature Maurice Benard,an actor on “GH”who has bi-polar and whose character,“Sonny Corinthos”does as well. He appeared on “Oprah”in 2004. Last year there was a lengthy storyline about bi-polar,and they try to fit it in during the general storyline as well (such as the character going off his meds,drinking when he gets stressed,etc.) At least they are trying to de-stigmatize it somewhat…it isn’t easy. Oh,and if you wonder why he taped his segment in L.A. instead of Chicago,he gets panic attacks if he tries to get on an airplane.
I don’t know whether you can get the word out for folks to tape “Oprah”today,but I know they re-run it around 1:00 AM (great for manic episodes at [ Read More ]
I never thought that I would see the day when I actually would have a blank mind. Sometimes I have to even think about what to think about. I’ve never really had this happen in my life. When you have bipolar disorder,your mind is usually filled with a bunch of garbage. Talking,music,other noises,unwanted thoughts;it’s like one big garbage dump. I know that sounds pretty harsh,but it’s definitely how I’ve experienced many days in the past few years.
Having a clear mind is the goal of bipolar disorder treatment.
Everything that I do,everything that I choose,everything that I say it’s all with the intention of having a clear mind. The interesting thing is that if I do get into situations that I know are triggers,my mind garbage starts back up and all the stuff starts to whirl around in my head again. I’ve [ Read More ]
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