Tips for better sleep!

Everyone I know with bipolar disorder has some sort of sleep problem- it’s normal. It’s a bother.

Sleep Tips

- Sleep in a cool room- this can make a huge difference. If you get too hot,you will wake up more.

- Turn off lights one hour before bed and listen to a book on tape by a really low watt light- not a daylight bulb!  I actually turned off the light last night and listened to a show on my IPOD. –Have a noise machine such as a humidifier to block out sounds from outside.

- Keep your TV in the living room and definitely don’t watch TV right before going to bed. Not only is it overstimulating,it also emits a bright (blue spectrum) light that is stimulating.

Sometimes when I write these lists I think,this is just all so ridiculous. Why can’t I just be like my friends! They can [ Read More ]





Exciting Radio News!

After much request,I am finally doing a listener call in show this Sunday. I willl answer any and all mental health questions.

The show is from 3-4 PM PST on Sunday,June 1st.

 I will post the call in phone number closer to the date.

 People outside the US can email questions that I can answer on the air.

 Julie





Depression and Generocity

It’s so hard to be generous when you feel like hell.

It’s hard to be happy for others when you’re unhappy.

It’s hard not to be jealous when you see someone get what you can’t have.

It’s hard to say,‘I’m so proud of you! Good job! You deserve it! I’m happy for you!” when you fell like your world is falling apart.

But guess what,you can teach yourself to do it- even when you don’t feel you can do it.

I call it acting as if.

When I’m unbelievably jealous of a friend,  I first have to look inside myself and see where the jealousy comes from- it usually comes from depression. In fact,if I’m jealous and depressed and mean and nasty and then the friend starts having problems,I actually feel better! It’s awful and something I fight a lot! It simply is not the real me. I am always happy [ Read More ]





Bipolar Medication Problems

As you may know,I’ve been taking Lamictal since 2005. It works very well for me- but it’s always a balance in terms of dosage. I actually did something really stupid last weekend. I went out of town to speak to a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) group and forgot to take my Lamictal!

Dumb. I was freaked out about it- but I thought that missing for one day shouldn’t be too much of a problem! Wrong!

The withdrawal symptoms started on the way home –  pain in my legs,then my arms,neck twitching and pretty soon,all over body twitching! These are strong drugs. 

When I finally realized what was going on- I truly had no idea what it was as it came on slowly- my mom said,“I have some Lamical in my purse!” She takes it for depression and it works well for her. So thank heavens she had some.

[ Read More ]





Bipolar is not my fault!

Bipolar Disorder is not your fault Julie!  I say this to myself a lot when I get sick.

It took me a long time to accept my diagnosis. I was diagnosed in 1995. How is it possible I’ve dealt with severe bipolar disorder since 1995!

I used to wake up and think- I have a mental illness. This isn’t happening to me!

I have nothing to do with having the illness-  mood disorders are in my genes on both sides of my family.

I am only 100% responsible for managing the illness. It took these 13 years to get good at it! Now I put all of that experience in my books- it doesn’t have to take you 13 years to get better,that is for sure.

Julie





Bipolar disorder:My High Risk Situations

Here they are!

- Dating –Unrealistic deadlines –Troublesome people –Moods of others –Sleep disturbances such as a party next to my house –Travel

I don’t date. I give myself time to get things done- this is always a challenge. I say goodbye instead of hello to people who want to make me miserable. I gauge the moods of others and don’t provoke or even comment on their moods if I don’t have to. I have a noise machine,a humidifier and meds to sleep if I need them. I plan for travel way,way in advance.

Having bipolar disorder is like having a child you have to take care of 24 hours a day.

But….. I am mentally healthy.

Julie





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