Archive for July, 2008
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
How Many Medications Should I Try?
This is a difficult question for many health care professionals as well as people with the illness. It’s known that the first bipolar disorder medications tried are not always successful and that a trial and error process is usually indicated. Some people try medications for a year or more until they find something that works for them. Considering medication side effects and the impact on the body when stopping or changing medications, it’s important that you work with your health care professional closely when you’re asked to try a new medication.
I suggest that people keep trying to find the right medications. I use the Health Cards every day as I always say and I used them without medications for many years. It took me about 50% of my time to manage the illness. I’ve always said that managing this illness was a part time job. It was so difficult.
Then I found a medication that worked. It was like getting a business partner! When I combined the Health Cards with the medication, my life changed completely. It just took a few years for it all to work together. I started to get a lot better last year.
So keep trying medications until you find what works. My coauthor Dr. John Preston wrote a fantastic book called The Medical Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. This book is especially helpful if you or someone you care about were just diagnosed. You can read about the book on bipolarhappens.com
Julie
Tags: , anti depressants, biplar medications, bipolar disorder medicatinos, bipolar mania, bipolar manic, Bipolar Medications, drugs, manic episode, medications, medications for depressoin, medications to treat bioplar disorder
Posted in Bipolar Treatment Tips, Medications | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Bipolar Medications: Lamictal Side Effects
I love Lamictal. That could be a bumper sticker on my car. I hope you have a medication that you love.
Unfortunately, I have some pretty tough side effects. Right now I’m dealing with the super stiff neck that often comes with the drug. It disrupts my sleep, which isn’t good! It’s like nighttime whip lash. I’ve found that stretching my neck and then using an ice pack helps. I try to get a massage as often as possible. I find myself moving my head over and over again to try to find a comfortable place on my pillow. There usually isn’t one! My side effects come and go, so hopefully this will be gone soon.
I’ve probably written about this on the blog- but I had to write it again to remind people that we may have to live with some side effects if the medication works really well.
Here’s some more info about Lamictal: Lamictal, like Depakote and Tegretol is an anticonvulsant drug that just happens to work for bipolar disorder!
Lithium is the only ‘real’ mood stabilizer. It’s a natural salt which is why it’s so inexpensive! Lithium is a miracle drug for many people- but a lot of us can’t take it.
When it comes to symptoms, Lithium, Tegretol and Depakote are anti mania drugs. They are not anti depression drugs- which is why Lamictal has been the miracle for those of us with bipolar II who don’t have full blown mania.
Lamictal helps with depression, mild mania, rapid cycling, psychosis, OCD symptoms and ADHD symptoms. Wow, that is great.
Julie
Tags: Abilify, about bipolar medications, biplar medications, bipolar disorder medicatinos, bipolar mania, bipolar manic, Bipolar Medications, Bipolar Treatment Tips, Depakote, drugs, Lamictal, lamotrigine, lithium, manic episode, medications, medications to treat bioplar disorder, mood stabilizer, psych drugs, psychiatric drugs, tegretol, Zyprexa
Posted in Depakote, Lamictal, Medications, tegretol | 6 Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Reader Comment
I often get letters from readers telling me how they use my books. Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder has a lot of workbook elements.
Hi Julie,
I’m reading and writing about your book, “Take charge of bipolar disorder”. My favorite chapter is on behavior change. It’s true I’ve gone through some very positive experiences lately, and it’s kicked in a depression, which doesn’t make any sense. Change is a real killer. Your chapter makes me feel hopeful about dealing with the fallout from change. I have to admit, your chapter on “work and money” hit too close to home, so I haven’t been able to write a fair accounting of it. My apologies–there seems to be some good info. in there. Anyway, I like your book very much. Keep at it!
**
I love to hear from readers. Writing is very solitary. I write all of my books at libraries, coffee shops and at karaoke! But I’m always sitting by myself. I guess I outline in noise and write in quiet!
Julie
Tags: bipolar depression, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar mania, Bipolar Treatment Tips, books by julie fast, depression, julie fast, julie fast bipolar, julie fast books, Julie Fast Radio Show, julie fast's books, julie's books, loving someone with bipolar disorder, manic, manic depression, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Get it Done When Yo, what books has julie fast written, www.bipolarhappens.com Health Cards Treatment Plan for
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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
Hi! Here is the latest newsletter from bipolarhappens.com.
My Bipolar Brain is Lying to Me!
All right bipolar brain! I’ve had enough! Shut up!
This is what I had to say to myself today when my brain would not leave me alone. I sat outside at a cafe to get work done today. The weather was great, my hands which often give me trouble were not bothering me and I was actually getting work done. But every time a couple walked by I had the thought- you will never be happy like them Julie. Or if I saw a baby- I had the thought- you’ll never have the experience of having a baby. I felt like my life was wasting away and that others were having so much more fun than I was.
This is the bipolar trap and luckily I know enough to eventually recognize what it is and then tell my brain to.. shut up. It’s a harsh way to do it, but when this happens I have to snap myself out of it. Here are the facts outside of bipolar disorder:
- I am currently single because it’s the absolute right choice for me. It’s a conscious decision. I’ve been in relationships for the majority of my adult life and I doubt a year without one will kill me. Of course I prefer a loving relationship as most people do, but now is not the time. Crazy brain.
- I have never wanted a child nor do I want one now! It’s ridiculous what my brain says! My nephew is the light of my life and that is enough for me!
- There is no way everyone is happier than I am. Please!
- In an hour I’m going to meet friends to see a movie and then have a bbq. Why does my brain completely disregard this information?
Bipolar disorder lies to me. It lies all of the time. If I listen to it, as I did for many, many years, I will be miserable.
Saying I’ve had enough! and SHUT UP! to my brain and writing this got me out of the episode.
Julie
You can sign up for the newsletter on the menu bar at www.bipolarhappens.com
Tags: , biplar, Bipolar, bipolar depression, Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Treatment Tips, depression treatment, depressoin, depressoin treatment, julie fast, julie fast bipolar, julie fast bipolar specialist, julie fast bipolarhappens.com, julie fast dbsa, julie fast mental health speaker, julie fast nami, julie fast newsletter, julie fast speaker, julie fast treatment ideas, juliefast, manic depression, treatemnt
Posted in Bipolar Treatment Tips, Newsletters | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
Here are some stories that illustrate a fact: bipolar disorder medication efficacy can change over time.
Lithium: My dear friend Sherri- who has bipolar I- took Lithium successfully for over eight years. Two years ago she had a severe manic/psychotic episode without a major trigger. My coauthor Dr. John Preston calls them breakthrough mood swings. She spent the past two years on Lithium and Zyprexa. It was a tough two years, but she is doing SO well. I just talked with her today and I said, “It’s so great to have Sherri back!” She said that her husband feels the same. People do get better!
Zoloft: Another friend was on Zoloft for ten years. It stopped working effectively. She then tried Celexa. It worked for a while, but not as well as Zoloft. So she’s going back on the Zoloft! It’s an art to find out what drug works for you. It is a lifelong process for most of us.
Lamictal: As many of you know, I made a huge mistake a year and a half ago- I reduced my Lamictal because it wasn’t helping enough with my depression. I didn’t realize it was helping me in so many other ways. When I finally got back up to my normal dose- the drug worked better. No kidding. It helped my depression a lot more than in the two prior years.
Don’t give up on your bipolar meds. The right meds can change your life!
Julie
Tags: , abilify bipolar, abilify dosage, abilify side effects, abilify trouble, antipsychotics, aripiprazole, bipolar disorder medications, bipolar drug treatments, bipolar drugs, bipolar happens, bipolar illness medications, bipolarhappens.com, celexa, haldol, haloperidol, julie fast, juliefast radio, juliefast.com, Lamictal, lamotrigine, lithium, medical trreatment of bioiar disorder, neuroleptics, Olanzapine, psych drugs, psych meds, psychiatric drugs, Risperdal, Risperidone, thorazine, Zoloft, Zyprexa
Posted in Medications | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
Bipolar Disorder Triggers
I just finished an article on bipolar disorder triggers for my column in BP Magazine.
I was going through some serious trigger issues when I wrote it! Do you write things down when you’re sick? I find it helps. I can often see my role in what’s going on if I write about what I’m honestly feeling.
I started seriously examining my bipolar triggers about eight years ago when I created the Health Cards (my treatment plan on bipolarhappens.com )- wow, I was a mess. I walked into situations without thinking and I was constantly ill. I’m a lot more vigilant now. A lot more. The minute I start to get sick, I think to myself- what is going on here? And I examine my life. Often it’s a problem with a person or work. Considering that my life pretty much revolves around relationships and work, this is depressing!
A friend of mine was doing really well after spending a few months in the hospital over 10 years ago. And then he got a job promotion. He had his first manic episode in over ten years. He went back to his regular job and got better quickly. It’s not fair is it.
Triggers aren’t always negative. There are many ‘positive’ triggers as well. It helps if family members can remember that those of us with bipolar are just ridiculously sensitive to change. We don’t like it. I hate it. But it’s our reality.
I think I use the phrase- it’s our reality- about a million times a day.
Julie
If you don’t have a subscription to BP Magazine, I highly recommend it. If you subscribe now, you can read my column on triggers in the fall issue!
www.bphope.com
Tags: , bipolar affective disorder, bipolar illness triggers, bipolar triggers, depression triggers, mania triggers, negative triggers, triggers, what triggers bipolar disorder
Posted in Bipolar Treatment Tips, Triggers | No Comments »
Sunday, July 20th, 2008
Pressured speech is a hallmark of mania. Here are the characteristics:
- Can’t stop talking – it’s not like it’s a choice when it get’s bad. You really can’t stop!
- The desire to speak is so strong you will talk over the other person.
- You can’t complete a sentence before going to the next one.
- Speaking feels really good and you’re fascinated with your own ideas!
Those are just a few descriptions of manic pressured speech.
I’ve had it the past few days. Luckily, I know the signs from using my Health Cards for so many years, but it still catches up on me. And then I’m embarrassed.
It’s mania time here in the US. Many people go into the hospital in July and August.
Do you have a plan to prevent mania? Are you showing any signs of pressured speech?
Julie
Tags: , , anti depressants, biplar medications, bipolar disorder medicatinos, bipolar mania, bipolar manic, Bipolar Medications, drugs, mania, manic episode, medications, medications for depressoin, medications to treat bioplar disorder, pressured speech, pressured speech mania, signs of mania, syptoms of mania
Posted in Bipolar Treatment Tips, Mania | No Comments »
Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder
Saturday, July 26th, 2008Reader Comment
I often get letters from readers telling me how they use my books. Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder has a lot of workbook elements.
Hi Julie,
I’m reading and writing about your book, “Take charge of bipolar disorder”. My favorite chapter is on behavior change. It’s true I’ve gone through some very positive experiences lately, and it’s kicked in a depression, which doesn’t make any sense. Change is a real killer. Your chapter makes me feel hopeful about dealing with the fallout from change. I have to admit, your chapter on “work and money” hit too close to home, so I haven’t been able to write a fair accounting of it. My apologies–there seems to be some good info. in there. Anyway, I like your book very much. Keep at it!
**
I love to hear from readers. Writing is very solitary. I write all of my books at libraries, coffee shops and at karaoke! But I’m always sitting by myself. I guess I outline in noise and write in quiet!
Julie
Tags: bipolar depression, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar mania, Bipolar Treatment Tips, books by julie fast, depression, julie fast, julie fast bipolar, julie fast books, Julie Fast Radio Show, julie fast's books, julie's books, loving someone with bipolar disorder, manic, manic depression, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Get it Done When Yo, what books has julie fast written, www.bipolarhappens.com Health Cards Treatment Plan for
Posted in reader comments | No Comments »