Archive for September, 2008
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
I’ve struggled with my weight since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1995. I certainly had weight issues before that, but there were small time compared to what I’ve been through in the past 10 years.
Statistics show that those of us with severe mental illnesses die a LOT earlier than those without an illness. When I heard this, I said, ok. That’s not going to be me! I’ve written about this on the blog before. I have found that a low carb diet is working well for me in terms of my sugar cravings and my up and down weight. I’ve lost a lot of the weight I gained last year after taking Serequel.
Here is a book that can give you more information on this way of eating. It’s not really a diet as it’s life long.
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting
Definitely leave your comments on what works for you!
My goal is to be at my gorgeous, healthy weight by this time next year. I can’t keep going up and down every six months. It’s not healthy and it’s not fun! I will keep you posted on my progress.
Julie
Tags: , Bipolar, bipolar affective disorder, bipolar depression, Bipolar Help, bipolar illness, bipolar mania, bipolar questoins, Bipolar Treatment Tips, bipolar triggers, bipolarhappens.com, bp magazine, children bipolar disorder, DBSA, diet and bipolar, diet for bipolar disorder, general bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, help with bipolar weight gain, julie fast, juliefast.com, loving someone with bipolar disorder, low carb diet, manic depression, manic episode, medication weight gain, NAMI/DBSA, serequel weight gain, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, teenagers bipolar, the carbohydrate Addict's diet: the lifelong solution t, weight loss tips, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in weight | 4 Comments »
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
I spoke at the NAMI Oregon Conference yesterday. The day went really well and I met some wonderful people. I even managed to get to sleep normally last night.
Then I woke up with a lot of worries. I know what this means. I have too much to do. It’s not that I don’t have the time to do it. It’s never a time issue with me. My problem is that I have a bipolar wall that I smack up against if I don’t take care of myself. This means that I have to take care of things today so that I can function next week.
Many people feel stress about having a lot to do. This is different. I can’t even call it worry. It’s the feeling so many of us get that prevents us from working at regular jobs- ie. 9-5 jobs. It’s like a wave of … I’m honestly not even sure what to call it. The bipolar wave doesn’t have one name. It’s a wave of fear, worry, stress, unreasonable doubt and physical nervous pain. It’s the feeling- that’s often real- that you simply can’t keep doing what you’ve been doing.
It’s a few hours later now, so I know it’s not as bad as it seemed this morning- but I still have to listen. I’ve had this feeling during projects that weren’t going well.
If I want to have a career in speaking- and I certainly do, then I have to modify my life even more. That is something I’m willing to do.
julie
Tags: bipolar blog, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar work, bipolarhappens.com, can I work if I have bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, julie fast, julie fast blog, juliefast.com, manic depression work, Work, work issues bipolar, work problems bipolar disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Work | 1 Comment »
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
This is an addition to the above post. So, I know that I have hit the overwhelmed work feeling. Here is what I’m going to do:
#1 I have a business partner who can help with my speaking gigs. The speaking part is what I love- the negotiations, set up, book sales and follow up are truly too much for me. I get overwhelmed by something as simple as sending my speaking info to my web master for the web page! And yet this is so needed for my career.
#2 I can put everything on hold that doesn’t have to be done. I tend to work on five things at once and worry that I will miss something if I don’t get it ALL done. Yes, I do miss a lot financially because of this work stress, but I have to stay healthy. This means that all of my work next week will be about writing my next book. A draft is due on October 15th.
Just by doing these two things I think I will be able to stay well enough to work and finish the important stuff.
Julie
Tags: bipolar blog, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar work, bipolarhappens.com, can I work if I have bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, julie fast, julie fast blog, juliefast.com, manic depression work, Work, work issues bipolar, work problems bipolar disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Work | No Comments »
Saturday, September 27th, 2008
Hello! Here is a copy of a television interview I did about Britney Spears when she was having such a hard time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEdM5OFGiuU
I love being on television, but watching it later is hard! I have to remain positive. It’s easy to be hard on how you look. I know, the message is what’s important!
Julie
Tags: bipolar affective disorder support, bipolar mania, bipolarhappens.com, britney bipolar, britney mania, britney manic episode, Britney Spears, Britney spears family, brother bipolar, DBSA, depression bipolar support alliance, does britney spears have bipolar disorder, family bipolar, family mania, family problems bipolar, help with bipolar family member, julie fast, juliefast.com, loving someone with bipolar disorder, Lynn Spears, manic behavior, manic depression, manic depression family problesm, manic episoder, mom bipolar, NAMI/DBSA, national alliance on mental illness, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Britney Spears, Video's | 1 Comment »
Friday, September 26th, 2008
I know WHO the real me is…. my question is WHAT is the real me in terms of energy, happiness, work ability etc. I often mistake hypomania for the ‘real me.’ I have a NORMAL card in my Health Cards and that helps immensely. But the hypomania gets me a lot. I can be hypomanic for only a few hours a day and not know it. When you rapid cycle a lot, you can miss the mania and then get broadsided by the depression.
I think the real me is gregarious, happy, focused, calm and industrious. What about you?
Julie
If you click on the mania subject button to your right, you can read about the difference between hypomania and mania.
Tags: , bioplar, Bipolar, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar happens, bipolar illness, bipolar julie, bipoler mania, boiar, disorder, Health Cards, Hypomania, julie fast, Julie Fast Radio Show, mania, manic, manic depression, normal
Posted in About Julie, Mania | 2 Comments »
Friday, September 26th, 2008
I’m speaking at the NAMI Oregon yearly conference tomorrow. I have a class in the morning and then will speak at the luncheon. The most difficult part of all of this is getting my books, post cards order sheets and travel stuff. I worry that I won’t be able to sleep and that I will get overstimulated. Yada, yada, yada. If I let my mind go no this way, I will go bonkers.
It makes a lot more sense to actually load my car ahead of time and print out what I need. That way I can get to bed early and be ready for the drive. This is not a bipolar thing- it’s a normal speaking thing. It becomes a bipolar thing if I don’t take care of myself now. So I’m going to! It’s human nature that we often worry more than we actually do things. It will only take me a few hours to get ready. I have already spent a few hours this morning worrying about getting ready. That is just dumb!
Julie
Tags: Bipolar Disorder, bipolar travel, Health Cards, julie fast, loving someone with bipolar disorder, manic depression, mood swings, nami conference, NAMI/DBSA, national alliance on mental illness
Posted in NAMI/DBSA, travel | 2 Comments »
Friday, September 26th, 2008
Well, as you probably know, an author lives for book reviews! If you have read my books Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Get it Done When You’re Depressed, I’d love it if you would post a review of the books on amazon.com.
When you are there, please feel free to check the section that says Tags Customers Associate with This Product. This helps when people go to amazon.com to search for books on mood disorders in general. It helps me a lot if everyone does this section whether they write a review or not.
Of course, be totally honest when you write. I don’t read the reviews – but they are so important for people deciding what books to buy.
Your support is so appreciated! Here are the links to each book:
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner
http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Bipolar-Disorder-Julie/dp/1572243422/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222400708&sr=8-1
wow, that is a long link!
Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder: A Four Step Plan for You and Your Loved Ones to Manage the Illness and Create Lasting Stability
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Charge-Bipolar-Disorder-Stability/dp/0446697613/ref=pd_cp_b_3_img?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1572243422&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DWZC6XAEJ58XZA9TVT1
Get it Done When You’re Depressed: 50 Strategies for Keeping Your Life on Track
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Done-When-Youre-Depressed/dp/1592577067/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222400883&sr=1-1
Thanks to everyone! 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 Press and News | 2 Comments »
