Focus,Focus,Focus. I often space out and float around when things aren’t going well. I’ve learned a simple technique that works. I say,“Focus Julie. Just focus Julie. Focus now. What comes first? Focus Julie.” This targets my jumbled brain. I can then actually look at something such as a pile of papers and say,“Focus Julie and pick the first step.” Saying this out loud especially helps. It’s better than the thoughts in my head that say I never get anything done! Julie
 I asked my brother,“What’s it like to have a sister with bipolar disorder?”His answer was totally unexpected. I thought he would talk about the problems I had in the past. But that was a long time ago –and now we get along well. It’s good to ask family members what they think. You can record them and add them to your blog! Julie
oh yes,the dark weather has started here in Portland,Oregon. I am getting ready for the winter depression way ahead of time. I have found that preparation for symptoms is the best way to prevent symptoms! Here are some tips: What is your worst time of the day when the weather is dark? It’s around 4-7 for me. So…here is what I do: Make sure I work in the morning when it’s light so that I have something fun scheduled at that time. I can have coffee with a friend (decaf of course!) or I can go see a movie. Yes,the theather is dark,but seeing a comedy is often a great antedote to the outside gloom. - Exercise during your worst hours. This is often right after work for many people. Gyms have very bright lights and that helps. This is also a great time to schedule a walk with a [ Read More ]  Well, I feel worn out and yet I’m not tired! I have too much to do,but I actually have enough time to do it! I feel like I can’t find a good place to work,but when I sit down I work just fine. I feel overwhelmed! Now I have to get really honest with myself. Do I have the time to do my work? Yes. Can I find a place to get my work done effectively? This is the tough question because I’m in one of those moods where every location is a problem. I feel restless and the people around me are getting on my nerves. I do know where I can go to work though,and I’m going there now! I’m simply having a typical bipolar symptoms that happen to a lot of us when we have a lot of requirements,expectations and deadlines. I have to override my brain right now. [ Read More ] Hi,I just received this comment about my speech last week. I want to respond to it directly.
julie. . . .we attended your speech in Eugene on last Thursday night. My daughter is having a hard time right now and any little “light”that she can see is SO important,so you can imagine how important it has been for her to be exposed to your hopeful messages,your time that you took to speak with us afterward! We bought the health cards CD. Haven’t had time to look at it yet,but WILL. Many thanks. becky
** When I meet wonderful people at my talks,I’m always happy to see mothers and fathers with their child. There is so [ Read More ] I just did an interview with a writer from Self Magazine on the topic of the January blues. She asked some excellent questions- and one of my ideas that she really liked was the concept that we can’t WAIT to want to do something- we have to just do something. That’s my first strategy in Get it Done When You’re Depressed. Depression never wants to do anything! I can sit until I’m frozen solid before I’ll want to get out and get on with my life if I’m depressed. I think- where’s my motivation? Well,depression is eating it like candy! I want to be motivated,so I create it using the stuff I talk about in my books: Set up a time to work with a friend- tomorrow I will meet my friend Karen to work together from 1-4PM. I will work on my book that’s due and she is going to [ Read More ] | |
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