2008 December « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Mental Health True or False

Here are some mental health statements. Are they true or false? The answers are below.

#1. OCD is an anxiety disorder.

#2. People with bipolar disorder have psychosis.

#3. Bipolar disorder in children is the same as bipolar disorder in adults.

#4. Lithium is the only true mood stabilizer.

Answers:

#1 True! There are seven types of anxiety disorders, general anxiety disorder, social phobias, specific phobias, agoraphobia, PTSD and OCD

#2. Absolutely true. When my partner Ivan was in the hospital for three months- he was manic and very psychotic. This is normal with a full blown bipolar I manic episode. The psychosis is treated with antipsychotics such as Abilify, Seroquel, Risperdal and Zyprexa. I write about Ivan in my book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder.

#3. False! The childhood bipolar disorder diagnosis is very controversial. In fact, in the last ten years the childhood bipolar [ Read More ]

Really severe and rotten downswings

wow! I took on a job that really kicked my behind. I wrote a book in less than two months. It was not a good idea and I got sick about half way through, but I always finish! Then bipolar tries to finish me! I went into a severe downswing after the book was done. I’ve often written about how I go down once I finish a project. I’m used to it- but this time I went down in the middle and at the end.

My therapist always reminds me that I have trouble with transitions. Even if the transition is a good one such as finishing a book, I still have trouble. – all of my friends with bipolar have trouble with transitions- a friend of mine went to her family for Thanksgiving. She said, ” Every time I go to Seattle to see my family- it’s too much for a transition! I [ Read More ]

Bipolar Depression… once again!

I have had a tough time lately- can you identify with that! Ha. ha.

I’m an optimist when I’m depressed no matter how sick I get- because in the back of my mind I just have to know it’s an illness. It distorts things so much it’s better just to focus on getting things done. So that is what I’m doing today. I’m helping a friend write a book on public speaking. I got one of his chapters today and here is the opening quote:

“Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” Winston Churchill

Churchill had a lot of depression, as did Lincoln- and look what they accomplished by moving forward even when the depression just wants you to move backwards and focus on that was bad in the past.

So, today I’m moving forward and using the tips in my books- Get it Done When You’re Depressed helps the [ Read More ]