2009 April « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder and Travel

Why is it so hard to just do a one hour presentation?

I am going to the Oregon coast tomorrow to talk with law enforcement agents about bipolar disorder. I have always wanted to do this- so it should be exciting right? Well, if you have bipolar disorder you know that the one hour presentation is not the problem- it’s the stress of thinking about all of the planning that has to go into it! I have to meet a friend who is driving me to the coast. This means I have to get there at a specific time. What if I can’t sleep? In fact, I know I will not be able to get to sleep on my own. When should I take my Ativan? Will I get enough sleep as I tend to wake up too early when I travel.

Where are my books? Do I have copies in my car? No. That [ Read More ]

Get it Done When You’re Depressed: Think like an athlete!

Think Like an Athlete

I like to talk with people who have achieved excellence in the sporting world. Their dedication and perseverance are similar to what it takes to manage bipolar disorder successfully.

Here is a great quote:

You can neither win or lose if you don’t get into the game.

How true. I often get scared and stressed when I approach a new book deal. There is always the chance of a no- but there is always the chance of a yes- so I stay in the game. I always get sick bipolar wise when I write books with strict deadlines- I often feel I can’t go on. But I do and I’m glad I stick it out. When I do interviews for my book Get it Done When You’re Depressed, the interviewers inevitably ask me about my Think Like an Athlete tip. Athletes keep going no matter what- and we can too. If [ Read More ]

Summer Mania

Bipolar Disorder Mania Peaks in the Summer!

NOw is the time for a mania check…

Wow, I had a wild hypomanic episode a few months ago. I wrote about it at the time. If you go to the mania link to the right, you can read all about mania and my experiences. It’s a very, very dangerous mood swings as it feels good- absolutely no one wants to be depressed, but people who experience euphoric mania often welcome it and never want it to end. (Agitated mania is called dysphoric mania- it’s also explained on the mania link to the right.)

We really are moving into the mania season. Sunlight affects our sleep as we get more sun through the eyes – which affects the brain. So, yes- keeping out of the sun helps. But who wants to do that if they have been depressed?

This is a complicated illness- and we have to know [ Read More ]

Julie on Twitter

I am on TWITTER once again

It is so ubiquitous I can no longer ignore the technology!

I will post those concise 140 word updates when I have a new project in the works or soon to be released! I promise not to keep telling you what I’m eating throughout the day!

Feel free to look for Julie Fast on the Twitter page and join in!

http://twitter.com/JulieFast

If you send questions on Twitter, they are pretty easy to answer with a few sentences. I will answer the Twitter questions on the blog. Of course I will also answer as many blog questions as well.

Julie

Thanks to everyone…

Hi There,

I am constantly amazed at what great comments readers leave on the site. It helps me to remember that bipolar disorder is an illness and we all get sick in the same way. We truly don’t have ’emotional problems!’ We have trouble regulating our emotions. It’s a big difference.

If you have a comment you feel would help someone- feel free to post it under their comment. I just ask that you stick to your own experience and what has worked and hasn’t worked for you. This helps more than you know because your story lets others know they are not weird and they are not alone! (We just act weird and feel lonely- ha ha)

I woke up depressed- reading the blog this morning helped! I am just going to get on with my day.

It’s an illness and we can manage it.

Julie

Reader Comment: Mania and Sex

Here is a question from a brave reader who is dealing with some tough problems surrounding mania. Most of us have been through them- one of the main symptoms of mania is a lack of judement and control around sex. Beleive me, I had that problem for a long time. Here is the question and my answer:

I suddenly am unable to control the sexual drive towards another man who is happy to soothe me. I am a happily married woman. I seem to get caught up in the moment and I don’t know how to stop. I don’t seem to want to stop. He comforts me and brings sanity to an otherwise insane world. I know it would break my spouses heart and that he would leave me it he knew. I have to say I wouldn’t blame him. I know there is no future with this man, just comfort. Help.

Hi Sara,

Immediate [ Read More ]