Things have been tough- but I’m much better today. I can tell I will be able to work withouth so much PAIN! I am sure you know what I mean. When you get sick- whether it be depression, agitated mania, anxiety, OCD, ADHD stuff- it just makes it hard to sit down and work. I use my tools of course- but it sure is better when I can work wihtout having to use my tools all day.
At least I have them. I recently received a comment asking about my treatment plan. I use my Health Cards treatment plan everyday and have done so since 1999. It has saved my life. I also use the ideas in my books- they are based off the Health Cards. Here are my main treatment plan tips:
1. Have a plan in place BEFORE you get sick. That is what keeps me going- I know that when the mood swings start- I have something ready to help automatically.
2. Surround yourself with people who know you have bipolar disorder and can help just by being there. They don’t have to talk about it with you, help you feel better, give you advice or feel sad for you- they just have to be there when you want to hang out.
3. Create strong bonds with people who can handle your tough days. These are special people!
4. Remind yourself constnatly when you’re sick that IT’s AN ILLNESS>> I CAN SURVIVE THIS.
5. Go easy on yourself when you do something that makes you sick.
6. Take your meds- and if you haven’t found the right meds, keep trying forever.
I could go on and on. These are just some of the basics- my books talk about all of my ideas in detail. I do read my own books- they are treatment plans already in place that I can use when I get sick. That is the ultimate goal of managing the illness.
We can and do get better.
julie
Thanks for all of the reader comments!
Friday, June 19th, 2009I really appreciate and learn from reader comments. I read all of them. I try to respond as much as possible. I especially appreciate comments that give different opinions to what I’ve written on the blog and in my books. I really mean this. My view of bipolar disorder is not the only view- that’s for sure!
I’ve learned so much since I became well enough to write my books- this was in 2001. Not that long ago! Since then I’ve found a medication that has helped immensely with my symptoms (Lamictal) and have continued to use my Health Cards treatment plan- but there are definitely areas of my writing regarding myself that are out of date. It can be hard to see your ideas in print when you have changed your situation! For example, in my books Bipolar Happens and Tips for Talking with Health Care Professionals, I mention quite often that I can’t take meds. That changed and now I have to go back and edit the books to make sure they reflect my current situation. My ideas in the books are the same- I just have to keep them up to date on myself!
Do you write about this illness? Do you have a blog? I have found that writing saves my life. I can write when I feel too depressed to live. I can also see the hypomania in my writing as I use over the top happy words and my thoughts are faster than my hand.
The writing reminds me that I have been sick before and I will be sick again- but it’s an illness and not the real me. I wrote my traditionally published books (Loving, Take Charge and Get it Done) while very depressed and often a bit psychotic. Oh well!
So please do keep sending comments. They make me think and really help me move forward when life seems impossible.
Julie
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