Well, these are actually tips to trick depression!
Go about your day even when the depression is lurking at your back and knocking at your door. It may feel like you can’t get out and get things done, but you can. Your legs still work- and you are still you.
Watch There is Something About Mary or Bowfinger.
Find the Success Baby picture on this blog.
Remind yourself over and over again that depression feels the same every single time- no matter when the situation. This means it’s an illness and not you.
Eat some hot sundubo Korean soup. I am not joking here- very hot chilies release endorphins. You can also eat hot Thai food.
Just because one things goes ‘wrong’ it doesn’t mean that all things are going wrong!
Bipolar is a tricky task master- it says- oh, something just caused you some trouble? That’s because it has always caused you trouble and it will always cause you trouble in the future. Things will always go wrong for you!
In truth, all and I mean all situations are separate experiences. What lead to the moment and what comes after the moment are separate as well. Don’t judge one moment in time against all of your life.
We can get through anything- especially the little things that bipolar disorder tells us are so important.
Most events are not that important. They come and go. Things go wrong and we move on. What matters is that we don’t connect these events to other events to create a stream of WRONGNESS!
I just received a comment from Reanna about her rapid cycling that won’t stop. I have been there so I understand! She asked a question about bipolar disorder treatment. Here is the question and my answer:Julie,Reading your posts has been very helpful–thank you! I have been having a horrible time with “mixed episodes” in where I will be up for a few hours, then out of no where, boom, I am down, then up, then down! My dr. ordered blood tests, but any suggestions on coping methods until the tests kick in?Reanna
Hi Reanna, Oh yes, I certainly understand. I have done that rapid cycling. It’s hard to get all of the terms straight with this illness! When you go up and then down- that is rapid cycling. A lot of rapid cycling. We are similar. I can have [ Read More ]
I’m sitting here at my desk writing my column for BP Magazine. The topic is great- the length requirement is great. I have been writing these columns for years and usually enjoy the process. Today, things are tough. My anxiety is just hitting me from all sides! I feel it in my body- my brain and all around me. There is nothing wrong- I’m on track to write the article, even though I’m a few days past my deadline.Anxiety can be so debilitating because it’s so physical. I can sit and work when I’m depressed or mildly hypomanic. I can even work when I’m mildly psychotic. But anxiety is tough!!!!!I have to finish this though- I need a plan.
1. Change my writing position. I have a crate I use on top of my desk where I can stand up and write instead of sitting.
2. Do a few minutes of yoga. I have yoga [ Read More ]
How does depression find all of the bad and or depressing memories in our brain and then replay them over and over again. Where are the positive memories and how does depression skip them? Does this mean that negative memories are stored in a certain part of the brain that depression can access- or does it mean that we have negative and positive neurotransmitters – and the negative neurotransmitters are the ones triggered? Maybe serotonin goes both ways!Maybe depression blocks out the chemicals in our brains that produce positive thoughts?I have endless questions about depression. It’s the same with mania. Where does a thought and feeling such as, “I’m a genius, ” come from?Why is it so easy to write depressing music when we’re depressed?Fascinating stuff. I have to approach depression with a spirit of fascination and discovery- because that is the only way we will find answers to these very complex questions.What do you [ Read More ]
How I manage bipolar disorder successfully……I get a lot of questions from readers asking how I can do so well despite having chronic bipolar disorder mood swings. Here is my long answer. There is a short answer as well. I will put that at the end! **
I can vividly recall what my life was like in 1995. I was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I had NO idea what do to about it. There were literally no treatment plan books on the market- Kay Redfield Jamison’s book An Unquiet Mind came out that year and I devoured it! I felt hope from the book, but didn’t learn how to manage the illness. My medical bills were large and not being able to work put a huge strain on my partner Ivan. After two more years of medication troubles and constant mood swings, I said enough is enough and decided to create a plan [ Read More ]
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Mom Brain Podcast
Listen to Julie’s latest interview on bipolar disorder and mental health in children, teens and adults on the Mom Brain Podcast with Hilaria Baldwin and Daphne Oz.
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