Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change

This is a two part blog for parents who have adult children with bipolar disorder.  You need help too!

You are the ones who have it tough when your child isn’t doing well.

Does this sound familiar?

Your child has a diagnosis and refuses meds. Your child has obvious bipolar disorder symptoms (or another psychiatric illness) and not only refuses to get help , but gets very angry if you bring up the subject. Your child  is so ill they need hospitalization,  but you have no idea how to get them into treatment.

Of course there are many more situations,  but I want you to know: You are not alone!

All parents of adult children with active bipolar disorder are overwhelmed.  This is a strong illness that can grab hold of your family and not let go.  In the past two years, I’ve worked with hundreds of parents in my coaching business and have [ Read More ]





Posted on September 21st, 2011 | Category: Children/teens, Family and Friends

Julie A. Fast Family and Partner Coaching: A Conversation with a Worried Mother and a Defiant Daughter pt 1

The following is a sample conversation you may have experienced if someone you love isn’t getting the help they need to manage bipolar disorder.

Marcee is a 28 year old woman who has been in and out of the hospital since her early 20s. She can’t hold a job, goes through constant boyfriends, drinks beer, smokes pot and gets very, very angry if anyone tries to talk to her about making positive changes in her life. Here is a sample dialogue:

Mom: Marcee,  I really need you to see how bad things are right now. You never leave your apartment and your dad and I don’t know what do to. We’ve tried everything. You refuse your medications and I know you’re drinking again. What are your plans Marcee? We want to help you. We don’t know what to do!

Marcee: (cuts off her mom and yells): Leave me alone mom! Just leave me alone and [ Read More ]





Posted on March 24th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Family and Friends

Julie A. Fast Partner and Family Coaching: A Conversation Between a Worried Mother and Her Defiant Daughter pt. 2

continued from above post….

Mom: You dad and I are so worried!  Can’t you see what is happening? This isn’t a life. We don’t want this life for your Marcee! You can’t work! We are giving you money just so you can buy food. You have bipolar and need medications. (Starts crying.)

Marcee: If you really want to help me mom, you will leave me alone and just let me do things my way. I will not talk about bipolar disorder. Not everything is about you.  I’ve told you that I’m fine.  Do you think I’m just out there having a great time? I’m thinking about things! If you guys don’t leave me alone, I’m gone.

 **

So many family members have gone through this conversation with someone who is obviously in great need of help. Their loves one’s world is often crumbling around them and for many, not much is left due to the [ Read More ]





Posted on March 24th, 2011 | Category: Family and Friends

Glenn Close on Bipolar Disorder and Schizo Affective Disorder in the family….

The Actress Glenn Close and Family Tackle the Stigma of Mental Illness.

I knew that Glenn Close’s sister Jessie has bipolar disorder. I didn’t know that Jessie’s son Calen has schizoaffective disorder.  That is a lot for one family, but not uncommon at all. I’m glad to see people who are well known use their platform to say the words….

BIPOLAR DISORDER

SCHIZO AFFECTIVE DISORER

SCHIZOPHRENIA

in such an open way. Hallelujah! When I was diagnosed in 1995, most people didn’t know the term bipolar disorder, including myself!

Here is the article about Glenn Close and her family. If you are outside the states, Glenn Close is considered one of the best actresses in the US and has moved from movies to a successful television show.

Click here to read the Glen Close story.

You can read more about schizoaffective disorder on the blog- check out [ Read More ]





Bipolar and Parental Responsibility

Parental Responsibility

I believe that people with bipolar disorder who have children have an extra important role as parents. 

It’s so easy to take bipolar disorder out on children- whether it be a lack of physical contact with a child when a parent is depressed or involving a child in dangerous behavior when a parent is manic.  Children are so vulnerable.  I will never forget a friend of mine telling me what it was like growing up with a mother who had bipolar disorder. She said, “When she got depressed, she stopped doing everything. I remember coming home from school and she would be on the couch eating potato chips watching soap operas. We had to get our own dinner. I was about 10. Then she would get better and clean up the house and things would go back to normal. We never talked about it. It’s not ok [ Read More ]





Posted on July 9th, 2010 | Tags: , | Category: Calls/Podcasts/Videos, Family and Friends

Julie Fast Bipolar Coaching: What I’ve Learned from Coaching Family Members and Partners

The following is a story of how working with clients has taught me what information parents and partners truly need. If you have not visited my coaching page, here is the link: http://www.juliefast.com/family-coaching/

 In 1994 after my then partner Ivan come home after a three month stay in the hospital- I thought to myself- on day I am going to help people get through something like this because there sure isn’t anyone here to help me get through it! Now, fifteen years later I am fulfilling my promise to myself. The coaching has been an amazing experience, but also a very surprising one. Here are a few things I have learned from working with so many clients:

1. The system has hardly changed AT ALL compared to how it was in 1994. It still favors the patient over the family member and partner and  many people with bipolar disorder who are obviously very ill are [ Read More ]





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