I’m speaking at the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance in September, 2008. I really look forward to it.

My presentation is on Families and Mood Disorders. The three hour program is filled with personal stories and tips on managing the illness as a team.

I recently did a DBSA podcast interview on the topic.  Don’t worry! The podcast isn’t three hours.

I think you will enjoy it!

Please click on this link for the podcast:

Julie Fast DBSA Interview: Families and Bipolar Disorder

Depending on your computer system, you can either listen directly from this blog, or you may have to download the podcast to your computer. This is a MP3 file that’s easy to download and then play. You can then put the file on your IPOD.

Let me know what you think!

Julie

I recently did an excellent radio/podcast interview with Deborah Harper of Psychjourney. We talked about the release of my new book, Get it Done When You’re Depressed.

Here is a link to our interview. She asked excellent questions and really knew her stuff. All writers dream of interviews that go this well! You can scroll down to see my interview.

http://psychjourney.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=Depression

There are many other resources on the page as well as a link to my book.

julie

Fantastic Radio Show and a Flooded Basement

I just finished my final live radio show for the season. I interviewed Terri Cheney- the author of the bestselling memoir, Manic. We talked about memoir writing- it was so much fun and great encouragement for everyone who wants to write about their experiences.

The radio show has been really stressful for me- lots of anxiety. It hasn’t really been all bipolar anxiety- I know what that feels like- it has been the kind of anxiety disorder anxiety. Believe me, it’s awful. I love the hours in the studio. It’s the hours up to it that cause me trouble.

But anyway! Today’s show was fantastic. And then I got home…..

My basement was flooded. Hmm.

I am glad the show went so well. I’m super glad my roommate was home and caught it early. I’m extremely glad I’m not depressed.

But gosh! Can’t I just enjoy the end of the anxiety!

I’m glad I’m not sick and that I can laugh about the…

$340 dollar emergency plumbing bill! That does not include the actual work. I’m in the wrong profession. The plumber was cute.

Terri’s interview will be on juliefast.com in the next few days. I think you will really enjoy it. I sure did. It put me in a good mood so that I could deal with this homeowner crisis.

julie

Hi all, I have an exciting guest this Sunday on my radio show. Terri Cheney, the author of the bestselling memoir MANIC will be the guest.

We will talk about writing mental health memoirs. So many people write and ask me how they can get their story in print- who better to ask than a successful mental health writer like Terri!

I’ve read a lot of bipolar disorder memoirs- and have enjoyed them all- Terri’s is different than many because of its literary style. It reads like a novel. This isn’t easy to do!

You can visit juliefast.com/radio to read more about the show.

Julie

Click on the following links to download each Julie Fast Radio Show to your computer.

Gayathri Ramprasad on Depression and Her Life in India

Andy Behrman on Mania and Electroboy

Lani Button on Multiple Personality Disorder

Don Moore: Parent of a (Wonderful) Child with Schizophrenia

Dr. John Preston: Psychiatric Medications 101

Dr. Ajit Jetmalani: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders

Randi Kreger: Stop Walking on Eggshells- Borderline Personality Disorder

Listener Call In!

Terri Cheney, author of MANIC on Memoir Writing!

 These shows are so fun and full of information.  My cohost Avi and I talk about the topic of the week, make a few jokes and then talk with some very interesting people.

 Please visit juliefast.com for upcoming shows.  You can also add the show as a podcast to your Ipod by visiting the Itunes store and searching for ‘Julie Fast Radio.’s

My guest on Sunday, June 8th will be Terri Cheney- the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Manic.  I read this book in two days- I just couldn’t stop reading.   Her style is eloquent and heartfelt. I can see why it’s a bestseller! 

It was very hard for me to read about all that she’s gone through because of this terrible illness, but it’s hopeful to read that she made it through the hell caused by full blown mania. She’s an inspiration for all of us.

 The show is not until Sunday afternoon, so you have time to read the book before listening!

 For more info on the radio show- please click on the radio tab on the right hand menu.

 Julie

Bipolar disorder is so easily triggered.  It’s a bad illness that way- even the things we look forward to can cause us trouble.

Over the years I have learned there are just some situations- no matter how successful or fun they are that I just can’t do.

A friend of mine with bipolar one took a math class that was very stressful.  She got quite sick from the class. When I – and a few others suggested she quit the class, she said, “I’m not a quitter Julie! I have stopped so many things because of bipolar. I just want to finish something!”

I said, “There is a big difference between ‘quitting’ from laziness or lack of attention to the topic- and the quitting that comes from taking care of yourself.”

She quit the class and was literally better immediately. The daily stress of the difficult math was too much for her bipolar brain. It wasn’t too much for her! She is an excellent and committed student. It was simply too much for her brain.

I know when to quit- though it upsets me a lot. Quitting because something is making me sick is admirable, not something to be ashamed of. I have to remind myself of this quite often.

julie