Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder » school

Wow! Thank You Sandra!

Julie Fast — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:12:01 +0000

I am trying to think of how long I have had this blog- I know it has been years. I know many of the postings have created great conversations- but nothing has ever, ever resonated as much with people as Sandra’s post on this blog. You can see it below. I must say thank you to all of you who wrote such encouraging comments- and then thanks to Sandra- because believe it or not, she answered the comments! What a special person. I know that many of us will find a lot of encouragement and hope from Sandra’s openness and how others have responded.

We are not weird for reacting strongly to situations- we simply have an illness that often gives us TRIPLE the emotions than what would be expected!

Sandra’s post is below- you can click on the comments icon or go to the right to see all the comments. It’s as good as novel!

Julie

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Reader Story: Sandra and the Teacher

Julie Fast — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:05:48 +0000

Hello to everyone, I have a post here that I think everyone will find amazing, hopeful, fascinating and encouraging. It’s a reader story from Sandra, a regular commentator on this blog. I answered her story after her post. This is a long post, so plan to read a story from a strong woman – I think it will make your day! (Everyone on this blog is strong.)

Dear Julie,

As I write this, I am shaking and quite upset. But I just have to get what is inside of me out, so I hope this will help.

I am taking two summer grad school courses. I love the new information and opportunities to use the knowledge in class in the fall. But in the past two weeks, I have slowly but surely been worn down. I won’t go into details, but please know I have tried to do the best I could. With a big partner project looming and finishing the details necessary to get my son off to Paris, where he will spend a year (oh – he also sprained his ankle badly on Sunday), I finally emailed my professor and admitted that I needed help, and asked for an extension on our project. I have tried so much to not have to share about having bipolar disorder to any of my professors, even though you’d think they’d understand – I am in a program to get my master’s in special ed. I won’t go into why I felt it necessary to share that information but please [... Read More ...] Related posts:

bipolar blog reader comment – school, meds and uneducated family members

Julie Fast — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:25:04 +0000

Ok! I keep saying I’m going to reply to comments when I can. I just have to do it instead of thinking about doing it! Here is a comment about school:

Hi Julie, I was going to school full time for three terms but this summer my doctor and I decided to change my meds. YUCK…I have been feeling horrible and really had two steps backwards as far as treatment goes. I am thinking of taking fall term off so that I can get medical help, read your cards and books and get well again. It is sometimes discouraging to try medications and have them mess you up more than help. To make matters worse my family and friends seem to think I can think my way out of this without medications or help…I am still hopeful for the future but I am struggling but I guess with bipolar WE are always struggling. smile

** end comment**

I managed to pick a comment that doesn’t have a question- ?- but here are my comments:

I too was having lovely medication problems last night. My Lamictal makes my legs hurt if I don’t have a high enough dose. It’s frustrating. I know that finding the right drug and then finding the right dose takes time. It’s worth it though. I’m so impressed that you have so much AWARENESS! of what is going on with you. So many people are confused or unsure of why something is happening. I can tell that you know it’s bipolar disorder.

School is the same as work. [... Read More ...] Related posts:

bipolar disorder and work/school: reader comment

Julie Fast — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:12:25 +0000

Hi, I’m having a tough day depression wise- then I read this comment from Gerry in Australia. It was so positive I wanted to put it here:

Comment:

G’Day all I am new to the blog, but would like to say something positive on this issue which I hope will encourage everyone else with bipolar. I’m lucky because I don’t suffer from some of the worst symptoms of bipolar & also was rather old when I had my first psychotic episode. So before that I managed to get a BA with Honours & a Phd. Now I am a full time academic in Politics. It was only after working full time for 7 years that I discovered that I had bipolar. It does impact on my work sometimes, but my Dept. has been very good about making some allowances. I have published 2 books and many articles. I have learnt Spanish and travelled to Latin America on my own to do field research on numerous occasions. You too can succeed! As a teacher who has studied all I can say on “college” as you call it in the States is go do it!

Dr Gerry

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Bipolar Disorder and College

Julie Fast — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:09:45 +0000

I recently had an email asking if a person with bipolar disorder can finish college.

Well, sure they can! But….

There is always a but…

College is the same thing as work. It’s a stimulating environment with a lot of people and a lot of pressure. Bipolar disorder doesn’t like this. It took me eight years to finish college. I didn’t have a treatment plan then. In fact, I didn’t know I had bipolar disorder.

As with any stressful situation, the solution is planning. You will need a treatment plan before college starts.

I write about this in my Get it Done When You’re Depressed book- there is one specific strategy on getting through college. The whole book talks about making it through tough situations.

I have to be honest and say I can’t go to school full time. It’s too stressful for me- but I can go part time! Many friends of mine with bipolar have master’s degrees, etc. So it’s possible.

If you’re starting college in the fall, you have to make a plan now. Try the Health Cards- the plan I use- or get something else. My books can help- especially if your family works with you.

Julie

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