Archive for the ‘Finding Stability with bipolar disorder’ Category

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Mania Gets Me Once Again

Friday, December 7th, 2007

As you may have read in an earlier blog- you can find my last posting under the weight loss newsletter- I have had a lot of trouble with hypomania in the past few weeks. 

I got a cortisone shot in my right hand – I knew it could cause depression and I was ready for it, but I honestly had NO idea it could cause such bad hypomania.  I truly missed the mania when it started. I have very euphoric mania- in other words I feel exceptionally good. The problem is that I have zero judgment and zero pain when I get like this. Usually I control it very well with the Health Cards, but it’s so sneaky. I hate it even though I love how it feels.

Once I go up, I always come down super hard. In the middle of the mania I always think- maybe it will be different this time! It never is. I used to have manic episodes for weeks- now I catch it within a few days even when they are super strong. It’s all about having a plan ready when the first signs start. My family and friends have to keep learning with me as the illness morphs over time.

I have to be so diligent- every day- and I get tired of it which is why the mania feels so real. I’m learning what the milder mania feels like and looks like so I won’t get fooled again- I will have to watch this for the rest of my life. 

Julie

Posted in About Julie, Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Mania, Mood Swings | Comments Off

Bipolar is the same all over the world

Saturday, November 3rd, 2007

Bipolar is the same all over the world…. 

Depression rates change from country to country.  Bipolar disorder is not so choosy.  Statistically, bipolar disorder is an equal opportunity employer.  In other words, a person with the bipolar disorder in South America is exactly the same as a person with bipolar disorder in North America.  Despite this, the way the illness are diagnosed and discussed differs widely from country depending on stigma, mental health awareness and accessible health care. So many people think that bipolar disorder is different depending on what country you live in. It’s not. It’s the same whether you’re from Thailand or Australia, Qatar or Canada. I use those countries because I know people who live there use the Health Cards System to find stability. 

Julie

Posted in Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Friends & Family | Comments Off

Thank you to Julie Fast

Friday, October 5th, 2007

I just want to pass a very big thank you to Julie Fast. My 30 something daughter became ill 5 years ago and without Julies cards (my first purchase), books (I buy each one as it comes out), blogs and news letters I just don\’t know what would have become of us. The gratitude I feel brings tears to my eyes, I am sorry that such a bright young woman has bi polar, but I am greatful as well. Our battle with the disease is not easy as we live in an area where there are no councelors and no phyciatrist that isn’t so overworked that there is no time for a bi polar. Even on the meds that the gp gives she swings wildly. But it is better than before and we know there is hope.

JS
USA

Posted in About Julie, Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Testimonals | Comments Off

Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

Monday, September 24th, 2007

The term rapid cycling can be very confusing. I recently asked my co-author Dr. John Preston for a clear explanation:

Rapid cycling is at least four discrete episodes during a 12 month period (these can be mania, hypomania, or depression). The term ultra-rapid cycling is not precisely defined but many refer to this as having possibly monthly cycles (e.g. 12 per year)….untradian cycling is where there are not really discrete manic or depressive episodes, but the person is extremely emotionally labile, with chaotic and intense mood changes that occur every day or several times during a day. One way to describe it is that they experience intense emotional instability….some mood shifts are in response to stressful events (e.g. an argument with a friend), but some are unprovoked (seem to come out of the blue and not associated with a specific trigger)

**

Do you have rapid cycling? If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor. This is important information as it can affect the drugs you take and how you deal with triggers. My book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder talks about the different types of bipolar disorder diagnoses and how they relate to rapid cycling. I have ultradian rapid cycling, which is why I have to be so very careful with triggers. I do have very distinct depression and mania episodes. This shows you how the terms can describe part of your diagnosis, but not see the whole picture. Ultradian is a new term that isn’t used much. The term ultra-rapid cycling is more common. It’s very important that you know if you have bipolar one or bipolar two and if rapid cycling is part of your diagnosis.

Julie
www.bipolarhappens.com

Posted in Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Mood Swings, Rapid Cycling, Reader Questions | Comments Off

Unemployable because of my health issues

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

Q and A

I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have tried a variety of meds but I am currently unemployable because of my health issues. This means I have no insurance for the meds which are costly! My current doctor is very unsympathetic, but maybe that is what I need. For me, the black cloud just seems to finally lift. I can’t point my finger to anything. I don’t know what triggers the depression phrase but I now know it will be coming as I have been struggling with depression for 12 years now. Does this happen with anyone else?

B.

Hi B.,

Well, it happens for me every day. I struggle with depression 90% of the time and have done so for many years. The difference for me now is that I know how to manage it. Depression is debilitating. It takes so much time to manage it and for those who don’t have a good treatment plan, it can take all of your energy as well. You say that your doctor is unsympathetic. There can be a few reasons for this- it may be that he or she is not the right doctor for you, but it can also be that you aren’t doing enough to take care of yourself. Doctors and therapist can really only do so much. They are a PART of your health care team. Not the be all and end all.

I know it may hurt to hear this, but those of us with depression have so much more strength than we think we do. Depression makes us think we are hopeless and helpless- we aren’t. This means that we can be a burden to those around us with our constant sadness and neediness. I know I was like this for years and it ruined many relationships. It takes a lot of courage to really look at how you are around other people and decide to do something about it.

As you know, I use the Health Cards to manage my depression and all of the other symptoms of bipolar disorder. They save my life regularly. Have you tried them? They work.

Triggers are hard to find unless you regularly write them down. Here are mine for depression:

  • Being alone too much
  • No structure during the day
  • Hanging out with the wrong people
  • Not forcing myself to sleep on a regular schedule
  • Traveling
  • Writing deadlines
  • Weather

The list is pretty long- I discovered all of these by using my Health Cards.

You must have a plan to end the control depression has over your life. Depression will make you sit around crying all day if you let it. You have to fight it. It can be done. You can’t do it alone, and a doctor is not enough. The more you treat it yourself, the better you will be and the more you will be able to work and afford your medications. It starts with you- don’t let depression thoughts tell you who you are and what you can or can’t do. You decide this.

All of my books give tips on how to really take your life back from depression. I am sick all of the time, but I’m well enough now to write books and have friends and just get out of bed in the morning. The depression is still there, but I can fight it daily. You can do the same.

Julie

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Posted in Depression, Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Mood Swings, Reader Questions, Work | No Comments »

Stability

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

I’ve been stable for 16 days in a row- with one bad depression day in the middle. I haven’t had this much stability in over a year. I’m very thankful. I’m really thinking hard on why this is happening as I want to keep it going. I worry that the depression will come back full force – in fact I know it will. But the more I study this, the more I can see what I’m doing right – and keep doing it!

What is different:

#1 – I just finished a book and don’t plan to write for a publishing company for quite a while. The deadlines are very intense. It’s my career and the way I support myself, but the toll on my health can be extreme at times. I’m glad this one is done! It’s called Getting Things Done When You’re Depressed.

#2 – I decided to limit contact with my much loved brother. He’s going through a tough time and is cutting everyone out. I can no longer deal with it so I told him I love him and that I’m always here for him, but until he contacts me and says he wants to see me, I’m out of the picture. It has helped a lot in terms of my worrying about him and my stress when he’s mean to me.

#3 – I’ve decided that being single is a good thing right now. I have too many people to see as it is and adding a new person to my life is often what causes major mood swings. This is a really big deal for me and I feel a lot more relaxed knowing I can just stay where I am for a while.

When I write these down, I can see that they’re actually really big changes. I’m sure they are helping with this stability. The other part is my medication, and randomness. The brain does odd things sometimes and maybe it’s just giving me a much needed and very unexpected break that is only partly due to the changes.

In fact, it’s often the quiet brain that gives you the space to make the changes you need to make. Either way, I respect it and am going to get as much out of it as I can.

My goal is to reach at least two months of stability! That will be the longest stable period I’ve had in four years – so wish me luck!

Julie

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