The post below received a lot of great comments and advice. Here is one from Shelley:
Hi Julie,
I, too, have gone cash only; with the exception of a low limit credit card to purchase books online that can’t be purchased any other way.
I find that I don’t get the shopping rush if I JUST DON’T GO IN THE STORE. This is tough. I had to go to the store recently for some necessities with cash only. However, I spent all the cash. I felt great while I was putting things in the buggy and not so great when I reached in to buy lunch and didn’t have enough to eat. I suggest staying HOME. I really don’t NEED all that stuff, anyway.
All the commom sense things work when ‘well’. Eg. Meal planning for the week or month and going in with only that much cash. Repurposing household items, swapping clothes with a friend, swapping books, even furniture that you are tired of. It still feels new if your friend’s stuff is in your house! I do some couponing, but healthy eating coupons are hard to come by. Give gifts of my time instead of expensive presents. Plan ahead for errands and make one day to get it all done. Saves a lot on gas! Ask people to NOT give me gifts! That helps with the obligation aspect of things and saves a lot of money. Turn the thermostat up a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter. For every [... Read More ...]
I want to say thank you for all of the supportive emails and kind words about my books- I am so glad they help so many people.
My health has not been A-OK lately which is why my writing output is limited. But I do promise to get a newsletter out soon! You can go through the blog by topic to get a lot of great tips- there are videos and recordings as well. I will update you on all that is happening in the next few weeks. What matters is that I keep moving forward with my work!
How is your work- how are your relationships? What role is bipolar playing in yourl life? Feel free to send in your stories. I love to read stories on how the Health Cards and my books have changed your life.
Julie
Mania is so hard for a family to deal with as it’s so selfish. It’s hard to see the needs of others- or even to care about the needs of others if a manic mood swing is in full force. There is also such a lack of insight the person can’t listen to reason. This is why the manic person becomes the center of attention and takes so much family energy.
Mania makes you think of how the world relates to you and only you. Depression can be very selfish- but it’s different. Depression makes you whiny and lonely- mania makes you noisy and bossy. All of it can annoy others!
Bipolar disorder is a tough illness to deal with in any family. I believe that families as a whole need a treatment plan. It has to be a family affair.
Julie
Hola!
I had my Health Cards Treatment Plan for Bipolar Disorder translated into Spanish:
El sistema de las Tarjetas de la Salud
para el Trastorno Bipolar
Un Enfoque Revolucionario para el Tratamiento del Trastorno Bipolar
The system is guaranteed to reduce bipolar symptoms by half or more and improve all relationships within a few weeks of learning the system. I know they save my life and my relationships daily.
Click on the link below to listen to more about the Spanish version of the Health Cards:
Spanish Health Card Blog
My webmaster Emanuel- whom many of you know- just wrote with the link for the Spanish ordering page. So! It is possible to get the system immedately. Here is the link:
http://www.bipolarhappens.com/espanol/
Julie
Just think… you can have a treatment plan in Spanish directly to your computer- all within less than an hour. Amazing!
Depression sucks everything out of you- but mostly it sucks the hope out of life that you will ever find stability. I want to assure you that no matter what you feel right now- you can feel hope again. You don’t have to believe me or even do anything about it right now- all you have to do it just keep going. Julie
I make a vow to go to bed feeling much better than I woke up- and in order to do this I am going to complete a set number of items that will improve my day.
That is how I work through the tough times!
Julie
I am sure that seems like an odd blog title- but I find the whole thing odd that a person can be extremely depressed and be able to really laugh at something funny, like a silly dog video and then when the laughing is done, the depression is right there.
One of the dangerous realities of suicide is that people who are often very suicidal can actually seem normal. They can go about their lives, laugh a bit and even talk about the future- and inside all they think about is how they want their life to end. It’s very common.
If you are a family member of someone with bipolar disorder this can all be extremely confusing. How is it possible that we can act one way and think another way? How can we go to a birthday party, have fun and then go home and not be able to stop crying?
It’s part of the illness. I know that when I go through serious depression, I look for those moments that remind me that life is going to be ok. That is the reality, not the depression and suicidal thoughts.
So, it is a dichotomy. It is hard to live with, believe me! Today is Easter and many people celebrate the day with family and food- and especially candy if there are kids around. It’s possible to be in this environment and feel better- or it can make a person feel worse that life can go on and other people can find happiness- so why can’t [... Read More ...]
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