And… she asked this question- it REALLY made me think.

I would like to have one really good healthy day in which I did not question myself! How about you?

At first, my answer was- oh yes! Just one day this week! Then I had another thought- it’s rather esoteric.
This illness stinks. It has been terrible for me this week and it may be terrible today- luckily I woke up pretty stable- but overall, I am a different person because of this illness.

I have to manage bipolar disorder 24 hours a day in order to stay stable. I watch what I say, do and really try to counteract what I think when I’m sick. This makes me a better friend, partner, daughter, student, teacher, etc.
 
We have to be more aware when we have bipolar disorder - which means we can be more aware of the people around us. Most people aren’t like this. They are just living life (lucky!) - but we have to examine our lives continually in order to stay well. We might as well make the most of it.

Julie

**

The Health Cards are the treatment system I created in 2000 to help myself manage the illness. I was very sick- I basically couldn’t function in the real world in terms of friends and work. I certainly had a life, but it wasn’t a quality life. So I created the Health Cards and got my life back. You can read about them on bipolarhappens.com

The Health Cards are used by the person with the illness as well as the people who care about them.  They work! I have a blog on teenagers and bipolar disorder below. Teenagers especially respond to the Health Cards as they can be done in private and then discussed with parents.  I wish I’d had them when I was a teenager!

 They are a system to accompany medications- especially when the medications aren’t working as well as we would like them to!

Julie

When you go to bipolarhappens.com- there is a newsletter link at the top of the page. I try to send out newsletters with truly helpful treatment tips- they are a bit more treatment oriented than the blog!

**

I did two newsletters on teens a few months ago. The response was amazing. There is not enough information for parents or teens with bipolar. He is a quick tip on how to distinguish ‘normal’ teenage behavior as compared to ‘bipolar’ teen behavior.

It can be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

It’s all about degrees- ‘normal’ teens and bipolar teens act in similar ways, but not at the same intensity.

Here are some examples:

 It’s not the behavior only- it’s the way the behavior is played out.  I know bipolar when I see it because I’ve lived it. If you’re a parent with a teen- start writing down the behavior you see in ‘normal’ teens- the ones who go to school, hang out with friends, have good relationships with their family,  don’t have a lot of fights, crying, etc. and then write what you see in your child.  You can find the difference there. If you’re a teen, you can do the same.

Adults with bipolar disorder have the same dichotomy of course- but we have more ability to recognize and change the extremes. For teenagers it’s all so new! These are often first time emotions.  If you’re a teenager with bipolar disorder, you will have to grow up faster than most people.  You will have to learn about your emotions sooner than other kids in your life.

You can do it. I’ll write a lot more about it in future blogs.

I made it through teenage bipolar disorder as did all of my friends. There is SO much more information now- if you were diagnosed in your teens- or if you care about someone who was diagnosed in their teens- it’s a really good thing to find out about the issues early and go from there.  I wish it had happened to me!

Julie

 PS: My Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder is available at www.bipolarhappens.com. This is an exceptionally good system for teenagers with bipolar disorder and the people who care about them.

I get so pissed when my mom asks me this question! Of course, I taught her to ask it and I want her to ask it, but it always makes me mad.

I mostly have euphoric hypomania. It is wonderful at the beginning. It’s tricky as it usually comes after a depression- so I desperately want and need to feel better. But I know that what goes up must come down, so I have to be ready for the downswing.

I’ve trained myself by using the Health Cards to go into treatment mode as soon as the hypomania starts. Damn, damn, damn. That is actually mild language for what it feels like to realize that feeling good is actually being manic.

If you have a lot of mild manias, this means that you’re rapid cycling. It means your meds are not working fully or that you or something outside of you is triggering the mania in some way. Like many people, I have a lot more euphoric mania in the summer because of the sunlight.

What a complicated, awful illness this is! Bipolar mania is dangerous. It’s sad that something can feel soooooooooo good and be so dangerous, but it’s something we must accept if we want to get better. Stability is good; mania is bad.

So, when my mom says “Are you manic Julie?” I get pissed, but I always listen and do what the Health Cards say I have to do. 

Julie

 Of course, I want to answer all of the comments, but this is pretty impossible. I’m finding it hard to work these days, but I will keep going! And I will respond to comments when possible.

I saw a great movie tonight called In the Shadow of the Moon. I mention it because it was hopeful and uplifting. We need that! Julie

 I call Lamictal my wonder drug. It gave me a much more normal life. It can have some intense side effects though.

Lamictal side effects can be there from the beginning- literally from the first week- in the form of a stiff neck, clenched jaw or some mild breathing problems. I had these for quite a while and then they went away.

There is definitely a rash associated with Lamictal- one is serious the other benign. I will talk more on this in the newsletter. My coauthor Dr. John Preston said that most of the rashes from Lamictal are very mild and not of concern- but I also know people who have the rash from head to toe.  No matter what, see your doctor if you see a rash. This does NOT mean you have to stop the drug unless there is a serious rash. People do learn to manage the itchiness. Talk with a doctor who really, really understands Lamictal. You can get on chat boards as well.  Many psych drugs have potentially fatal side effects, so don’t throw Lamictal out too soon!

It’s important to know that the serious rash is extremely rare.  All rashes need to be reported, but there is no need to panic.

I’ve been on Lamictal for three years. My side effects come and go. It’s frustrating, but I need this drug so I deal with them. The stiff neck is hard and I’m now experiencing extremely intense itching- without a visible rash.

I’ve talked with my doctor.  It’s pretty bad.

So, it’s always a tradeoff with psychiatric meds like Lamictal. Can you live with the side effects? Are there ways to make things easier such as massage, chiropractic help and ice packs? That’s what I do. The itching is worse. I’m going to do all I can to pinpoint what is going on so that I can take care of it.

More on this later!

Julie

August is the most dangerous month for mania- for those of us above the equator!

If you think you’re getting manic or you see the signs in someone that they are having a manic episode,  you can go to the menu on the right and click on the manic button- it will show you all of my past mania blogs.  The manic button is the panic button!

I had a hypomanic episode a few weeks ago. Now I’m in a depressed episode.

It is AWFUL! This illness isn’t fair, but I’m here writing on this blog. I got out of bed and I’m going to get on with my day. We can function during most mood swings- but mania is tricky!

Julie

Three Tips for Family Members

1. Read, read, read: Knowledge about bipolar disorder is your number one tool. Read the DSM-IV diagnostic manual and learn about bipolar disorder. It’s only about ten pages- but you can learn so much! All libraries have this book in their reference department. While you’re there, read about psychotic disorders as well. And if you’re really interested, read about personality disorders and anxiety disorders. People with bipolar disorder share symptoms with all of these disorders which is why it’s such a tough illness to treat. And of course, my books are a great read as well!

2. Set limits: It’s hard to set limits when the person you care about might leave. But…. that’s what has to be done when someone has mood swing problems.

A. You cannot smoke pot or drink in my house.
B. Yelling is not an option. If you feel angry, please take care of it before you come into my house.
C. I can only see you if you’re on medications.

Tough stuff to say. It often takes families years to do this. I find that saying the following helps:

“You have bipolar disorder and I can tell you’re in a mood swing. I’m here to help, but only if you communicate with me. It’s not acceptable for you to yell at me or ignore my feelings. This is an illness and you have to take care of the mood swings if you want me in your life. I will help in any way I can.”

I’ve had to do this with a family member a few times. I used to fight when they wanted a fight, but not anymore. It’s an illness and they need help. Only they can choose to get it.

3. Learn about the Bipolar Conversation and use it 24 hours a day. I created this technique and it’s in all of my books. You can just read the Bipolar Conversation chapter in Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and change forever the way you interact with a person who has bipolar disorder. I guarantee it.

It’s hard to care about someone with this illness. We’re difficult people when we don’t manage the illness successfully. Learn all you can about our symptoms, set limits and learn how to talk to us when we’re in a mood swing. All of these ideas can start immediately. I created the Health Cards for families just as much as for people with the illness. It really does take a village to help us stay stable! You can use the Health Cards even if the person you care about won’t take your help. They work.
Julie

To ensure delivery of our newsletters please be sure comments@bipolarhappens.com is in your address book , buddy lists and is added  to your email white list.

News Release
Julie will be presenting at the 2008
DBSA conference.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
More information about the program here:

If you have not signed up for the newseltter- you can do so at www.bipolarhappens.com.  There is a sign up link on the top menu. This is a great place to find out more about my Health Cards Treatment Plan.

I write as much practical information as possible in these newsletters. This is a tough illness to manage and we need all of the help we can get!

My book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder is an excellent resource for partners of people with bipolar disorder. ( We have some challenges!) Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder also has excellent family tips.

 Julie

You can see my cat…  and hear more about my work and how I started writing books after being sick for so long.

I will post later today.

Julie

Well, I just got out of a rotten down swing. What’s so amazing and just as frustrating about this illness is that we can be extremely ill one day- even suicidal and then boom. It’s gone. It wears me out, but I’m glad to be my normal self again.

When I get really sick- no matter what the mood swing- I use all of my energy to remind myself of one thing:

I think, say and do certain things depending on the type of mood swing I’m experiencing. This means it’s an illness.

Once I learned all of my symptoms- I wrote them on my Health Cards and my life changed forever.

I used the Health Cards all week last week! Depression is so hard.

Julie

I’m going to rename the Health Cards so feel free to send me your ideas. If you’re not familiar with the Health Cards, they are the treatment plan I created in 1999. You can read about the system on www.bipolarhappens.com