Can People with Bipolar Disorder Get Better?

Yes!

 Here is a post from Bonnie. I am always looking for positive stories.

 Hi Julie,

 I just came across your site today. I can relate to your situation. I’m 44 today. Back when I was 17 in 1983, just as I was entering senior high school, I started acting strange. I didn’t want to sleep and I didn’t want to eat. Eventually I was admitted to our local hospital in the mental ward. I was there 2 weeks. I came home but was still not right. I was saying and doing things out of my character. I was becoming delusional. At the end of the year I was admitted to University Hospital in Seattle for about 2 months. It wasn’t until 1986 that I finally was diagnosed with Bi-polar. Back then it was called Manic Depression. I went to a Naturepathic doctor and he put me on a bunch of vitamins and Lithium. I [ Read More ]





Odd depression and mania symptoms of bipolar disorder

I work with a lot of clients in my coaching business who find it hard to understand some of the odd behaviors of their loved ones. Here are the symptoms:

1. Want to work- have time to work- have ideas for work- but can’t work.

2. Can’t see the signs of mania even though others can see them 100%.

3. Make choices that make the depression or mania worse even when they know they are making a big mistake.

4. Stop taking meds even when it’s obvious the meds are working really well.

5. Get angry and then expect the family/work/friends etc. to just bounce back when their mood changes.

6.  Refuse help- even if it means they lose a relationship/job/friend/home, etc.

It may seem odd to call the above list ‘symptoms’- but they are.  All people with bipolar have the above behaviors- so that means they are symptoms of the illness. A plan in [ Read More ]





Bipolarity – a new word to describe bipolar disorder

My friend Karen just read a memoir of a woman with bipolar disorder- and the author used the term ‘bipolarity’ throughout the book! Has anyone heard of this term? I have been writing bipolar management books for over ten years and bipolarity is new to me! I know that there are different names used for the illness: [ Read More ]





bipolar mood swings and the beauty of a rose

Bipolar is so very weird. When I’m depressed I can look at this rose and see nothing of beauty. I’ve also had experiences where the beauty of something is painful because I feel so left out.

With mania, the rose is too beautiful. I could look into it forever – which is not exactly true as when I’m manic I don’t do anything for very long. My attention would be grabbed by something even more beautiful.

When my ex partner Ivan was really psychotic and in the hospital- I took him a rose- it had a lot of symbolic meaning to him- it was blood red- it caused pain- etc.

Well, it’s pretty obvious that a rose isn’t just a rose is a rose…. ;)

Today I want to just look at the rose for what it is. A beautiful flower.  I live in Portland, Oregon- also known as the [ Read More ]





Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder: Reader Question

  A Reader Question for Julie Fast  

Hi, I just received a question from Sandra asking if it’s normal that her depression seems to show up every two months- oh, yes it is normal! Here is my answer:  

 hi Julie,

I have a question.  Looking back at about eight months of journaling, I noticed that every two months or so, my entries suggest that I was depressed.  It would appear that this is cycling every two months.  Could this be accurate?  Anything I can do to correct it?  Yes, I will bring it up with my psychiatrist at the next appointment.

Thanks!

Hi Sandra,

Bipolar disorder is an episode illness- as compared to psychotic or personality disorders which are more stable over time. This means a person can have a few severe episodes and then none for a few years- or someone, like myself can have mood swings [ Read More ]





Bipolar disorder and the economy: A great reader comment

Here is a comment from J. on my blog about the economic climate in this country- it’s a good one!

thank u for this. I needed some cheering up. financially we are at out wits’ end. I function only due to my meds. without them i’d be dead now. bipolar is no joke, and having financial problems on top of it…well, it’s hard to stay sane. I CAN choose to enjoy as much of my life THIS MOMENT as I can, no matter what is going on around me. so I try. I fight depression. my meds keep me from mania which is good or we’d be in worse trouble. I thank god I still have left things to be thankful for RIGHT NOW. tomorrow will be dealt with tomorrow. that’s how I cope with money problems I can’t fix. one day at a time. if I live in the present I can cope [ Read More ]





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