Here is something interesting- every time I make a presention- someone in the audience asks my view on how to deal with bipolar disorder on a spiritual level. Some ask me if I agree with the term THE GIFT OF BIPOLAR and if I use meditation or a religion to deal with the illness.
I have a complicated answer. I think that a spiritual approach to bipolar disorder management works well when you’re not in a serious mood swing- I am sure many would agree with that. It can also help when a person is mildly to moderately depressed. But when it comes to serious depression- I feel that spiritual doubt is often the norm. It’s hard to believe when an illness is threatening your life. But…. I know of many people who literally survive bipolar disorder because of their deep spiritual beliefs.
It’s complicated isn’t it.
And it gets very, very complicated with mania [ Read More ]
This is the time of year we need to feel loved and welcome- and we all want to change and make 2010 the best year ever! So, let’s make that happen this year. I’m asking people to send in their favorite inspirational and life changing books so that others can benifit from the author’s wisdom. The books can be faith based, funny, about bipolar disorder, memoir, weight management and more. I will look over all of the books before they are posted. Hmmmmm . Can I add my own books!
Julie
I will add the first one- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book profoundly changed my life as it taught me to take care of myself and stop worrying about why others do what they do. I will never know unless they choose to tell me. It also helped with my paranoia. It’s definitely an odd book [ Read More ]
I just received the following comment from Janette. I often then of the difference between mania and religious/spiritual feelings. It can be so hard to tell the difference. This is also true with the Tarot, psychic readings and anything else that connects to the spiritual world.
No matter what you believe or don’t believe, the facts are that people with mania can have what feels like a magnificent religious experience when manic and then be very devastated when they realize it was mania. Prevention is he key here. If you know your mania starts with religious/spiritual/psychic fervor, you need to know the signs and get help before they go too far. This is one situation my books talk about very, very clearly. You have to know the signs of mania a lot earlier than the signs of depression and psychosis. Mania has such a small treatment window – and you may be in a hospital [ Read More ]
I just read my newsletter- the one under this post. I learned a lot!
Yes, this sounds a bit odd- but it makes sense as the newsletters are a message from the well me to the ill me. They remind me that bipolar disorder is an illness and that no matter what I go though, I can bounce back. In 1999, I had few friends and was truly miserable in that area. Wanting more friends- like the friends I had before I got so ill, was an impetus for creating the Health Cards. This newsletter reminds me of how much work I’ve done to have happy people in my life. I can rely on them when I get sick.
Julie
PS: There is a button on the right under the relationship topic that will take you to all of the blogs on relationships! Also, you can read more about my books by clicking the Julie’s [ Read More ]
Meetin.org is a social group where people get together and do a variety of events from wine tasting, playing poker, learning to line dance, going to karaoke, having big parties, traveling to Vegas and watching football! People plan their own events and then others can sign up. It’s not a singles club- at all, and people of all ages participate. I met one of my closest friends at a meetin.org karaoke party. And, most importantly- the people in the group tend to be really fun. There are groups all over the world. If you join, let me know your first event! Here is the address: www.meetin.org Julie
If you read down a few posts, you will see that I wrote about the ‘holiday horrors’ and how this time of year can be so stressful for people with bipolar disorder. I have received some great comments. I posted one below and here is another one!
There are always two sides to every issue! I swear, this letter is so lovely and the invitation so amazing, I should go!
**
Julie, even before I got to the end of your blog, I just knew I HAD to invite you to my house to celebrate Thanksgiving! You are cordially invited to attend, and to bring along a guest! Airfare this time of year is pricey, but you’d have fun and enjoy the area – I live in Stafford, Virginia, which is just south of Washington, DC in a very historic county – first settled in the 1600′s, boyhood home to George Washington. I could [ Read More ]
The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
[ Read More ]