Unfocused: NAMI Oregon Conference

I’m speaking at the NAMI Oregon yearly conference tomorrow. I have a class in the morning and then will speak at the luncheon.  The most difficult part of all of this is getting my books, post cards order sheets and travel stuff. I worry that I won’t be able to sleep and that I will get overstimulated. Yada, yada, yada. If I let my mind go no this way, I will go bonkers.

It makes a lot more sense to actually load my car ahead of time and print out what I need. That way I can get to bed early and be ready for the drive. This is not a bipolar thing- it’s a normal speaking thing. It becomes a bipolar thing if I don’t take care of myself now. So I’m going to!  It’s human nature that we often worry more than we actually do things. It will only take me a few hours [ Read More ]





Reader Question: Travel and Bipolar Disorder

Here is a question about travel from Karen:

Julie, was your plan to adjust your sleep schedule a week ahead of time successful?  My BP husband must travel from the West coast to East next month and I have been frantically searching for ways to help him do this without becoming ill.  Thank you in advance for your answer!

Karen

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Karen wrote this question in a comment about my blog post on how I deal with time changes now that I can travel again- if you go to the menu on the right, you can click on travel and the post will come up called Traveling to the NAMI Convention in Florida. It helps to read that before you read this post.

Hi Karen,

I always tell people with bipolar disorder to think way, way ahead about time changes when they travel.

Have you ever noticed that when we hear a tragic story about [ Read More ]





NAMI Conference

I went to the National Alliance on Mental Illness this weekend. It was amazing for so many reasons. First of all, sitting around a table talking about meds, bipolar, schizo affective, OCD, depression and schizophrenia with people who actually have the illnesses was FANTASTIC!

I met new friends and also met a lot of people who had read my books. I will write more about all of the people I met. They have real and very inspiring stories. The workshops were informative! I learned a lot- some of it not too encouraging and some of it very encouraging.

Most of all, this trip was amazing because I was able to actually do it! Going to Florida by myself without getting too sick is a real accomplishment. I spoke to hundreds of people and sold my books. I was able to work and network and remain positive. I had quite a bit of paranoia at times, [ Read More ]





Bipolar, Travel, Stress…. OMG!

I have to admit I’m a bit stressed.

I go to Florida for a large convention this weekend to give my presentation: Loving Someone with a Mental Illness. I’m not worried about the presentation. There is nothing I love better than getting in front of family members and hearing their stories- we can definitely learn from each other. I remember what it was like to love someone who was in the psych ward for three months and then still sick off and for a year after that. I can pass on my tips for dealing with the fear.

My stress is from getting ready for the travel. The airline that is too busy to even answer my calls- “We are experienceing a high call volume- you will have to call back later.” The CD’s of my radio show I need to take with me have to get labels on them.”

On and [ Read More ]





Bipolar Depression: How Can I Make Today Better?

That is the question.  I’m going to the NAMI (National Conference on Mental Illness) convention this weekend. Considering that I’m not doing too well (euphemism), I have to be very careful how I spend the next few days. I realize that what I do today, will determine how well I am for the trip.

I’m going to pack early (for once!). I’m getting to sleep super early so that I won’t have jet lag. I’m thinking ahead for the books, postcards, business cards, etc that I will need.  Doing this ahead of time is essential- even though I feel overwhelmed.

I’m having mood swings (mostly down). I will remind myself that this is an illness. I have mood swings because I have bipolar disorder.

Taking care of myself is what matters. It often means less success in terms of finances (does this happen to you?), but at least I function on a high level even [ Read More ]