More news from the DBSA conference

Mania from the DBSA conference!  (DBSA stands for the Depression, Bipolar Support Association- the conference was this weekend in Virginia)

I just received the following comment from Denise, a DBSA participant.

I too was at the conference, and found your workshop on Relationships to be an excellent workshop.

Don’t know about others who have BiPolar Disorder who were at the conference, but by the end, I was beginning to feel the mania coming on. Too much auditory stimulation I suppose. As I write this, I am waiting on my dr to return my call, as I also started getting visual ‘distortions’ toward the end of the conference.

Julie, it was a pleasure to meet you at the conference.

** Oh, yes. I experienced the same thing. I often feel there should be a class on how to stay stable when you go to a conference on bipolar disorder! My worries are more that I will [ Read More ]





DBSA Conference in Virginia

I’m getting ready to speak at the DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Aliance) conference in Virginia next week. Some of you have written and asked about the weather- It should not be a problem.

 As of today- my talk is one week away. I have to start thinking of my health now. This means planning ahead- well… I could do a better job of this so I really am starting NOW to get things in order. I will then start the sleep regimine I use when I change time zones! It’s three hours ahead so I will go to sleep earlier and earlier until I am exactly on Virginia time when I get there. I will do the same on the way back. It works! Do you have to travel in different time zones soon? You can read more about my travel tips in the travel section on the right menu.

I’m excited that I can [ Read More ]





DBSA.. Julie Fast Podcast interview: Families and Bipolar Disorder

I’m speaking at the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance in September, 2008. I really look forward to it.

My presentation is on Families and Mood Disorders. The three hour program is filled with personal stories and tips on managing the illness as a team.

I recently did a DBSA podcast interview on the topic.  Don’t worry! The podcast isn’t three hours. ;)

I think you will enjoy it!

Please click on this link for the podcast:

Julie Fast DBSA Interview: Families and Bipolar Disorder

Depending on your computer system, you can either listen directly from this blog, or you may have to download the podcast to your computer. This is a MP3 file that’s easy to download and then play. You can then put the file on your IPOD.

Let me know what you think!

Julie





Reader question: son with bipolar disorder

Hi Julie,

My son, age 33, is bipolar and has made bad choices/decisions.  I have tried to assist him over the recent past.  The issue is how do I tell whether I am assisting or enabling.  I am looking for appropriate support organizations or resources to guide me.

Can you advise me?

Thanks,

R

Hello R,

You can look into the family to family program at NAMI- if you go to www.nami.org you can find a location near you.

My book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder is for couples, but it has great info that you can use as well – the issues of caretaking are the same.

BP Magazine at www.bphope.com has a lot of info for families. I write a column for each issue.

My family uses my Health Cards to help me. They are life savers. You can use them yourself whether your son participates or not.

I need to write [ Read More ]





Teenagers and Bipolar Disorder

My bipolar disorder symptoms started with hypomania at 17. I didn’t realize this until I sat down and really thought about my teenage years. Many people have their first major episode in their 20’s- mine started earlier. My ex partner had a lot of depression before he had his first major manic/psychotic episode at 22. That was a terrible time for sure. When I think back of what he told me about college- he was definitely depressed for a long time. He told me he thought about suicide when he was a little kid. He didn’t have an episode after that for a long time- then college at 19 and he got depressed and left school.

If you have bipolar disorder, it’s really interesting to write a paragraph about what you remember between the ages of 13-19. What was the first sign you had bipolar and how long did it take from that time for [ Read More ]