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🧡💛❤️ What is it like to love someone with bipolar disorder? Can you have a stable, strong and loving relationship with someone who has bipolar? It often depends on three factors: 1️⃣ Is there a diagnosis, treatment and a management plan? This naturally means there is insight into the illness. 2️⃣ Is there substance use or other behaviors that lead to more symptoms? 3️⃣ Are you someone who can manage your own stability and set boundaries and state your needs to a person with a mental health disorder? I want to share a positive story. I’ve had bipolar disorder since age 16. I have naturally occurring bipolar disorder. It started with psychosis, then hypomania at 18 and 18 and finally suicidal depression at 19 after my first relationship ended. I was diagnosed at [ Read More ] 
Here is what works for bipolar disorder: 1. A deep understanding of the symptoms of bipolar- what they look like and feel like. 2. Lifestyle changes to prevent triggering these symptoms. 3. Avoiding ALL substances that can lead to more mood swings with an emphasis on anything that can cause mania. 4. Medications to treat the remaining symptoms. This is a possible management plan and the only one I have seen work long term for those of us who have complicated and very active bipolar disorder. My book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder explains this plan. It works! Julie PS: Mania is weird. We love it in the moment- but we are just downright odd. I can take pictures of myself for hours when manic. I feel like a model. I [ Read More ] 
The Hierarchy of Needs List for People with Bipolar Disorder Those of us with bipolar disorder can be complicated people with complicated emotions. We are often over the top and because of this, our needs can seem larger than life. As a result, we may rush into things blindly and ask the people in our lives for help without thinking of the consequences to the relationship as a whole . We may say, “I’m sick, please help me!” to the wrong person and often too many times. This can lead to many relationship problems and in some cases, the end of a relationship. I ruined quite a few friendships in this way when my need for help turned into neediness! I made the mistake of reacting from neediness [ Read More ] My next project is called The Bipolar Dirty Dozen. I will abbreviate this project as BP-D12. It is a long form article for a website that will come out in the next few months. There will be 12 articles on the substances – the Dirty Dozen – that people with bipolar use regularly, but often with negative results. These include stimulants, steroids, hormones, hallucinogenics, herbs, supplements, amino acids and more. Cannabis will feature regularly. Here is a poem to get us started. You know I love poetry.
Julie
I love dogs, but don’t own a dog. There is a lot of talk about how great therapy dogs can be… but there is another side to the story…. Here is my article on the topic from Bp Magazine.
Why Owning a Pet Might NOT Be the Right Choice Volunteering at an animal shelter or visiting a family member’s pet are other ways you can experience the mental/physical health benefits dogs offer. Thanks to everyone who leaves comment under the blogs. I do read them and I learn from them. One in particular stood out. It was a comment on a blog about therapy pets such as having a dog for anxiety. The comment noted that pets are a lot of work and are NOT always the best choice for those [ Read More ] |
Listen to Julie’s latest interview on bipolar disorder and mental health in children, teens and adults on the Mom Brain Podcast with Hilaria Baldwin and Daphne Oz.
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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. Copyright © 2026 Julie A. Fast - All Rights Reserved - Site by Emanuel Sferios Powered by WordPress & Atahualpa |
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