Tips for better sleep!

Everyone I know with bipolar disorder has some sort of sleep problem- it’s normal. It’s a bother.

Sleep Tips

- Sleep in a cool room- this can make a huge difference. If you get too hot, you will wake up more.

- Turn off lights one hour before bed and listen to a book on tape by a really low watt light- not a daylight bulb!  I actually turned off the light last night and listened to a show on my IPOD. – Have a noise machine such as a humidifier to block out sounds from outside.

- Keep your TV in the living room and definitely don’t watch TV right before going to bed. Not only is it overstimulating, it also emits a bright (blue spectrum) light that is stimulating.

Sometimes when I write these lists I think, this is just all so ridiculous. Why can’t I just be like my friends! They can [ Read More ]





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 ]





Next Mood Swing in 6 Minutes

I saw this on a bumper sticker. I had to laugh. That is the epitome of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

I have had so many mood swings in a day they were hard to count. I look at my mood chart and the thing looks like and EEG- or is it EKG! I should know the difference between the two!

I’m not having rapid cycling like I used to. It shows up sometimes, but when I’m in crisis it’s all day long.

I have been stable for almost a month now. This is the longest stability I have had in six years. I am thankful because I can finally work.

Julie