Hi,I just received a question from Sandra asking if it’s normal that her depression seems to show up every two months- oh,yes it is normal! Here is my answer:
hi Julie,
I have a question. Looking back at about eight months of journaling,I noticed that every two months or so,my entries suggest that I was depressed. It would appear that this is cycling every two months. Could this be accurate? Anything I can do to correct it? Yes,I will bring it up with my psychiatrist at the next appointment.
Thanks!
Hi Sandra,
Bipolar disorder is an episode illness- as compared to psychotic or personality disorders which are more stable over time. This means a person can have a few severe episodes and then none for a few years- or someone,like myself can have mood swings [ Read More ]
My daughter takes Lamictal and Lexpro and I believe she is going to talk to the new Psychiatrist about increasing the dosage,when she finally gets to meet him this week. My daughter has found a therapist that she likes but the therapist has cancelled some appointment- two I think. My daughter has very limited time due to her job so she cannot reschedule in the same week and it’s a time that she really needs the appointment.
I have to say it ticks me off considering this persons job. I’d think the therapist would be more aware of the effect,for many reasons. Is it unusual for a patient to ask for a phone apt.? Just a thought. I don’t want to react with the anger I feel and would like to make a helpful suggestion.
It’s a three day weekend here in the states. Many people are traveling out of town or have events on the weekend. On the other hand,there are those who are lonely and wish they had something planned. Holidays can be tough for both sides. If I’m manic,I’ll just go have a blast no matter where I am. I’d walk up to strangers and she what they’re doing. If I’m depressed,all I can think about is that other people have a lot more fun than I do. They go to picnics and see people and throw Frisbees and have a wonderful time. I’m sure I’m missing out.
Of course this is a great illustration that my moods are not my own- and that I need to get focused and create my own moods. I do this by planning ahead.
Oh man am I sick today.. depression has me in it’s tentacles!
- It’s hard to get on with life,but you usually have to. –It’s hard to have conversations because you’re stuck in your own gloom,but you still have to talk to people. –It’s hard to get out of your bipolar fog and work,but you have to sit down and at least get started. –It’s hard to feel any hope,but you have to remind yourself that there is always hope because this is at treatable illness and it won’t always be like this.
Can you tell that this is what I’m saying to myself today? I have been sick for months off and on- lots of depression and rapid cycling between feeling pretty normal and then going way down. I haven’t had much hypomania- which is a bit odd as it is finally sunny here (off and on!) [ Read More ]
I recently did a series of interviews for a large mental health website called healthyplace.com. Here is one of the first videos I recorded. I’d like to set this up a bit before you watch it. I went through a terrible experience in 1994 when my partner Ivan got very sick and was in the hospital for three months in a manic/psychotic episode. I was scared,overwhelmed and very confused about what was going on. I never met his doctor when he was in the hospital! The nurses were wonderful,but no one actually explained the illness or why he was so sick. I literally had to do everything on my own. Things have changed a lot of course! I wrote books on this experience myself- so the information is more out there now. The video below is a response to the question of what we can do to work successfully without health care professionals [ Read More ]
I was really depressed the other day –and I mean really depressed. My friend Pat called and said,“How can I help you Julie? You always say that you need action when you’re depressed. So why don’t you come over and we can have dinner!”
This is what I need when I’m sick. It was hard to say yes,but I did. I felt much better when I got there –we went to a friend’s tulip farm and had a great time with some other friends. All the while- the depression was eating away at my brain- at least that is what it felt like- but I kept going.
On the way back to her house,we saw a truck parked next to a field. From the moment I saw it- I knew it was a message to me- Julie,no matter what happens with this illness,sometimes you just have to REALLY [ Read More ]
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A Reader Question for Julie Fast 