Julie Fast Family and Partner Questions

Hello, 

I receive many questions a week regarding how bipolar disorder affects relationships-   I have experience in this topic from all angles- that’s for sure! My former partner Ivan was ill for months in a manic psychotic episode and then a suicidal downswing. I went through the fear of calling the police, working with hospital staff who looked at Ivan and asked what HE wanted in terms of being hospitalized instead of asking me- I was sitting right there- Ivan was sitting there – completely psychotic and basically saying he could take care of himself by drinking water all day- and despite my telling the staff what was happening- they listened to him- so we had to do commitment. Then on to the court to keep him in the hospital-  this may be very familiar! And that was just the beginning!  This was in 1994. I was finally diagnosed in 1995 at age 31- we [ Read More ]





Julie Fast Bipolar Coaching: What I’ve Learned from Coaching Family Members and Partners

The following is a story of how working with clients has taught me what information parents and partners truly need. If you have not visited my coaching page, here is the link: http://www.juliefast.com/family-coaching/

 In 1994 after my then partner Ivan come home after a three month stay in the hospital- I thought to myself- on day I am going to help people get through something like this because there sure isn’t anyone here to help me get through it! Now, fifteen years later I am fulfilling my promise to myself. The coaching has been an amazing experience, but also a very surprising one. Here are a few things I have learned from working with so many clients:

1. The system has hardly changed AT ALL compared to how it was in 1994. It still favors the patient over the family member and partner and  many people with bipolar disorder who are obviously very ill are [ Read More ]