When a person with bipolar needs your help but gets angry when……

You try to help! I hate that. I’ve experienced it- believe me. It’s like tip toeing around a mean animal on some days and then they are fine like a teddy bear on others. It’s part of the illness in many ways:

Denial – My friend Janea says, “There is not such thing as denial, Julie. There is ignoring, lying to yourself and stubbornness, but there is no denial.”

She means that when a person gets hopping mad when you mention their behavior and are then able to hear what you say on other days- they are either sick and are not able or won’t control their moods, or they know exactly what you’re talking about and just don’t want to deal with it.

 So, DENIAL when it goes back and forth is a river in Egypt!

Unfortunately, there is a true symptom of the illness, especially in schizophrenia where people simply can’t see they [ Read More ]





Get it Done When You’re Depressed Radio/Podcast Interview

I recently did an excellent radio/podcast interview with Deborah Harper of Psychjourney. We talked about the release of my new book, Get it Done When You’re Depressed.

Here is a link to our interview. She asked excellent questions and really knew her stuff. All writers dream of interviews that go this well! You can scroll down to see my interview.

http://psychjourney.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=Depression

There are many other resources on the page as well as a link to my book.

julie





Julie Fast Radio Show Downloads

Click on the following links to download each Julie Fast Radio Show to your computer.

Gayathri Ramprasad on Depression and Her Life in India

Andy Behrman on Mania and Electroboy

Lani Button on Multiple Personality Disorder

Don Moore: Parent of a (Wonderful) Child with Schizophrenia

Dr. John Preston: Psychiatric Medications 101

Dr. Ajit Jetmalani: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders

Randi Kreger: Stop Walking on Eggshells- Borderline Personality Disorder

Listener Call In!

Terri Cheney, author of MANIC on Memoir Writing!

 These shows are so fun and full of information.  My cohost Avi and I talk about the topic of the week, make a few jokes and then talk with some very interesting people.

 Please visit juliefast.com for upcoming shows.  You can also add the show as a podcast to your Ipod by visiting the Itunes store and searching for ‘Julie Fast Radio.’s





bipolar disorder basics

I gave a speech this weekend on mental health – in general. I covered the main types of mental illness- personality disorders such as borderline- psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia- mood disorders (bipolar and depression) and then anxiety disorders such as OCD.

 Whew! They are not so hard to understand once you know the basics.

I then talked about the classifications of medications- anti depressants, anti psychotics, mood stabilizers/anti convulsants, anti anxiety meds, ADHD meds, and more!

I get my medication information from my coauthor Dr. John Preston. If you go to the radio tab on juliefast.com you can hear our radio show on medications. They are not too hard to understand once you know the categories.

The basics of mental illness [ Read More ]





Normal Worn Out vs. Bipolar Disorder Worn Out

I did my radio show this afternoon. It was on parents of children with a mental illness.  I had an amazing interview with Don Moore, a man whose daughter has schizophrenia. I have learned so much from doing the show. I have also known stress unlike any stress I have felt before!

I am simply worn out-  It’s about 8PM my time and all I can think of doing is going to sleep.  I am SO not used to this that I’m not sure if it’s even normal. Bipolar ‘worn out’ is so different- when you’re depressed or have just come out of a mood swing, the tiredness is weariness and unhappiness.

This is just feeling tired I think. There is a difference between stress from reality and stress from an illness.

If this even makes any sense! Now that I am able to work more in the real world- I am experiencing things that [ Read More ]