Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

I’m so sick tonight.  

This is what I wrote in my journal last night when I tracked my mood. I’ve tracked my moods every night for over four years. It is an amazing tool. Usually, I can tell by looking at a month of data what was helping and hurting the bipolar. These last few months have not been as obvious. I’ve just had so much depression that doesn’t seem related to any event. It’s causing events!  When this happens, I try to look deeper into what my be exacerbating the depression.  1. I know it’s bipolar disorder. It’s al illness. There is nothing wrong with me.  2. I’m very upset and worried about my brother. I’m once again to the point of not spending time with him due to his moods. He’s a wonderful man, but he won’t get help for his mood swings. (Yes, I write the books- he doesn’t read them!)  3. I worry about my mom becauase she is worried about my brother!  4. I’m very stuuupidlly reading a very good, but way too depressing Japanese crime novel. Now Julie, this is just dumb.  5. My work is unfocused.  6. I’m often lonely because I’m single- yes, I made the decision to stay single this year in order to work without being PSYCHOTIC! but it’s hard.  wait…. is this list never going to end! It helps to write this as I see these are all normal things. As I say [... Read More ...]