I just received the following comment from Gail:
Julie i read a reader comment that you weren’t very successful with your programs because you still suffer with mood swings. this person obviously doesn’t understand the different severities of the disorder. If i get a week of stability I am grateful. The rest of the time I just work at what needs to be done. The good thing is I’m still alive even though I’ve tried very hard not to be. I feel you present a reality for most people and constant encouragement for me
** Hi Gail,
I understand how people could think it odd that I still need to do so much work on myself considering that I have written so many books on managing the illness. The reality of this illness is that it needs daily management for many people. I actually use my tips every day- especially those in Get it Done When You’re Depressed.
The Health Cards are my daily management tool- not an hour goes by that I don’t use some form of my work in order to keep my life stable. I am one of the unfortunate ones who often has 24 hour bipolar symptoms! I wish I could just get them to go away- but in reality, I can get them to calm down and fade into the back ground. That is always my goal. My book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder has helped me with all of my relationships- that’s for sure! It’s easy to overwhelm people when you have bipolar- so learning as many management tools as possible is essential.
I plan to write more books in the future as I learn more about how to manage the illness even more successfully. I am especially interested in how we can use the tips in The Health Cards to keep our relationships strong while we work and stay in school. That takes some skills- and I plan to work on and write about those skills as much as possible. I want us all to be happy and stable. That is my goal in life personally and professionally. If you have not tried the Health Cards, I recommend you check them out. I promise they will change your life for the better within the first weeks you learn to use them. We all want to be stable and it really does take a plan you can use every day. It does get easier as you practice- but there is a chance you will always need to use the skills.
Julie
Hi, It is completely understandable that you would refer back to your programs to guide you through your illness. When a person knows about something, they still need help themselves. Many professionals have reference guides that they have to refer back to on a regular basis. I have read about each of your books. Each one of them sounds like a book that would benefit me greatly, as with my bipolar 1, I am having severe problems in every area of my life, which all of your books address. I have had the disorder for quite some time. I wish I could afford the set of books so I could try to get the symptoms under control.
Julie,
I have been suffering with BP II since the early 70’s, but was not diagnosed until 2007. Needless to say, I struggle with what could have been. But I know it also does’t do any good.
Men have a different physical, emotional, and pychological make-up. There are some similarities, but men are somewhat different. How does this difference affect the medicine and therapy used.