Uncategorized « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

A Father of a Son with Bipolar Disorder Speaks

by Julie A. Fast

I will let you in on a secret. Many of us with bipolar disorder feel like failures when the illness doesn’t allow us to have the high powered or super intellectual and/or creative jobs that we could probably do if this illness were not so difficult to manage. I’ve talked with parents for over 20 years now and have learned something important. Being a good person is far more important to parents than being a ‘successful’ person only through work and finances. Don’t believe me? I will let Don take over from here. He is writing a letter to his son Marcos.

Dear Marcos,

My son. Last week something happened that made me so happy I thought I would cry. You were the [ Read More ]

Bipolar Disorder in the Relationship: A Video for Couples from Julie A. Fast and the International Bipolar Foundation

Bipolar Medications: What is the difference between Depakote and Lamictal?

Reader Question: Julie, what is the difference between Depakote and Lamictal? #bipolar #schizoaffective

Great question as our bipolar world of medications can be a bit confusing. I am lucky as I was trained by a master, Dr. John Preston. For over ten years, he has taught me about psychiatric medications. So please know that what I write is my opinion, but it is based on a solid background in medications.

This is info to use with your health care team.

There are four main psychiatric disorders: Mood, Anxiety, Psychotic and Personality. Depression and bipolar disorder are mood disorders.

Bipolar disorder is what I call a garbage pail illness as it has ALL of the symptoms you find in all four categories of psychiatric disorders. The difference is that bipolar is episodic and our symptoms mix and [ Read More ]

Keith Bates and Julie A. Fast Talk Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective and Life with Paranoid Psychosis

What does it feel like to be psychotic?

The majority of people with bipolar disorder one will experience psychosis in a full blown manic episode. Many people with bipolar one and bipolar two experiences paranoia, a form of psychosis, but often don’t know what is happening as the symptoms feel so real. People with bipolar disorder who also have a separate psychotic disorder, like Keith and myself actually have an illness called schizoaffective disorder. People with bipolar disorder can also have schizophrenia, but schizoaffective is more likely. I believe that psychosis is much more common in bipolar than we think- read below and ask yourself, Do I have psychosis?

Hello from Keith and Julie,

Hello, my name is Keith Bates…. I am a 22-year-old [ Read More ]

Ask Julie A. Fast Tonight: Bipolar Disorder and Medications

Ask Julie Fast Q&A tonight at 7:00 PM PST. Let’s talk meds and #bioplar. Meds are half of our plan. Let’s get this part right. Join me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/fastjulie I will answer your questions in real time. #psychosis #anxiety #depression Stability rules!

I write daily on my Facebook page. I hope you can join me this evening. I also have a group for partners called The Stable Bed and a group for parents and family members called The Stable Table.

I love the interactive nature of Facebook. [ Read More ]

Bipolar Disorder and Cannabis: Dabbing and THC

Dabbing creates 80-90% THC marijuana. It will make us manic and psychotic. People with #bipolar cannot dab. Ever. Let’s educate the world on the differences between CBD marijuana and THC and prevent the mania and psychosis I see in the children of my clients every day. Presenting dabs as candy is dangerous. I’m all for fun marketing, but dabbing hits our systems like meth. I call for better labeling and warnings on THC and the fact that for those of us with a genetic predisposition it can be dangerous. I currently have three clients with children in jail after dabbing. I do wish I were exaggerating. It’s ok for people to use marijuana. It’s ok for people to dab. It’s ok for people to do anything they want! But as [ Read More ]