Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 35

August 1, 2016

Julie A. Fast Psychology Today Blog: Terrorist Assisted Suicide

The followin boy shutterstock g is a link to my Psychology Today blog post on the topic of what I call ‘terrorist assisted suicide.’ If you’re depressed right now, I suggest waiting to read this until you are feeling better. I put this topic up here for readers who are interested in my work outside of the bipolar disorder realm. I limit my media when my mood is low and I encourage you to do the same. Julie

Click here to read Terrorist Assisted Suicide: How Terrorist Cults Use Mentally Ill Muslim Men to Further Their Reign of Terror.

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Published on August 01, 2016 14:46

July 27, 2016

20 Unexpected Signs of a Bipolar Disorder Down Swing Part One

Part one of a two part blog by Julie A. Fast

It’s easy to spot what we consider traditional depression symptoms: crying, lack of movement, sadness, silence, brain fog, slumped body, lack of desire, fear, hopelessness, helplessness and an overall worry that life is not worth living.

I’m here today to talk about the OTHER depression that is often mistaken for a personality flaw or seen as someone simply being in a bad mood.

I call the first kind of depression WEEPY depression and I call this depression ANGRY and IRRITATED DEPRESSION. People with bipolar tend to experience both, but rarely get help for the second type as helping someone in this kind of a depression is like talking with a really angry snake.

Are you ready to explore your own depression or the depression of someone you care about who has bipolar disorder? Let’s Go!
Twenty Signs of an Angry and Irritated Downswing Part One:

Pissed off at everyone and everything. Kittens and puppies make you mad.
Thinking is out of control. You think about thinking about thinking. Then think about thinking about the fact that your thinking about thinking about thinking. ARRRGGGGGG!
You second guess everything you do. Turn right and your brain says, “You should have turned left moron!” Unfortunately, you do this with the people in your life as well. Nothing anyone does ever feels right.
What is the point of doing anything since everything is so #$#@ed up! There is a LOT of cussing in this downswing. This can’t be ignored or softened just because people don’t like vulgar words. When you’re in this mood swing, your language WILL change.
You feel you will never reach your goals and will be stuck in this current ‘hell’ forever.
The body hurts. Headaches, backaches, eye strain, painful hair (yes, your hair can hurt when you’re really depressed). You can’t get comfortable and change locations a lot looking for a better resting place that never arrives as the pain is internal.
YOU JUDGE EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. Especially yourself, but outwardly, you will tell people what you think and can be very, very unkind to people you love.
Your face looks displeased. Your judgemental feelings come out in pursed lips, signs, rolled eyes and other physical signs that you are not pleased with something.
Your world view is negative. You will find the garbage in the gutter when there is a rainbow in the sky.
You can’t see the positive. It’s not that you don’t want to see the positive, you simply CAN’T see it because this kind of depression makes you focus on everything that is going wrong.

Wow, that is only ten of the symptoms of angry and irritated depression. I can tell you from a lot of personal experience that this episode is a relationship wrecker. You are miserable inside and miserable to be around. I will list the final ten symptoms in my next blog and also offer some tips for managing this type of depression.

Please note that these are also the signs of a dysphoric manic episode, also called mixed mania, but only if typical mania symptoms are also present. Mixed mania is a combination of mania, anxiety and depression.

How do you know if it’s dysphoric mania and not plain old angry depression?

It’s all about the energy behind the symptoms. It’s possible to have all of the above symptoms and still sleep normally, talk regularly, watch your spending, keep a regular libido and stay at a consistent and often low energy. If the above symptoms are actually dysphoric mania, you WILL have one or more of these symptoms: noticeable sleep changes, an increased libido, the desire to spend, rapid speech, goal driven activities that you actually do and an overall sense that your organs are trying to jump out of your body due to profound restlessness.

Isn’t bipolar disorder fun! The only way to manage this illness in my opinion is through symptom recognition and management. All of the above symptoms are from my own life…. on the SAME DAY.

Julie

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Published on July 27, 2016 01:23

July 26, 2016

Parent of a University Student with Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder and College: What Parents NEED to Know…. by Julie A. Fast

University life is basically a petri dish for growing bipolar disorder symptoms. I’ll be blunt. People with bipolar disorder tend to have trouble in a college setting. As you surely know, this has zero to do with intelligence and school ability and has everything to do with sleep changes, new relationships, an often out of control drinking and drug culture, familial expectations, grade pressures and for many, being away from home for the first time.

If your child goes to school without a plan to manage bipolar disorder, the illness will probably start to manage your child.

Three Success Strategies to Manage Bipolar Disorder in a University Setting

Here are three strategies you can use immediately to prepare for this big change in your child’s life.

1. Contact disability service and see what is available for your child. I know, there’s a good chance your kid has zero interest in doing this, but it doesn’t mean you can’t. You don’t have to name your child. You just need advice. Hello, my name is Carol and my daughter is going to school here in the fall. She has a bipolar disorder diagnosis and I would like to learn all I can about the services you offer at the school in terms of helping her manage the illness and what we would need to do if she gets sick. I would also appreciate information on the process we would use if she has to leave the school for health reasons.

2. Set boundaries around partying by talking openly about drinking, pot, other drugs and ADHD meds. I teach parents to do this through education. If your child has a goal to party hardy at school, you will have a problem. How can you prevent this from happening? By talking with a child about how certain behaviors affect bipolar disorder. If this feels impossible, the feeling is a sign that there is a potential problem that can be checked now in order to prevent a phone call a few months into school that your child has been skipping classes and staying out all night.

I’m not being cynical here. I’m writing from extremely personal experience. If there were a degree for college binge drinking, I would have a doctorate. I started drinking my first week in college and it profoundly affected my undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

If you have a child who has rarely been exposed to this lifestyle, it’s also a good time to have a conversation about how to respond the first time a person puts a bong in your face and offers you a beer. Oh yes, I have been there.

3. Focus on sleep management education as a first step. For example, It helps to choose a class schedule your child can truly manage. Asking a night person to make a 7:00 AM chemistry class is the first step to a bipolar disorder perfect storm. As parents, especially if you’re paying for everything, teaching a child that treating bipolar disorder first is the priority takes time, but it can be done. The best place to start is with sleep eduction. No, kids might not listen at first when you talk about how cramming for an exam can actually lead to mania, but with time, they will get the message. The number one way to manage bipolar disorder while at school is through healthy sleep habits.

Talking with Your Child Take GUTS!

Young girls and hyper sexuality: I know, getting a 18 year old young girl who loves chatting and having fun with friends to actually put down the phone and take time out to manage this illness might feel impossible right now, but I can assure you, when done the right way, it saves years of worry and helps her stay in school and get that degree! Girls face a LOT of sexual pressure at university. Mania and hyper sexuality need to be discussed in advance, no matter how uncomfortable the conversation might be. I suggest making a list of the typical hyper sexuality symptoms that come with mania and then talking openly about what needs to be done if your daughter sees the signs in herself. Let her know she doesn’t have to be embarrassed if she suddenly wants to sleep with every guy she sees. She simply needs to get help.

A Strategy for Talking with Young Men

I worry about the young men in our culture today. There are so many pressures from all angles- I always suggest talking with young men in the words they use to talk about themselves. This works with girls as well of course, but if you have a silent young man who isn’t keen on discussing his feelings, this has to be tackled before he goes to school. A young man with a diagnosis he doesn’t like to discuss for example requires special language he can actually hear.

Here’s a quick strategy. When talking to your son, start with something he said he wanted and go from there:

“I know it’s your dream to be an engineer. ”

“I know you’ve looked forward to being a fraternity for many years. ”

“You have always told me that you think a lot about your future.”

I teach this technique to all of my clients. Starting with a person’s actual words takes them off the defensive from the very beginning.

***

These are just a few tips to get you started. People with bipolar disorder can go to college and get a degree, but it always takes a plan to insure a smooth journey.

Figure this out in advance dear parents! The majority of the calls I receive for my coaching services come AFTER the child got sick in school and flunked out with no plan in place. I don’t want this to happen to you.

Click here to read about my Back to School with Bipolar Disorder: A Masterclass for Parents of University Students with Bipolar Disorder Webinars in August.

Julie

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Published on July 26, 2016 07:33

July 20, 2016

Bipolar Disorder and Staying Stable During a World Crisis

My motto to TREAT BIPOLAR DISORDER FIRST was put to the test recently in a way I never imagined. I currently live 20 minutes from the Nice terrorist attack in France and spent a long day of ups and downs in this beautiful country that I love so much.

I’ve noticed that people with bipolar disorder are often curious world travelers who have strong opinions on the world. This serves us well when we are stable and may be one of the reasons so many of us write books!

In exactly the opposite way, this characteristic can also be a ticket to disaster as it’s hard for us to turn off this curiosity in order to protect our bipolar disorder stability. I know all about the anxiety created by an obsessive following of the latest world disaster. My mind takes off in a way I find hard to control and this started to happen yesterday after my school in France held a meeting in our theater to discuss our safety in this country. The head teacher stressed how we all need to get on with our lives while being vigilant in the face of yet another terrorist attack in France.

I would like to share with you the plan I use to protect myself from bipolar disorder mood swings during world crises.

#1 I Turn Off the News. Being aware and knowing when your bipolar disorder has had enough is an essential bipolar disorder management tool. There is a HUGE difference between being obsessed and being informed. You can find what works for you.

It may be a zero tolerance policy….

I care deeply about the world, but for my own stability and in honor of the people around me who need my love and attention, I turn over the management of this problem to the people who are well enough to take this on without getting sick . It is not my job to change the world, but it is my job to take care of my own world and stay well. If this means I have to stay off of my social media for a few days, I’m willing to do this for my own health.

There is also moderation…..

I will look at the news in the morning and then limit how I talk about the situation when I’m with my friends and family. I will remind myself that 24 hour news is not a requirement in my life and it is possible to be informed by looking at the media in a moderated way. I can also ask others for updates and then make the decision to change the subject. I am responsible for myself and as a person with bipolar, it’s not selfish or callous to limit my media intake.

Or you might have to ask someone near you to change the topic of a conversation…..

I know this is a world crisis and we need to stay informed. One part of my stability plan is limiting my anxiety around the media coverage of world events. Can we talk about this a few minutes- so that we can share how we feel- and then move on to another topic? It’s not because I don’t care. It’s because I care too much and this is a sure way to create a mood swing. I want to stay stable and enjoy your company.

My mother is always a good barometer to test my media overuse. She will say, “Julie, you just wrote a blog about limited media and you’ve been watching CNN for the past 90 minutes.”

She said this to me last year after the first terrorist attacks at the concert hall in Paris, before I moved to France. I remember exactly what I thought when she said this, “But mom!!! I have to be informed! I’m just looking for information!” It was then that I realized I had been sucked in by our 24 hour media world once again and I turned off the TV. I am doing the same now that I’m actually in France.

#2 I Carefully Manage My Sleep. Last night I experienced what I call skim sleeping. This is how I know I was more affected by what happened in Nice than I originally thought. It’s as though I’m awake the entire time I’m asleep. I moved to France for my physical health. I came here to change my life and challenge myself to become a fully stable and happy person. A very large part of this is learning to sleep without sleep medications. It has been a success in many ways, but I made a mistake last night. I tried to sleep without medications on a night I truly needed sleep for my stability. The result was a night of under sleeping and I’m now paying the price with tiredness and a bit of anxiety. Bipolar disorder stability and healthy sleep simply can’t be separated. They go hand in hand. Sleep should have been my priority last night and it wasn’t. Tonight it will be. Here are a few ways I manage sleep:

Media exposure ends a few hours before I go to sleep. This is an emotional and physical need- emotionally, my brain needs to relax and calm down in order for my melatonin and serotonin process to actually work. Looking at a flickering blue light screen right before bed is a sure way to wake up my serotonin!
I go to sleep at the same time on as many nights as possible. I didn’t do this last night as I was talking with my family about my life here in France. I will get back to my earlier bed time tonight. It’s a conscious decision. I don’t like doing this. I would much rather stay up and hang out with friends, but that won’t help me stay stable. An early bedtime will.
I take medications when needed. Last night was a dumb move on my part! Talking with my family in the States was essential and we made sure our conversation was fun as everyone in my life knows I can’t do serious talk right before bed, but wow, I needed to take the meds afterwards!

And now for a strategy I use during all of my world travels:

#3 I Determine My Own World View. You decide how you see the world. Not the media, not terrorists and certainly not what your bipolar disorder wants you to believe. Depression clouds how we see the world as does mania. Knowing who you are in the midst of a bipolar disorder mood swing is the strongest tool I know to manage this illness. I’m an abnormally optimistic person who sees the world as a beautiful place. I know this is my baseline personality. When I start to see the dirt instead of the beauty, I always check my mood and usually find that I’m depressed. Look around you. How are the stable people in your life managing the latest world crisis? We can learn from stable people- they have boundaries and tend to understand themselves well.

It is possible to see what is happening in our world and still maintain a positive world view.

If you look at it by the numbers, there is more beauty than ugliness in this world. I see it in France every day.

I’d like to share a story on how I maintain my positive world view from the day after the attacks here in Cannes, France where I currently live. Here is what I wrote in the moment as I posted the following picture on Facebook:

Something beautiful from the South of France. Just 20 minutes away from the tragedies of last night in Nice, beauty is happening right before my eyes. I heard horns honking as I sat in my regular outdoor cafe in Cannes and saw this beautiful image. I ran up to them and said, “My friends in the United States are worried about all of us here. Can I send them your beautiful picture?” They said yes. And look what this lovely man did with his hands!!!

Vive la France!!! We love you and support you France! Julie

This is the image I take of my life here in France and it’s one I will return to when my mind wanders towards the dark side of our world. I hope you can hold this image in your heart as well- just as the amazing man in this picture is holding us in his hands.

Julie

Here is a bit of French for those who enjopy the language.

Je suis heureux de vivre en France. Cette image est la vraie beauté de la France. Les gens sont la vraie France! Les habitants de #Nice sont dans mon cœur. J’aime la France! Vive la France! Julie

You can read more about my books on my website. You can follow me on Facebook at Julie A. Fast. I’m on Twitter @JulieBipolar.

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Published on July 20, 2016 01:37

June 27, 2016

Watch Out for Summer Mania in Bipolar Disorder!

Remember:

Depression says: I can’t do anything.

Mania says: I can do EVERYTHING!

Mania peaks in the summer here in the USA. That means that hospitalizations for mania peak in the summer. Think of your past or the past of someone you care about. Is mania a concern? Do you have a plan?

It’s so important to know the signs of mania. If you have the Health Cards or Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, now is the time to get out your Mania Health Card and set up a plan before potential mania starts.

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Published on June 27, 2016 00:34

June 18, 2016

Bipolar and Depressed?

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Signs that you might need some help for bipolar disorder depression:

– You have not been out of the house in a few days.

– Getting out of bed is difficult and on some days impossible.

– You’re not eating, brushing your teeth or shaving.

– The phone rings, but you CAN’T answer it.

– You’re binge watching TV shows and you feel really, really guilty about it.

People are worried about you.

Your regular self leaves the house, brushes his teeth, feeds the animals, goes to work, interacts with the world and looks forward to life. That person has disappeared.

Depression is INCIDIOUS. It creeps up on us and day by day sucks the life out of our lives. We must fight this by taking action. Right now, if the above describes you, please know you are not alone. Depression is a nasty, walking dead succubus that you can fight.

If you have bipolar disorder, it’s normal to have depression. If you have depression, it’s normal to have the above symptoms.

What do you need to do right now to get help? Answer that phone? Shave just to show yourself that you are human damn it and this illness will NOT take over your life for another day? Call a suicide hotline? Call a friend? Please feel free to visit me on my Facebook page at Julie A. Fast. If you ask for help here, you will get some help from people who understand.

If you love someone with bipolar depression and are not sure what to do, you can visit Facebook and ask for help. You can also contact me regarding coaching through my coaching page on my JulieFast.com website.

Julie

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Published on June 18, 2016 08:10

June 15, 2016

Dream Big and Keep Bipolar Disorder in Mind

My next column for Bp Magazine focuses on dreaming big within the confines of bipolar disorder. It’s not a fun topic. I want to say- Dream big and anything is possible! But I don’t think that’s true. I believe those of us with bipolar disorder have to be honest with what the illness lets us do. Then we can set goals and reach dreams in a realistic way.

This DOESN’T mean you can’t do great and amazing things.

It means that bipolar disorder needs to be a part of the process.

How this illness reacts to my actions determines what I can do in my life. I’ve tried to live differently. I haven’t always respected what bipolar disorder will do if I make decisions without thinking of bipolar disorder at the same time. My recent move to France for a year was built on a bipolar disorder plan. Nothing is left to chance. I have still been ill for months, but I’m here!

I’m using my photography to keep myself focused when the mood swings are raging. A few days ago when I was on the bus, I saw a French flag peeping out from a side street. I said to myself, “Be bold Julie! The next time you’re on the bus, go down that street and see what pictures you might find!” Here is the result. I got off the bus at a different stop!

Julie

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Published on June 15, 2016 09:05

June 13, 2016

We need to talk: Violent Behavior in People with Mental Health Disorders

Violence in Mental Health: I was just contacted by a US journalist regarding my opinion on the latest violent killing in Florida. I told her what I tell everyone. These killers have something in common- and it’s not a hate group or terrorism.

It’s mental health disorders.

I have studied violent behavior in mental health for many years including being honest with myself about my own violent mental health symptoms when I’m in a mood swing from my bipolar disorder. This is not only a gun issue- the person who did something similar in China used knives and in Sweden, a sword.

We have to WAKE UP and listen to what family members say about the person who committed the violent act. They speak of mental instability, drug use, problem relationships and failed psychiatric care.

I will speak up. I am not scared to tackle this. We have a violence in mental health problem that we are scared to address. If you look at ALL of the lone killers in the US in just the past few years, they all have something in common:

….failed psychiatric treatment.

People with mental illnesses are not inherently violent. When we are stable, we are regular people. But when our symptoms go untreated and we add drugs such as steroids or high THC marijuana to the mix, we are an internal bomb waiting to go off. That is terrorism of a very different kind.

There is no need to tell me that I’m wrong or that I’m painting all of us with the same brush. I’m giving an opinion from personal experience through myself and hundreds of clients. I have incredible compassion for the families who try to help people with obvious mental health concerns: families who are stopped cold by a system than no longer works.

In my life, in my daily work and obviously in the news, I see a problem in MY COMMUNITY that we are not addressing correctly.

Mental illness needs treatment. Let’s join together and change the laws such as HIPPA and help family members get help for people who are ill and potentially dangerous. Then groups such as ISIS will not be able to recruit and perpetrate terrorism through people who are mentally unstable.

Julie

Click here to read the family side of the story.

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Published on June 13, 2016 03:42

June 11, 2016

Bipolar Disorder and Work Anxiety

Work and Bipolar Disorder. ARGGGGG…….

I am out of my depression, but my work issues remain. Who the heck has panic attacks from looking at email? This illness is DUMB. We can’t explain it in regular terms.

The only way I can deal with what happens to me is to see it in the context of bipolar disorder. For example, being able to coach for hours with no problems regarding life and death situations and then not being able to open an email because I can’t breathe is about mental illness. It’s not about the regular world.

In the regular world this is bizarre- it makes no sense.

But if I remember that I have a very severe mental illness that affects my life in almost every moment, it makes sense that I will struggle the way I do around the administrative side of my work.

It’s my life goal to figure out my working dilemma. I love to work. I love writing and coaching and don’t want this illness to stop me from doing what I love.

The fact that the quality of my work is not affected by bipolar disorder, but that my ability to sit down and do the work is greatly affected is a nut I’m going to CRACK.

Julie

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Published on June 11, 2016 00:26

May 15, 2016

Do You Have a Bipolar Disorder Travel Plan?

Travel is exciting. Getting away from it all- the weather, no work, friends, beaches, family, new sights, languages, the exotic. It would be great if you could also take a vacation from bipolar disorder. Unfortunately this is not always possible. You may be someone who responds well to vacations and you actually get better mood wise. But for many, the stress of even the greatest vacation can create bipolar disorder symptoms. Luckily, there are strategies you can use to prevent these symptoms to ensure that your travels are the best they can be.

Bipolar disorder symptoms are triggered by outside events, especially those that affect sleep. Travel can condense so many bipolar disorder triggers into a really short space of time. The triggers that may affect you over a year at home can all be present in just few weeks of travel. Our concept of travel as something positive often gets in the way of reality as bipolar disorder doesn’t really have a concept of positive. For this illness, a trigger is a trigger whether it’s in Paris or in the mountains of Montana.

Bipolar disorder doesn’t like change and it doesn’t like stimulation.

This sounds ridiculous doesn’t it! How can an illness not like change? The concept is odd, but it’s our reality. The minute our routine is upset, our brain can get upset. This is why having a plan ready before you travel is essential for your stability.

The Past Predicts the Future

Ask yourself now- have you successfully traveled in the past? Is your health the same now? Then you are fine to keep doing what has worked for you. But if you’re like me and travel has always caused problems, you need to change now so that your next vacation isn’t ruined by mood swings. When your excitement is stronger than your reality, trouble happens. Be realistic. Is Las Vegas the best for you? Or would a quiet trip to the coast be better. you will have to decide.

Here are questions to ask yourself before you travel:

1. If you take medications, how will you manage the pills if you’re flying for example? I ALWAYS take more meds than I need and put them in separate bags. If I lose one bag, I still have meds. What if you need a prescription when in a foreign country? Talk to your prescriber about this before you leave. Have an email process in place in case you need help when you’re away from home. Think of every single thing that can happen with meds when you travel and prepare ahead of time. A friend of mine traveled half way around the world and realized she had counted her meds incorrectly for her stay. Luckily, there was a doctor where she was staying and her prescription was filled easily.

2. What will you do if you get sick in the airport? Panic attacks are a common reaction to travel preparation. Many people are fine once they reach a destination, but wow, getting there can be a pain! Be ready for the chaos of today’s airports. I arrive HOURS before I have to. I would rather make it through the process without anxiety than have to rush through customs while trying not to pass out from a panic attack.

3. Who will be your travel companions? Do you get along? What can you do in advance to create smooth sailing for your trip? If you’re visiting people, how do you get along with them? Have you had problems in the past with these relationships? Remember, the past predicts the future with bipolar disorder. Who you travel with is as important as where you’re going.

If you’re traveling this summer, what can you do now to ensure a successful trip?

These questions will get you started. I recently moved to France for a year. It has been a challenge. I planned it all very carefully and I still got sick. But I survived and am now where I want to be.

You can do the same.

Julie

Click the following for my travel writing and videos for Bp Magazine.

Julie A. Fast VIDEO: Bipolar Disorder & Travel—How I Use Sleep to Stay Stable.
Blog: Bipolar Disorder and Travel 1: The Europe Diaries
Bipolar Disorder and Travel 2: Pole Axed in England

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Published on May 15, 2016 02:13