Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 51

Do You Wish You Could Just CHOOSE Bipolar Mania?

I just asked this question on Facebook. I’m putting it here so that you can go to the post and read the comments! Bipolar Disorder and Mania- I have a question.

Do you sometimes wish you could give into the mania so that you could

get everything done that you can’t do because you’re depressed!!!

Click here and scroll down to visit my Julie A. Fast Facebook page and read the post! I’d love to hear your opinion. Julie

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Published on June 13, 2014 22:30

The World Cup has started……and so have my bipolar disorder symptoms!

My OCD is acting up. Darn bipolar. How do I keep my excitement level normal so that I can SLEEP? That is the question. You guys know me. You know my philosophy. But just for once, can’t I get excited without getting sick too! I can and will learn to live and be stable and have fun and SLEEP. Julie

PS. Well, reality bites. Just closed my World Cup Twitter account because it was getting too successful. Only bipolar could make me ill because I got too excited.

I need to focus on writing as it is the one thing I can do that doesn’t cause symptoms. I’ve been managing bipolar disorder for a long time. It’s always a struggle when something new shows up and I have to see if my brain can handle the change. Sometimes it can. I’m able to travel and speak professionally, for example. But sometimes it can’t. It seems to be the situations where I’m waiting to hear from others about something I’ve said or done are the main problem. I’m still learning how to better manage this illness!

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Published on June 11, 2014 18:55

The World Cup Starts Tomorrow…..

My OCD is acting up. Darn bipolar. How do I keep my excitement level normal so that I can SLEEP? That is the question. You guys know me. You know my philosophy. But just for once, can’t I get excited without getting sick too! I can and will learn to live and be stable and have fun and SLEEP. Julie

PS. Well, reality bites. Just closed my World Cup Twitter account because it was getting too successful. Only bipolar could make me ill because I got too excited. At least I still have my writing!

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Published on June 11, 2014 18:55

Podcast from Julie A. Fast on Travel and Bipolar Disorder and so much more…

http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/wp-content/uploads/Monterey-5-14-14-one.mp3

Here is part one of a three part interview I did on the topics of travel, professional speaking, working with Claire Danes on Homeland and my wonderful speaking and training trip to Monterey, California.

Thanks to everyone in Monterey, California for such a wonderful experience. I loved speaking at the Wellness conference, visiting the group residents, talking with the Youth in Transition program and giving the keynote at the Fiesta of Hope dinner. Thanks to everyone at Monterey Public Health and Interim. And now for the topic of the podcast. How on earth does a person with bipolar disorder handle all of the travel and its related stress when the anxiety is knocking on your door and you wonder how you’re going to meet your obligations without getting sick? The answer is in the podcast. Definitely let me know what you think. Thanks as always to the wonderfully talented Sheri Joi for her interview and organizational skills. I wish everyone with bipolar disorder had a Sheri Joi in life!

Please share this link with friends. Part two is coming soon! Julie

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Published on June 10, 2014 13:21

Bipolar Disorder and Baby Steps

Bipolar Disorder and Baby Steps

A friend of mine just wrote me that she was having a hard time with her bipolar disorder and she had to remind herself that it’s all about baby steps- especially when you are first diagnosed. This is what I wrote back. When I read it I thought it might be a message that could help other as well!

Oh yes. It’s baby steps for the rest of your life- but it gets easier because the hard times have a lot of good times in between. I went a long time without a down swing and then had a bad reaction to a medication for my back. It reminded me of how much I hate depression. I then wasn’t able to get to sleep- and I was reminded of how important sleep is with this illness. The constant reminders let me see how far I have come. It will be the same for you, I promise. One day, you will go long periods of time where you are stable and life is easy and you can sleep and do your work and have a great life. It just takes planning. My favorite word! Julie

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Published on June 04, 2014 23:22

You can visit me on my Julie A. Fast Facebook Page!

It would be great if you would visit the page, tell me what you think, comment on the posts and like those you find helpful! This is a bipolar disorder help page- not an I ATE CROISSANTS FOR BREAKFAST page.

It’s also the best place to get updates on my latest speaking engagements and book news.

Click here to visit the Julie A. Fast facebook page.

Julie

I used these pictures for my latest post. Can you guess the topic?

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Published on May 29, 2014 11:36

I Just Posted Answers to your Blog Comments

Ah yes! It’s always a goal to answer my blog posts- and today it happened! Check the list of the latest blog comments on the right and you will find my answers under each comment. I wish that I could answer all of my blog and social media comments. It’s not always possible, but I do read each one and am very thankful for all of the support- and am always fine if you don’t agree with my opinions. It’s the spice of life! Julie

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Published on May 20, 2014 16:18

Julie Fast on Bipolar Disorder, Pot and Spice- the name for synthetic pot…..

New video from the Daily Mail talks about synthetic pot in prisons. Spice…. it sounds nice, but it’s dangerous for people with bipolar disorder.

Click here to watch the video and come back to read my opinion!

All of my newsletter readers and blog readers know how I feel about what I call the

New Psychotic Pot that’s been legalized in two states so far here in

the US. Now, we have a bigger problem in

the world- synthetic pot. I spoke to a lot of younger people when I was

in California last week- (wow, when did I get old enough to call those

in their 20s ‘young people’ he hehe! ) I said this and I stick by it,

“I don’t care what people without bipolar disorder do regarding smoking

pot. Their brains are not like our brains. Bipolar brains don’t respond

well to the new, incredibly strong, hydrophonically grown and

genetically modified pot. So, if you have bipolar disorder, you need to

think about your pot use differently. It’s a choice. Now, the bigger

issue is synthetic pot- also called Spice. Here is a short news story on

the topic. It highlights the dangers of using synthetics when the real

stuff is illegal.

I’ve also included a link to a superb TIME

Magazine story on synthetic pot. I smoked a lot of pot in the 80s and I

have bipolar disorder. So this isn’t some soap box. I would not TOUCH

the stuff that’s out there now. I respect my bipolar brain too much to

subject it to possible drug induced psychosis! I don’t want to offer a

judgment… just information. Tell me what you think after you watch

the video! I’m interested! Julie

Click here to read the Time Magazine Article.

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Published on May 15, 2014 09:57

Hello California!

I’m here in Monterey Bay, California for three days of presentations. I can’t wait to meet everyone. I brought lots of books and many, many stories to share. Please stop by and say hi. You can read all of the details on my Julie A. Fast Facebook page. It’s a great place to leave me a message during the events. I will check it regularly. If there is a topic you would like me to cover in one of my sessions or if you have a question, please post it on Facebook and I will make sure I answer it this week. Julie

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Published on May 05, 2014 22:28

One Bipolar Disorder Drama After Another!

I used to have a lot of drama in my life. Much of it was due to my own choices, some of it was due to bipolar disorder causing me to make stupid choices, such as when I get manic.

I have changed completely in the past few years. I’m no longer willing to make decisions and then just hope they turn out ok.

I get too sick when I do this. I have goals in life that I want to reach- speaking to large groups on mental health, reducing the suicide rate in this country, financial stability, physical health- big stuff for sure!

The only way I can accomplish my goals is to examine every potential decision for disaster (drama!) from sending an email telling someone they are ignoring me to saying yes to a request. I’ve learned to ask myself the following questions before I do ANYTHING:

Will it make me sick? Has it made me sick in the past? Am I manic? How will my decision make me feel tomorrow, next week and into the future?

(Of course, I don’t always remember to do this. I still make mistakes and take on projects that aren’t right for me and I still make poor decisions regarding my physical health, but it’s always a learning curve. )

I also have a lot of people in my life who will ask the questions for me and really make me mad! But I need their judgment in case I’m making a decision when I’m sick.

This is a constant exercise- I’ve learned to slow down a bit. I’m at over 75% success right now in my decision making. Considering that I used to do everything blindly, this is pretty good! (I made a guess on the 75%. HEHE)

I have almost no drama in my life these days.

Julie

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Published on May 04, 2014 00:55