Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 73

Bipolar Driving and Missing My Lamictal Dose

I’ve had a lot of irritation lately. My Lamictal dosage is messed up (my fault) and I can feel it affecting my tolerance level. I swear, I was in so much traffic the other day I thought I would explode. I live in a city, so this was not abnormal. What was abnormal is how I reacted to the traffic: angry words ( I will let you use your imagineation here!) Honking my horn. wow!

I felt my face squeeze into an ugly mask. And then I stopped and realized what was going on. I was rapid cycling and my head was jerking around and I started to cry a bit. I missed a few doses of my meds again and this always happens.

Solution: Take my meds on time!

Keep out of my car when I’m super irritated! Wait a bit so the traffic can clear. Accept where I am and turn on the radio, etc. Say to myself, “Calm down Julie. You’re overreacting and you really do have a choice how you feel right now.” Remind myself that this is an illness and I’m very rarely irritated when I’m not rapid cycling!

Julie

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Published on June 16, 2012 14:32

Accepting New Family and Partner Coaching Clients

Writing books on bipolar disorder has been my career for over ten years. I enjoy writing and plan to do a lot more. (It can be a challenge when the mood swings are paying a visit, that’s for sure.)

Over two years ago, I started coaching partners and family members of people with bipolar disorder as an addition to my writing career.

I never, ever thought I would find work that I enjoy as much as I enjoy coaching. I feel at home with the parents and partners as I have been where they are- and I remain calm during the crises that many of my clients are going through while we are working together. Bipolar disorder is like a puzzle. It’s not always easy to find the right pieces on your own. It helps to have a coach as a guide.

My coaching practice has room for new clients. I take new clients about once a month-and then help them as best I can. It’s a partnership that saves relationships and often lives.

Coaching is not for everyone, but if you are concerned about your relationship with a person with bipolar disorder, it may be a good fit for you. The following link will tell you more. I look forward to talking.

Julie Fast Family and Partner Coaching

Julie

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Published on June 15, 2012 13:36

Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder

I often get letters from readers telling me how they use my books. Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder has a lot of workbook elements that are incredibly helpful if you want to manage the illness successfully.

Hi Julie,

I’m reading and writing about your book, “Take charge of bipolar disorder”. My favorite chapter is on behavior change. It’s true I’ve gone through some very positive experiences lately, and it’s kicked in a depression, which doesn’t make any sense. Change is a real killer. Your chapter makes me feel hopeful about dealing with the fallout from change. I have to admit, your chapter on “work and money” hit too close to home, so I’m really making myself do the work. It’s easier to hide my head in the sand.. My apologies–there is such good info in there. Anyway, I like your book very much. Keep at it!

**

I love to hear from readers. Writing is very solitary. I write all of my books at libraries, coffee shops and at karaoke! But I’m always sitting by myself. I outline in noise and write in quiet! I’m writing this in Starbucks!

Julie

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Published on June 14, 2012 15:59

Think Before You Speak: A kid talks mental illness and words

What do kids say when they see something different? And more importantly, how do words affect the way a kid views mental illness?

Click here to read a great article from Julia Waldow of Save the Youth LA on this topic. Kids need to write more about brain disorders!

Hmmm.. Just read this about the New York Yankees pitcher A. J. Burnett. He has definitely had some career trouble. But this is a bit ridiculous!

“Call him bipolar if you would like. Just in baseball terms, A.J. Burnett can be considered a bit bipolar this season. We have been witnessing two very different sides to the Yankees pitcher.”

Wow! Julie

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Published on June 13, 2012 19:59

Bipolar Disorder Quiz: Testers Needed

I just created a quiz called The Bipolar Disorder Check In Quiz. It’s always hard to know if a quiz works. I’m looking for testers to visit BipolarHappens.com and take the quiz.

I’m interested to know if you find it helpful and if the numbers work. Ludvig has already taken the quiz and he passed!

Please click here to visit the page and take the quiz.

You will need paper and a pen. I’ve created a post on my Facebook page (Julie A. Fast Fan Page) for people to leave comments and suggestions. I so appreciate your help!

Thanks! Julie

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Published on June 12, 2012 22:41

Bipolar, Travel, Stress…. OMG!

This is a post from 2008- it’s so good I have to post it again. The good news is that traveling is much, much easier for me now.

**

I have to admit I’m a bit stressed.

I go to Florida for a large convention this weekend to give my presentation: Loving Someone with a Mental Illness. I’m not worried about the presentation. There is nothing I love better than getting in front of family members and hearing their stories- we can definitely learn from each other. I remember what it was like to love someone who was in the psych ward for three months and then still sick off and for a year after that. I can pass on my tips for dealing with the fear.

My stress is from getting ready for the travel. The airline that is too busy to even answer my calls- “We are experienceing a high call volume- you will have to call back later.” The CD’s of my radio show I need to take with me have to get labels on them.”

On and on. I can do it. I just have to stick to the basics.

I recently heard a gentleman give a speech about remembering the basics – he told the story of his son’s baseball team. He said, “The team had done great all year- then when they faced this really big pitcher, they started to fall apart! My son swung at a ball that looked ten feet over his head! If we had just rememberd to play the basics- only swing at balls in the strike zone- we could have hit this guy, but we forgot the simple things.”

There is a chance right now that I could swing at the balls 10 feet above my head! But I won’t. I have a list and I have to methodically do it- no matter what my mood.

julie

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Published on June 11, 2012 15:03

Bipolar Mania Quiz

Mania Quiz

Have you:

Slept less but felt more energized?

Had the thought- Thank god the depression is gone, I feel SO much better.

Felt like spending more? Drinking more?

Do you feel more sexual than normal?

Are you eating less than you normally do?

If you answer yes to any of these, you know what it may mean. NO MANIA THIS YEAR has to be your motto.

Julie

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Published on June 10, 2012 20:44

Is it Bipolar Depression or Disappointment?

My dear friend and mentor John asked me this tonight when I told him about my rather tough day- well, very tough! He always reminds me that over the years I’ve changed- I can still get mood swings from certain situations, but they are more regulated now. It meant a lot to me when he said that.

I was asked to be on the Dr. Phil show this week and then it fell through. It was certainly disappointing! But it didn’t have to be depressing.

People often confuse ‘disappointment’ and ‘depression.’ If you have bipolar you know that they are extremely different! Disappointment has a focus- I am disappointed that I am not going to be on the Dr. Phil show as hoped.

Depression is very, very different. It doesn’t have a true focus- it just viciously attacks you and your life. “You are a failure Julie. Your books will never really sell. You life is pointless, you never get a break in your career”, etc etc. ad nauseum! It’s often what I call free floating.

Depression is not true. And I will not listen to it. I will PRAISE myself for what I have accomplished in life and keep going.

The trick is to learn to feel disappointment- as it’s real and normal- and then see what is happening with the depression and not letting it go too far.

I am proud of myself.

Julie

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Published on June 08, 2012 03:55

Bipolar Disorder: Manic Grandiosity

When my former partner Ivan got really sick in 1994, he told me he believed he was a genius. This upset him a lot because there was a part of him who knew this was an odd thing to feel, but the other part believed it. When he got so ill he could no longer have a coherent conversation, he definitely thought he knew more than most people. I found a piece of paper where he was listing all of his thoughts- one said, “I am genius.”

Grandiosity is characterize by a person truly, truly believing that they are better than everyone and they make sure people know it! I remember being manic once and looking in the mirror and thinking- I am more beautiful than every person I know! That is manic grandiosity at its best!

Manic grandiosity is very different from narcissism. The grandiosity that comes with mania is episodic- in other words it is ONLY there during a bipolar disorder mood swing. Narcissism is a personality disorder that is consistent and truly part of a person’s being.

Manic grandiosity can be funny or it can be very annoying. When someone is grandiose, it’s hard to get them to see reality. They feel so superior that your opinion doesn’t matter.

Bipolar disorder is so odd. One minute we can feel like the dirt of the earth- and then we are smarter than everyone in the world.

Julie

PS: I went onto Google images to find a picture that represets the word grandiosity. Guess who had the most pictures. Politicians!

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Published on June 07, 2012 16:08

BP Magazine Blog Post: Bipolar Friendly Travel Tips

Kids are getting out of school. People are heading off for vacation. The sun is out and we want to have fun. Or maybe you’re depressed and yet still have to travel. These tips in this blog will help anyone

If you have bipolar disorder or care about someone with bipolar disorder, the travel tips in my Bp Magazine blog are a must read. I also love the comments. They are as helpful as the blog! I read all of them, so please leave your own. Click here to read the blog. Julie