Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 74

Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Suicidal thoughts are normal when you have bipolar disorder.

I remember driving one day when I was very stressed and unhappy. I was on a busy road and saw a red light up ahead. My mind said, “Julie, you can just run that red light and a car will hit you and all will be taken care of!” These thoughts used to scare me a lot. I now know they’re a response to stress. When I told my friend Lani this story she said, “Well, your brain thought is was helping!”

So true. These thoughts are not real. They are manufactured by a bipolar brain. Don’t believe them.

If you are suicidal right now, you have options other than killing yourself.

#1 Say to yourself: I have bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts are normal. Say it over and over again until you get help.

#2 Call anyone and do anything to get help and be honest when you talk to someone. “I’m suicidal and I need help.” You can walk directly to an ER and do this. Crisis lines are there to help. They know what they are doing. Call a friend. Do ANYTHING. This is a health problem and not a personal problem. If you were hit by a car- you would call someone!

#3 If you have to, stay in the hosptial to protect yourself from bipolar disorder. It’s a safe place. You’re a strong person if you go to the hospital. Bipolar disorder is the problem- not you.

#4 Don’t worry if you’re embarrassed. Better embarrassed than no longer on the planet. Bipolar disorder has embarrassed me a million times. And will probable do it many more times in the future.

When I’m suicidal, it’s always a sign that my meds are not working or that an event has happened to send me over the edge. I try to focus on fixing those things instead of listening to the suicidal thoughts. These suicidal thoughts are often the result of something I can definitely change. Once it is changed, I can get back to baseline.

If you kill yourself over an event, it’s not effective. It’s more effective to deal with the situation or leave it completely.

There are definitely situations where the bipolar is 100% responsible for the suicidal thoughts. This is when nothing has happened and there is no reason you should be so miserable. These suicidal thoughts have to be taken very seriously as your brain is really malfunctioning. This is when medications are 100% essential. Don’t hesitate to get immediate help and take meds.

Keeping yourself alive is all that matters when you’re suicidal. If you can’t do this yourself-turn yourself over to someone who can.

Remember: No one stays suicidal all of the time. It ends.

If you had brain cancer you would ask for help with ease. Asking for help with suicidal bipolar thoughts is no different.

Julie

PS: I had my first suicidal episode at 19. I am now 48. It can be managed.

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 06, 2012 21:55

Bipolar Disorder Medication Management

I just can’t seem to get my Lamictal regulated. I have had trouble remembering if I have taken my meds! It’s ridiculous. I’ve been taking this drug for three years! Why on earth would I suddenly have dosage problems?

Our bodies change over time- they change with stress too.

I’m going back to my measured medication box- the one that says Monday, Tuesday, etc on it. I have to get back on track as the withdrawal symptoms are really, really painful! I’m twitching and jerking pretty badly.

I wonder if you have medication problems? Many people do. A friend of mine just went off his antidepressants- but he did well. Another friend is reducing her anti psychotic- but she had to stop for a while to let her body acclimate to the lower dose. It’s all about the liver!

Julie

PS: Save the liver!

You will only get this joke if you watched Saturday Night Live in the 70s. If you have not seen the skit, it’s worth watching!

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 05, 2012 05:37

A Tough Bipolar Depression Day

I woke up sick and crying- darn depression and I was sick for much of the day. It’s always my goal to go to bed feeling better than when I woke up. Well, that won’t be hard tonight!

I told all of my friends that I’m sick. That way they know what to say when I call and cry. They say, “Julie, you’re depressed. It’s hard for you to see reality right now. ” And I know they are right.

I recently wrote about quitting the things that are making you ill. I know what is making me ill and I’m phasing it out of my life. I will get better and stay that way!

Julie

I hope the blog helps you keep going when you are depressed. Bipolar depression wants you to stop what you are doing until you are sitting around like a lump watching TV and eating potato chips. It doesn’t have to be that way. Ask for help, read Get it Done When You’re Depressed, ask a friend to come get you, go to a support group, check out www.meetin.org, do anything! Julie

Get it Done When You’re Depressed is the book I use the most in my own treatment plan. I think you will love it. It’s on amazon.com in hard copy and on the Kindle. It’s my bipolar companion book. Click here to visit amazon.com to read more about the book. I wish I could give this book to every depressed person in the world.

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 05, 2012 02:49

Does spirituality help bipolar disorder?

What role do you think spirituality plays in bipolar disorder?

Regarding spirituality and bipolar- I think that it totally depends on the person- some find that their faith is what keeps them alive- some find that the group nature of many religions gives them the companionship they need- others use meditation for stability and wellness.

Then, there are some like myself who are not sure about the topic- it’s always a question for me.

What about you? What helps you spiritually?

Julie

PS: I had NO idea this book existed!

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 1 comment • flag

Published on June 03, 2012 20:37

Newsletter Bipolar Disorder and Friendship

Bipolar Disorder and Friendship

I lost many of my friends when I was really ill with bipolar disorder.

That was over 10 years ago. When I started to get better through using my treatment plan 24 freaking hours a day! I thought carefully about the things I needed to change and learn in order to become a good friend. Here is my biggest suggestion if you want to do the same:

If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything. This is a great place to start when you want to make friends. No one likes negativity. No one wants to hear how rotten your life is. I used to be super negative and I always complained about how terrible it is to have bipolar disorder. Now I just go with the flow on the simple things- don’t like the meal you’re eating? Gauge the situation before you complain. Think the movie you’re watching sucks? Well, maybe the people you’re with are actually enjoying the movie.

Complaining is selfish. I was selfish.

I learned to change instead of complaining all of the time.

It took many years of practice to end a lifetime of negative comments, but these days I’m pretty much positive in what I say no matter where I am. I’m often raging on the inside- miserable and lonely on the inside- or just feel like screaming at how stupid people are!!!!! But I keep it to myself and only let it out when it’s appropriate.

People appreciate this. When I really do have a problem- they know I’m not just being negative. This makes for a strong friendship.

Julie

PS: When my friend Karen and I are at karaoke and people are being really dumb, we are allowed to yell and be negative as long as we keep it at our table. Ha Ha

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 01, 2012 15:59

Watch Out for Summer Mania! BP Magazine Article

Watch Out for Summer Mania is my most popular article from BP Magazine.

We all have to be careful of mania in the summer. Our brains love the sun a bit too much and mania peaks as do hospital stays when the sun comes out.

Click here to read the summer mania article.

Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might get manic or is getting manic. If you’re feeling the symptoms of mania right now. You know what to do!

PS: Sun is a wonderful thing- but it can also be very sneaky. Be careful!

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 01, 2012 10:29

Newsletter: Five Mistakes People With Bipolar Disorder Need to Avoid!

I’m very proud of the BipolarHappens.com newseltter. The following is an example of the quality advice you will receive when you sign up to your right. I try to make the newsletters fun and informative.

**

Five Mistakes People With Bipolar Disorder Need to Avoid!

1. Overuse of caffeine. Ah yes, coffee, tea, Mountain Dew, energy drinks and even the natural stuff. They keep you up for a while and then either lead to the shakes or a crash. They then cause sleep problems. If you have more than one regular coffee a day, simply ask yourself if it affects your sleep. If it doesn’t, then have it! If, like me, only one iced coffee late in the afternoon will keep me up for hours, then you have to think if it’s worth it.

2. Stay in relationships that are argumentative. There is nothing worse for bipolar disorder than fighting. When I used to allow fights to happen in my family, I would have an immediate suicidal thought such as, “I just want to die.” In order to stop the thoughts and the pain that comes with them, I stopped arguing. This meant that certain people had to go. It also meant that my contact with some family members had to change. Yes, it was me or them. I chose me. I’m the one who gets sick and has to live with the anxiety and the depression. Interestingly, many people understand this and know that I have to leave contentious situations no matter what. That helps.

3. Let irritation take over. Bipolar disorder can lead to a lot of irritation and anger. This can even lead to violence. I remember one day a few years ago that was pretty bad. I could feel that I was irritated and that I needed to just calm down and make sure I didn’t take it out on anyone. Yes, I did have a coffee! That is going to stop! A man pulled out in front of me on a busy road and literally drove across two lanes to get to a side street. I honked my horn and thought- ‘my god, what a stupid driver.’ Then he flipped me off. I was already irritated enough and this sent me a bit over the edge. I actually had the thought that I needed to chase him down and show him he can’t flip me off when he is the one who is stupid! It’s hard to explain to others that this feeling is different than just normal anger. When it’s bipolar disorder related, if feels like a need. As though it would be the right thing to do. Reasoning leaves and it’s all emotion. I’ve learned to fight this and you can too. Because I was already aware that I was irritated for no reason, I kept myself from chasing down the car. I then realized that I needed to change direction in my own day and see what was really going on. I did and the irritation left by the afternoon.

4. Travel without planning for bipolar disorder mood swings. Traveling is a microcosm of bipolar disorder triggers. Time changes affect sleep that can then cause mood swings. You may be stuck with people you don’t really want to be around. You may have to go places that are too over stimulating. Or maybe, if you’re a family member or friend, the person with bipolar disorder ruins your travel! No matter what, just as you have travel plans with plane tickets, hotels and all of the other things that come with travel, you have to have a bipolar plan as well.

5. Get trapped in the bipolar conversation. This one is for family members. All of my books talk about what I call the bipolar conversation. This is when you think you’re talking to the person you care about, where in reality, you’re simply talking to the illness. My books The Health Cards, Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder have chapters dedicated to preventing the bipolar conversation. If you try to talk normally to a depressed person for example, you will be frustrated. When you say, “But your life is fine! Why are you so upset?” they can’t answer that question. They will say, “You don’t understand. My life has no purpose. I can’t find a reason to keep on living like this!” If you keep trying to reason with them, the bipolar conversation starts and no one wins. There are a lot of tips in the above books to stop the conversation once and for all- on both sides!

I hope these are helpful. It’s easy to get caught unaware by triggers and think, “Oh, I can do this. It will be fine!” and we are then blindsided by a mood swing once again. Managing this illness never ends. We can get a lot better at it, but we have to be vigilant all of the time! Not fair, but true. And if you care about someone with bipolar disorder, read all that you can and take care of yourself first. Then you’ll have the skill and the energy to help the other person.

Good luck!

Julie

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 1 comment • flag

Published on May 30, 2012 15:08

Bipolar Hypomania vs. Full Blown Bipolar Mania

That sounds like a boxing match. People who have full blown mania have Bipolar I. People who have hypomania have Bipolar II. It’s extremely important that you know what diagnosis you have.

I have quite a few friends with bipolar I. All of them have been in the hospital because of psychotic mania. If you have been hospitalized or you know someone who has been hospitalized for mania- they have Bipolar I.

I have Bipolar II. This means that I have all of the same depression symptoms as Bipolar I, but my mania is milder- which is why it’s called hypomania. Hypomania is so sneaky- it can destroy your life just like full blown mania- but because it’s milder it’s usually seen as a lack of personal control and is often not diagnosed.

Do you have full blown mania or hypomania? I talk about this in all of my books. It’s important to know the difference.

Julie

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on May 28, 2012 23:24

Memorial Day: A Thank You to the Armed Forces from a Career Navy Brat

My dad was in submarines my entire childhood and into my adulthood. I had Thanksgiving on subs, watched movies on subs (unfortunately one was Jaws and I was traumatized for life!) and still remember walking down the sub’s narrow halls with all of the pipes and steam like noises.

Interestingly, my family was not political. It was the cold war- fathers didn’t come home and chat about Russia around the dinner table. I wish we had- but it just wasn’t like that in the 70s. My dad was too young for Korea and Vietnam and too old for Afghanistan. He is proud of his service. I am proud of him.

Today is Memorial Day- it’s about the people and not about the countries. We all have different political views- but I am sure we agree that the men and women of the armed forces make the world a safer place.

Thanks from a Navy Brat! Julie

A pic of my dad and my nephew David. I once asked my dad, “What was it like to be under the water for months at a time?” He said, “I loved it!”

Related posts:
Bipolar and Political Stress

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on May 28, 2012 14:17

The High Jacked House. A must read article for parents of children with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder changes a child’s behavior and

this changes your entire family.

Parents often take in an adult child with bipolar disorder and provide a safe environment but the child is not always cooperative. Chaos can be the result. If you are in this situation The High Jacked House article is for you. Simply click on the link below. It will pop up a PDF file that you can then save to your computer. Feel free to use this article to educate anyone in the family as well as health care professionals. I’ve learned a lot during my years as a family coach. This article reflects the patterns I see in many households. I know you will find it interesting!

Julie

The High Jacked House by Julie A. Fast

View more on Julie A. Fast's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on May 27, 2012 21:59