Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 76

Get it Done When You’re Depressed…. in the car

Get it Done When You’re Depressed

I had an idea today- and I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. I’m going to put a copy of Get it Done When You’re Depressed on the passenger seat of my car= so that when I’m driving around and can’t FOCUS or GET TO WORK or MAKE A DECISION I can just look at the table of contents and know what to do. Yes, I wrote it- but I still have to use it daily.

I hate not being able to easily settle down. I feel so guilty and unhappy when I don’t get my work done.

Julie

GTD: A great car companion.

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Published on May 10, 2012 09:13

Does your partner have bipolar disorder?

Upcoming event: Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Group Coaching Call for Partners of People with Bipolar Disorder

“When I went into this relationship there were two people, now bipolar disorder makes it feel like there are three.”

Sound familiar?

Whether your relationship is doing well and you need more bipolar disorder tips or your relationship is currently controlled by the ups and downs of the illness, these group coaching calls will show you how to improve your relationship forever.

About the calls: There are two calls in the series. The first focuses on the problems, challenges and questions you, as a partner may have about bipolar disorder. The second call is 100% focused on strategies you can use to create a loving and stable relationship. These calls change lives.

You don’t have the illness, but it affects you just the same. I know this as I lived through a partner’s hospitalization and diagnosis of the illness. I remember thinking. What about me? Where is the help for me?

Registration information for the upcoming calls will be sent through the newsletter and put on the blog in the next few days. If you would like to pre-register, please send an email to bp @ speakeasy.net for more information.

PS: The last two coaching calls sold out. This call will have 25 spaces for partners only.

Julie

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Published on May 06, 2012 21:30

Bipolar Disorder: True or False

True or false?

It’s estimated that 4-6 % of the US population has bipolar disorder.

……………………..

It’s true! Old statistics basically used Bipolar I as a criterion for the 1-2% estimate of people with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is now seen as a spectrum all the way from cyclothymia (a mild form of bipolar disorder), to bipolar II (bipolar disorder with hypomania) and finally Bipolar I- with full blown mania.

I’ve always known that the 1-2% numbers were way too low just from my own experiences. Everywhere I go, someone knows someone with bipolar disorder.

Now you know why the numbers are so different depending on what you read. I think that the more realistic 4-6 % will be used a lot more in the future.

Julie

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Published on May 06, 2012 01:34

Bipolar Happens! is on the Kindle. Practically for Free!

Bipolar Happens! is on the Kindle.

Practically for Free!

My book Bipolar Happens! 35 Tips and Tricks to Manage Bipolar Disorder started my writing career. The Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder was ready and I used it every day, but it wasn’t yet in book form.

It had always been my dream to write a book. I said to myself, “What would I want to read if I were just diagnosed with bipolar disorder? What would my mother want to read?”

The immediate answer was STORIES!

Bipolar Happens! is a book of stories. They are not traditional- few books tell stories about anxiety, animal hallucinations, euphoric mania and suicide, but I knew they would be interesting to anyone affected by bipolar disorder.

I’ve sold the paperback copy of Bipolar Happens! off the bipolarhappens.com website for over 10 years. It has been extremely popular and many say it is their favorite of my books. Many parents have told me they loved the book because for the first time they were able to see and feel what their child experiences.

This is why I want the book to be readily available to everyone.

My goal was to put the book on the Kindle for free- as a bonus for all of my readers. Then… I found out you can’t put free items on the Kindle, so… it’s $ .99

Can’t beat that!

Click here to read more about Bipolar Happens! on amazon.com

I know you will love Bipolar Happens! We are not in this alone. Stories link us together.

Julie

**

PS: You do not have to own a Kindle to read a Kindle book. The Kindle application downloads to all smart phones and tablets. It’s important to note that teens and others who are not fond of saying they have bipolar are very open to privately reading my books on phones and tablet.

Happy Reading!

PS: If you’re new to my work, this is a great way to experience my writing style and the quality of my information. If you like it, you can come back for more! The hard copy of Bipolar Happens! is still a part of the Health Cards Treatment System Package.

Julie, I am so glad you have made this terrific book available for such a great price. I have had it for years and it has really made a difference for me. I wrote a review on the Amazon page. Lyn

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Published on May 05, 2012 09:58

Bipolar Disorder Medications: Mood stabilizers Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal

What is a mood stabilizer?

The only ‘true’ mood stabilizer is lithium. The other three Depakote, Tegretol and Lamictal are called mood stabilizers- though they were not originally created for bipolar disorder. Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol are usually used as anti mania drugs. Lamictal works especially well for depression, psychosis and rapid cycling. I happen to be on Lithium for depression. So it can be used for both mood swings.

If you are familiar with my work, you know how I feel about Lamictal. It changed my life.

I respect my drugs- I struggle- but I respect.

Are you on a mood stabilizer?

Julie

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Published on May 04, 2012 06:29

Looking back on 2007 MHA journalism award for BP Magazine column

Time Goes So Fast. I remember when I won this. It was one of the first times I’d flown in years. Meeting everyone was fun- I did deal with the inevitable anxiety- but I reminded myself that I didn’t have to go to every event. That helped. I remember being stressed in the airport. Now airports give me no trouble at all. Progress.

It’s easy to think that you have done your best work when you were younger and see an accomplishment in 2007 as something that won’t happen again. That is what depression wants you to believe. One minute it’s 2007 and then it’s 2012. I ask myself- what have I done in between? How would you answer that? Have I done enough?

We can do ANYTHING at ANY AGE. What happened in the past can be awesome or awful- but what matters is what you do now. (That was a pep talk to myself.)

People can have huge accomplishements, but if they are not happy, it means nothing. Others can have less dramatic lives and be very happy.

Julie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2007

bp (bipolar) Magazine’s Julie Fast receives Mental Health America Media Award for her column on living with bipolar disorder

BUFFALO, NY, August 7, 2007 — bp Magazine contributing editor, Julie Fast, was honored by MHA (Mental Health America) for her magazine columns about living with bipolar disorder. Her award was announced at the annual Media Awards Luncheon held in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the organization’s annual June meeting.

Her award was for “Personal Mental Health Columns” and Fast was one of 15 national journalists named by MHA from media as diverse as CNN TV, Glamour magazine, and National Public Radio.

Being the recipient of this national award for writing excellence means more than just recognition of her journalistic skills, she noted.

“The MHA Award is very exciting,” Fast says. “I never thought I would be able to work as a writer or have a career because of the challenges of having bipolar disorder.

“For me, the award is validation and proof that in spite of my illness, I can write–even when I am sick–and I can even be recognized for it.”

“Julie has been an integral part of the bp team from the start,” says Joanne Doan, publisher, commenting on Fast’s MHA Award. “Julie’s personal reflections and advice about living with bipolar disorder have enriched every issue of bp Magazine. The work of writers such as Julie help our readers cope better with the challenges of bipolar disorder, just as she does.”

Writing personal advice to the magazine’s audience is important to her personally, says Fast. “I know that what I write for bp reaches people who have the disorder, and their caretakers, and their health-care professionals too. It’s a pretty rare phenomenon for a writer to be able to reach an audience so diverse and all with a connection to bipolar disorder,” she says. “Even though I am considered an ‘expert’ on bipolar disorder, I learn something new myself from every issue of bp.”

In addition to her regular quarterly columns for bp Magazine (www.bphope.com), the Portland, Oregon resident is the author (or co-author) of six books including Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder. A new book, Getting Things Done When You’re Depressed, is scheduled for publication by Penguin Books in January, 2008.

(Wow- Get it Done When You’re Depressed wasn’t even done yet!)

About bp Magazine:

bp Magazine, the healthy living publication launched in the fall of 2004, offers a message of hope and harmony to people living with bipolar disorder. Bp, and it’s sister magazine bp Canada, have a total circulation of 70,000. The quarterly publication includes up-to-date news and research; features about major issues of interest to persons with bipolar disorder; interviews with celebrities; profiles about coping with the disorder; family stories; nutrition and body wellness; and other in-depth articles offering information, education, and hope about bipolar issues. The online companions, www.bphope.com, and www.bipolarbuzz.com offer additional resources for the bipolar community.

bp Magazine’s top advertisers consist of Platinum sponsor Pfizer Inc. and Gold sponsors Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. National mental health association advertisers include the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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Published on May 02, 2012 13:36

Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

The term rapid cycling can be very confusing. I recently asked my co-author Dr. John Preston for a clear explanation:

Rapid cycling is at least four discrete episodes during a 12 month period (these can be mania, hypomania, or depression). The term ultra-rapid cycling is not precisely defined but many refer to this as having possibly monthly cycles (e.g. 12 per year)….untradian cycling is where there are not really discrete manic or depressive episodes, but the person is extremely emotionally labile, with chaotic and intense mood changes that occur every day or several times during a day. One way to describe it is that they experience intense emotional instability….some mood shifts are in response to stressful events (e.g. an argument with a friend), but some are unprovoked (seem to come out of the blue and not associated with a specific trigger)

** Thanks John.

Do you have rapid cycling? If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor. This is important information as it can affect the drugs you take and how you deal with triggers. My book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder talks about the different types of bipolar disorder diagnoses and how they relate to rapid cycling. I have ultradian rapid cycling, which is why I have to be so very careful with triggers. I do have very distinct depression and mania episodes. This shows you how the terms can describe part of your diagnosis, but not see the whole picture. Ultradian is a new term that isn’t used much. The term ultra-rapid cycling is more common. It’s very important that you know if you have bipolar one or bipolar two and if rapid cycling is part of your diagnosis.

Julie

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Published on May 01, 2012 18:42

I’m finally back on facebook!

Do you know how it is when you get sick and the many things you WANT to do don’t get done? Me too. Facebook is one of those ‘things.’ Now that I am doing so much better, I am using my fan page again. I’d love for you to join me. I have three new posts: Monday Management, Wednesday Wisdom and Friday Facts. I will post regularly. Promise.

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 going to be a bipolar help page- not an I ATE CROISSANTS FOR BREAKFAST page.

Click here to visit the Julie Fast Fan Page.

Julie

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

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Published on April 29, 2012 11:36

Bipolar is the same all over the world

Bipolar is the same all over the world….

Depression rates change from country to country. Bipolar disorder is not so choosy. Statistically, bipolar disorder is an equal opportunity employer. In other words, a person with bipolar disorder in South America is exactly the same as a person with bipolar disorder in North America. Despite this, the way the illness are diagnosed and discussed differs widely from country depending on stigma, mental health awareness and accessible health care. So many people think that bipolar disorder is different depending on what country you live in. It’s not. It’s the same whether you’re from Thailand or Australia, Qatar or Canada. I use those countries specifically because I know people who live there use the Health Cards System to find stability.

It’s estimated that 4-6% of the people in the US have bipolar. I think it’s higher. Julie

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Published on April 28, 2012 16:39

Sinead O’Connor cancels 2012 tour due to bipolar disorder, says she is ‘very unwell’

Sinead O’Connor, the Irish singer of Nothing Compares to U, just announced that she is cancelling her latest tour due to her bipolar disorder. I admire her so very much. I remember when she told the world that she has the illness. It definitely explained her behavior in the 80s. (Tearing up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live, etc.)

We are the same age and have done many of the same dumb things- of course they are not dumb, just bipolar. Last year she was married for 16 days and then got divorced. It sounds like Sinead was pretty manic.

Many of us have been there.

I married my first husband Dan after spending a month together. I moved in with my ex Ivan after knowing him for a week.

Here is the first paragraph of a Washington Post article on her announcement:

NEW YORK — Sinead O’Connor says she is canceling her 2012 tour due to her bipolar disorder.

The singer made the announcement Monday in a posting on her website. She wrote that she is “very unwell” and had been advised by her doctor to not hit the road after her “very serious breakdown between December and March.”

Oh Sinead, so admirable! If only all of those in the public eye could be as forthcomig- I know it’s not possible, but we can wish! I don’t think anyone will judge her for having bipolar and I don’t think people will stop going to her concerts. What do you think?

I once had to quit a book project because I was so sick. My letter to my editor sounded just like her announcement.

Bipolar disorder is an illness. It affects us all in the same way- famous or not famous.

Julie

PS: The picture is of Sinead in the 80s.

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Published on April 23, 2012 19:57