Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 80

Bipolar Happens! is a Kindle bestseller!

Bipolar Happens: 35 Tips and Tricks to Manage Bipolar Disorder is a top ten book on the Kindle!

That's exciting. I went to the Kindle store to see how Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder were doing on the bipolar disorder page. These books are in the top ten ranking- and then I saw that Bipolar Happens! is up there as well.

Fantastic! Bipolar Happens! is an enjoyable book about a serious topic.

Guess what- it's only $.99 I want it to be available to everyone.

Yes, I think this is a great deal and a good way to get helpful information about bipolar disorder at minimum cost. Bipolar Happens! was my first book. I knew I wanted to talk about how I manage the illness, but I also wanted to tell stories about how it affects my life daily.

There are stories about anger, manic spending, anxiety at a baseball game and what it feels like to be psychotic! It's a book that family members love too. I love it myself. It's hopeful.

Click here to go to amazon.com. You can read part of the book and then add it to your Kindle. Wow, $.99!

Julie

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!

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Published on March 21, 2012 12:44

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

I wonder what it would be like if everyone in the world worked at being healthy, wealthy and wise! I know what it would look like for me.

Healthy: Lose weight slowly and keep it off forever! Stop chewing ice! Work on my posture- ( as I wrote this I noticed I was totally bent over my computer!) Avoid situations that cause mood swings. Get plenty of sleep. (As I reread this I noticed I was bent over my computer!)

Wealthy: Stop behaviors that create debt. Use cash. Think before I spend. Remember that there is PLENTY of money in the world. Help others. Save my money for a rainy day. Never let the government affect my money situation. Read wealth creating books.

Wise: Listen as much as I talk! Admit that I'm human when I'm cruel, mean or petty. Remind myself that 'it's an illness!" Lose weight, use cash, stop chewing ice. Say, "I'm sorry" and mean it.

What a great exercise. This comes from the rhyme:

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Makes a Person Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.

I would add that a relentlessly positive attitude helps in all of these areas. I've certainly experienced a lot of setbacks in all of them due to this illness. That is really the main challenge. I'd be interested to see your healthy, wealthy and wise list!

Julie

PS: Here is what I think when I read this. HAHAHAHAHA! Well, I stopped chewing ice a long time ago. That is a good thing. I do work on everything else.

PSS: I know it's hard to tell, but that is not me in the picture.

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Published on March 20, 2012 16:35

Funny

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Published on March 19, 2012 09:54

Bipolar Disorder and Work

I had many jobs when I was younger, but never a career that I liked. I was an ESL teacher by accident for many years. I then couldn't work because I was too sick. This was from my diagnosis in 1995 until I created my Health Cards Treatment Plan in 1998.

I remember doing temp jobs and being terrifically miserable. I was way too educated to be stuffing envelopes- and yet I was way too sick to work at a regular job. I would go in as a receptionist and be offered a higher up job by the next week. I could never take it. I wasn't well enough. This was a long time ago!

Then I created the Health Cards and got my life back.. It took years of learning and practice before I was able to work as much as I work now! It's a lot of sacrifice. No late nights- limited world travel- no relationship problems- on and on. Now i support myself. I can't work as much as I would like. A job where people work together and stay late at the office actually sounds appealing to me!

Crazy I know.

Now I do what I can. My favorite work is my coaching and then writing. I like speaking too!

You can work- your hours may be limited and the work you do may not be as glamorous as you wish, but the right work can help you feel better.If you want to work and are not quite well enough- the Health Cards can change your life. I'm not a heavy duty sales person, but I believe in The Health Cards so much I want everyone to experience their magic.

Julie

Click here to read more about the Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder. They really are the reason I can work at all!

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Published on March 19, 2012 03:09

I think a lot about the people who read this blog

I think a lot about the people who read this blog.

- Do you have bipolar?

- Are you looking for help for someone who does?

- Are you suicidal?

- Did you just get out of the hospital?

- Did you do something when you were manic that your feel really ashamed about now?

I've been able to answer yes to all of the above many times in my life. I want to remind people that is does get better. It just takes longer for some of us.

Life comes back. Friends are made and life can be good. Never forget. It's an illness and an illness can be treated.

Julie

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Published on March 16, 2012 20:06

Bipolar Disorder Medications and Weight Gain

I gained weight recently when I started on Lithium because my dose was too high. I basically became an eating machine! I've been through this so many times. I'm mad at myself because once the extra lithium was out of my system, I kept eating. This happened to me with Seroquel as well. (Seroquel is an anti psychotic- lithium is a mood stabilizer.) I know people who have been on lithium and have not gained a pound! It's the same with Seroquel- I know a guy who has been on it for ages. No weight gain! It's depressing

I will just have to have some more chips and salsa to feel better.;)

I know that I could have stopped the eating. I didn't. So now I have more weight to lose. Doesn't it feel like a never ending cycle! I remind myself that it took me many years to really manage this illness- this means there is hope! I can manage this weight problem.

Darn it! We already have rotten mood swings. It's just unfair that we have to worry about our weight as well!

I'm doing something about it!

I will keep you posted.

Julie

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Published on March 15, 2012 04:07

A Reader Asks for Help. Do You Have Advice?

Julie,

I know this isn't the topic but I need help. I've been blindsided by a devastating depression. I saw my pdoc today and he suggested the hospital. I can't let my family know how bad I feel because I have committed to my daughter to babysit her five month old now that she is back at work. If I don't keep up my end of the deal she will be screwed. I was so sure I wouldn't get here again and I fell humiliated that this has happened. I feel so alone. Is there anyone out there?

Gail

Hi Gail,

Here is my advice- go to the hospital. Your daughter wants a mother who is alive. If your doctor had discovered possible breast cancer, you would go to the hospital. If you had pneumonia, you would go to the hospital. Depression is an illness- it's not a weakness. It's a brain problem.

There are others who can take care of your grandchild. When you get help for your ILLNESS, you can then be a great babysitter for your grandchild.

I walk my talk. I got ECT in 2010 because of severe depression. I was in the hospital a lot. Every person in my life knew about it and now one judged. I am sure you are loved- you are needed. Pride has to be put to the side when the depression gets this bad.

Please get the help your doctor suggests. Then you can write me a letter and tell me how much better you feel.

Here is a script you can say to your daughter:

My depression is back. I've tried to manage it on my own and I've tried to manage it with my doctor. It's an illness and it's too strong for me right now to take care of at home. I'm going into the hosptial for a few days to get some help. I know that I would do the same if I had a physical illness such as cancer. I've been talking myself out of this becuase I am so committed to taking care of your child- it means so much to me. But being a whole prson with a calm mind is my goal. Then I can really be the grandmother I want to be.

Let's work together on a plan for when I am gone. Your love and help get me through this. Thank you.

**

I call these scripts because you say them exactly. They help you state your case when it's hard to talk. Your daughter will understand.

You can do it Gail.

Julie

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Published on March 13, 2012 15:16

A Reader Plays the Fiddle and Manages Bipolar Disorder Too!

I recently received an email from a woman who plays the fiddle! This is a long exchange, but I think the information is interesting, informative and encouraging!

Here is her note:

Hi Julie,

In a week I am teaching at a fiddle camp and have been struggling to get well for quite awhile (too much fiddling this past year!). I am starting to feel more balanced and want to maintain that wellness during the week of instructing and ensure I don't 'crash' after the weekend. (No late late night 'jamming' for me :-) – It's difficult when that is a part of the culture- and I know you already know all of this – just sharing. I am also thankful for your material – I am working through the Health Cards already.

When I read your story and about your singing (karaoke),(in fact everything you shared), I could relate very well. I just finished judging a fiddle competition last weekend and was concerned about the job because judging competitions is very intense and they are late each night (averaging about 5 hours of sleep per night). There is a lot of work involved in staying well in those situations.

Last year I averaged about 4 hours of sleep per night at the fiddle camp and didn't fare so well afterwards. In fact, the past year hasn't been a good one because of the judging jobs, camps, workshops, private lessons, and performances (all outside of my day job).

I have had to stop and remind myself that I am bipolar and need to live according to a wellness plan – hence the health cards. I already have the books "Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder" and "Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder". The books are great! The Health Card system; exactly what I needed in the practical sense.

Below is just a sharing of the bigger picture if you want to know it:

For about 10 years I had stopped everything related to my music due to medications and life complications. Now that I am back, demands have been hard to balance. I am now taking baby steps(can't emphasize the baby steps part enough) in order to do 'double checks'. For example, I have a waiting list of people who want lessons. I want to teach them and do have room in my schedule if I want to get sick again :-) . Saying no isn't easy especially when it is your passion, a life work,.. When I read about you saying no to certain things, it encouraged me to re-evaluate my situation and acknowledge that I needed to say no as well. There is grieving in the 'letting go' but when everything is said and done, our giving is complete when we can give fully by keeping within our 'plan'. Giving becomes fractured when stepping outside the realm of wellness.

Julie, I have camp coming up, another judging job, a trip to Washington, and more obligations but I feel equipped to manage myself in order to stay well now. It feels like quite a project but the alternative of constantly 'putting out fires' has burned me out too many times.

I am finding that being vigilant is the key and the more knowledge I have, the better I can be at making the right decision – regardless of what others say or think.

What I have shared with you is the bigger picture and if there is anything you can use that would benefit someone, please do.

I haven't been public about being bipolar although I do think about it a lot.

Karen

**

I just love this letter because it shows how a trigger- staying up late jamming with your friends – can make you sick and yet it's a part of the world you want to be a part of! But you can absolutely modify what you do without having to stop what you love. I still do karaoke- I just make sure I'm home by midnight so that I don't turn into a singing pumpkin.

We all have to make sacrifices when we have bipolar. If you care about someone with bipolar disorder, it may be hard on you that we can't do the things you want us to- and we probably ruin your fun a lot- but there can be a balance! Teaching fiddling instead of staying out late playing is probably not Karen's first choice, but she's doing all she can to stay well. I admire that!

Karen may be a fiddle teacher, but she is a bipolar disorder expert as well. I learned a lot from her letter.

Julie

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Published on March 13, 2012 02:45

Lithium Ups and Downs

I started lithium a few months ago. It has been over fifteen years since

I last tried the drug, so this was a big decision.

My bipolar (the bipolar- what do you call your bipolar?) has steadily gotten worse over the past five years. It's a downward curve that I constantly try to straighten. Thus the lithium. I started out with a typical dose and waited and waited and when that didn't work, I went up to a higher dose. Within a week, I felt like I was living life under water. All I wanted to do was eat (a lot), watch European soccer and get into bed. It was truly awful. I stopped working on creative projects and had trouble focusing.

Interestingly, I was still very able to do the coaching I love, meet my work deadlines and hang out with friends- but everything else was a fog.

One day I thought- oh no! It's the lithium! Pretty dumb that it took me that long. So I went back down to the original dosage and the underwater feeling is gone. I am still on lithium. It helps with the big down swings. I need it, but it's always a trade off between medications and side effects. How are your meds? Or the meds of the person you care about? IS THE DOSE CORRECT?

Julie

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Published on March 09, 2012 14:10

Do you take bipolar disorder sick days? I do!

I have NEVER in the ten years since I started writing professionally finished a project without experiencing significant bipolar disorder symptoms when it was over.

It's unfair! How can bipolar show up after something good is accomplished!

It's just the nature of the illness. Stress can be joyful or negative and bipolar doesn't care. Stress is a trigger either way.

One solution is to expect the inevitable and plan ahead. I give myself a few sick days after I finish a big project. True sick days where I respect the bipolar and take care of myself. I have to plan fun things to do on these sick days. I have to tell my friends and family what to expect and then I have to EASE UP on myself and let myself get back to my baseline.

I need movies and karaoke and places to go when I'm crying and unhappy.

When you have bipolar disorder or care about someone with the illness, be ready for a mood swing after a big event ends. Any kind of event. It helps to talk about this ahead of time and be prepared. My Health Cards (my treatment system) are waiting for these times. I know what to do now.

I promise myself to prepare for the inevitable after my next project and praise myself that I WILL work again no matter what my brain is saying. That I CAN get things done. I remind myself that depression lies.

I hope this helps you as well- I don't want you to accomplish great things and then have bipolar take them away. I want you to be in charge.

Julie

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Published on March 09, 2012 13:16