Julie A. Fast's Blog, page 86

"Bipolar Happens" is a Kindle Best Seller!

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 site.  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

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 [ Read More ]


Related posts:Bipolar Happens! Kindle Testers Needed. Enter the Contest!
Julie's Bipolar Disorder Books Available on the Kindle
Bipolar Family and Partner Coaching

How do I talk to my boyfriend about his Lamictal dose?

I often get questions on how to talk a person with bipolar disorder about their medications.   Here is a question from Cheryl.  I use a tecnhnique I use called 'scripts' with all of my coaching clients. I explain a bit about scripts in my answer.

Hi Julie,

My boyfriend just started taking Lamcital about a year ago and his doctor only has him on 40 mg and it's just not enough. After almost 20 years of refusing to take meds this is progress for sure, but both he and his doctor are being so very conservative I'm still waiting for the miracle to kick in. Don't get me wrong, even at 40 mg it's helped, but there is still irritably, cycling, sleeplessness, etc. His mom is at 400 mg so at least in theory he should be able to tolerate a higher dosage. How does one call attention to this issue without seeming to do [ Read More ]


Related posts:I missed a dose of my Lamictal… again!
Reader comment: Medication side effects: Lamictal
Reader Question on Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

Special Announcement: Group Coaching Calls for Parents of Children with Bipolar Disorder

"My child is the one with bipolar disorder- but the illness has taken over all of our lives."

The Bipolar Disorder 101 coaching call was a great success with over 100 people.   My next series of calls is specifically for parents of teenagers and adult children with bipolar disorder.

If you are a parent of a child with bipolar disorder, these calls are for you.

About the calls:   Over my many years of coaching,  I've noticed three detrimental behavior patterns experienced by many families.  In these calls,  I will explain and help you recognize these possible patterns in your own relationship with your child and then offer concrete and proven strategies that will help you change these patterns forever. 

This results in less stress for you,  so that you can truly help your child and family find stability.  This information is exclusive to these calls and is not found in any of my books.

I hope you can join me [ Read More ]


Related posts:Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change
Information on Julie's books and coaching for parents and family members
Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You!

How to Stop Worrying Forever.. a blog from Zeke Camusio

How about that for a title.  My friend Zeke Camusio is an entrepreneur who has had a lot of business success. He is also interested in the psychology side of business.  He wrote a blog post called How to Stop Worrying Forever. I like the concept. Here is the beginning of the blog and then a link for the rest. How can we apply this to bipolar disorder worry? It's a good question.

Tuesday, November 01st, 2011 | Author:  Zeke Camusio

I think we can all agree that worrying sucks. It's a waste of energy, because nothing gets fixed by just worrying about it. We worry because we feel that by worrying we are in control of situations, but we all know that this is just an illusion.

I used to be a chronic worrier and for the last couple of years I've been experimenting different techniques [ Read More ]


Related posts:Bipolar Disorder and Sleep: Mania vs. Insomnia
Bipolar Disorder and Work
BP Magazine Blog: Why Can't I Take Anti Depressants or ADHD Meds if I Have Bipolar Disorder?

Group Coaching Calls for Parents: Save the Dates!

Welcome to the blog for  Julie A. Fast,   bipolar disorder management specialist,  coach and a person with the  illness.  This blog is for anyone affected by bipolar disorder.  I think you will find a lot of good information as you browse the site.  If you're a regular reader,  your support is appreciated!

I have started a coaching series of calls for different groups affected by bipolar disorder.

My next coaching session is for parents of teenage and adult children with bipolar disorder. 

I'm very excited about these calls. There are two in the parenting series.

The Dates:                Thursday, November 10th at 5:30 PST

                           Thursday November 17th at 5:30 PST

This series of calls addresses the three main questions my clients have when we work one on one. I will post the details later today- I wanted to make sure the dates could get on your date book in advance.

No matter what you and [ Read More ]


Related posts:Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You!
Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change
Information on Julie's books and coaching for parents and family members

Group Coaching Calls for Parents: The news is coming soon!

Thank you  for all of the inquiries. I know that the calls were scheduled for October,  but after weeks of shopping cart issues,  we have moved the dates to November.  The notice of the times and content will be sent out soon.

Check back on the blog and make sure you are on the mailing list!  Julie

Related posts:Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You! Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change Information on Julie's books and coaching for parents and family members

Related posts:Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You!
Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change
Information on Julie's books and coaching for parents and family members

Group Coaching Calls for Parents: the news is coming soon!

Thank for all of the inquiries. I know that the calls were scheduled for October,  but after weeks of shopping cart issues,  we have moved the dates to November.  The notice of the times and content will go out today.

Check back on the blog and make sure you are on the mailing list!  Julie

Related posts:Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You! Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change Information on Julie's books and coaching for parents and family members

Related posts:Bipolar 101 Group Coaching Call Thank You!
Pt 1. Tips for Parents of Adult Children with Bipolar Disorder: Three Patterns to Recognize and Change
Information on Julie's books and coaching for parents and family members

Can I Use Marijuana and Alcohol to Calm Down?

Here are the facts.

Pot and alcohol seem to help bipolar disorder symptoms for some people. They can be perceived as calming and harmless, but there is one significant way that pot and alcohol negatively impact bipolar disorder: they affect deep sleep. As you have probably figured out on your own, structured sleep is essential for mood management. Pot and alcohol may put you to sleep to the point of passing out, but it's not deep sleep. Anyone who uses these substances in this way knows that no amount of pot or alcohol can actually end or even greatly improve bipolar disorder symptoms. Alcohol is ultimately a depressant and pot can numb a person out to a point that they cannot participate fully in life. In a perfect world, simply stopping alcohol and drugs is of course the optimum way to help manage bipolar disorder. There are also the relationship and work problems [ Read More ]


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Reader Question: Help with bipolar medication costs

Here is a question from Jasmin:

Julie,

I have no insurance and BP meds are very expensive,  is the medication assistance for a single woman with BP disorder. I know I don't qualify for medicaid benefits and so often I go without meds because of the price. Does anyone know where I can recieve assistance?

Jasmin

I know readers out there have many suggestions,  please send them in for Jasmine and I will post them ASAP.

Here are two tips: 

1.  All of the drug companies have some form of assistance- from coupons to discounts. Go to the maker of your meds and look for the assistance program.

2.  Generic meds are VERY cheap. If you can tolerate them- in other words, if they work for you- check out the Walmart pharmacy program. Some generics,  such as Lamotrigine (the generic for Lamictal) can be as little as $7 a month.

I [ Read More ]


Related posts:Reader comment: Medication side effects: Lamictal
GlaxoSmithKline prescription assistance programs…
Reader Question on Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

Trust Me. I'm Dr. Ozzy!

 

I loved Trust Me,  I'm, Doctor Ozzy.  I have to give a warning- the language is pretty bad! Imagine as many F#$% this and F%$# that as posisble and you won't be shocked.

What I find amazing about the book is the drug and alcohol chapter.  Readers ask Ozzy all kinds of questions about any drug you can think of as well as what happened to him when he was a raging drunk and massive addict.

 His answers are so honest- and very funny.

If you or someone you care about has a drug and or alcohol problem- along with bipolar- this is the perfect book to smack you in the face and wake you up as to what drugs and alcohol do to people with bipolar disorder. 

 He also answers some questions about what I call the new,  psychotic pot.

I'm telling [ Read More ]


Related posts:Sleepy vs. Side Effect Drugged Sleepy
Alcohol and Drugs
Julie Fast Family and Partner Questions