Facebook Q&A with Julie Fast today!

Here are the questions I have so far. I will answer for the next few hours.  Please visit my Facebook page at Julie A. Fast to post your live questions. I will be online at 3:30 PM PST for a live chat! Julie

Questions for Julie:

Would you address the impact of caffeine and energy drinks and bipolar?

I have a few crusades in life that are ongoing- one is to warn people with bipolar disorder of the EXTREME dangers of taking steroids including cortisone, prednisone and testosterone- as the steroids have a tendency to cause terrible mood swings even in small amounts. Another one of my crusades is pointing out the dangers of energy drinks for people who have bipolar disorder. Click here to read a newsletter on the topic.  I titled the newsletter- Can Energy Drinks Cause Mania? The answer is an absolute yes, but the reason why might surprise you!

Julie, do you still take Lamictal (lamotrigine)?

As you may know, my medication history is checkered just like most people with bipolar disorder. I’ve never been able to stay on anything long term. The longest and most successful medication I used was Lamictal (lamotrigine). It worked very well for five years and then stopped working. I took a few years off it and am now back on it- slowly dosing myself back to a pretty high dose. I was on 700 mg when I stopped. It’s my absolute favorite medication for Bipolar Disorder Two as it has the least side effects with the most help for mood swings. I find that it works for irritated depression and rapid cycling very well. It helps with mild hypomania and is good for depression. If you don’t like taking meds- and most of us don’t- I find that Lamictal is the most benign. Of course there is the rash… but it’s rare and if your health care professional doses the medication up slowly, the risk is VERY low. Also, there is a non serious rash that comes with Lamictal that can come and go. The bad rash looks like poison ivy and is oozy bumps.  The mild rash tends to be red, small bumps in a small area. I take side effects very seriously, but I get upset if someone won’t use this amazing medication because of fear of the rash. Use it correctly and it the rash can be avoided.

Have you ever smoked pot and do you smoke it now?

I used to smoke pot like Cheech and Chong in the 80s, but I would not  TOUCH the stuff now without knowing the THC level of what I’m smoking. It’s not the same pot as the pot that was around until about ten years ago. This NEW PSYCHOTIC POT has a little problem – it’s a genetically modified THC monster that causes a ridiculous amount of psychosis in people with bipolar disorder. In fact, it can cause so much psychosis that emergency rooms now have to check for pot in the blood before giving a mental health diagnosis. A dear client of mine opened my eyes to this many years ago. I used to see pot and drinking in the same

category. Now I don’t. Not at all.  High levels of THC are dangerous for those of us with bipolar disorder.  We know about the dangers of smoking crack and meth- we now have to add smoking high level THC pot to the list.

Dear readers who love pot, before you get all freaky upset  with me- please note that I’m not an anti pot conservative weirdo who is just saying this because I don’t believe in drugs. That’s not the case. (Come on, I have green hair!) I’m saying this because I have years and years of experience with the situation- if you are going to smoke pot- and you have bipolar disorder- then find a low THC pot so that you can get the mellow benefits you’re looking for and at the same time keep yourself from getting PSYCHOTIC!  My webmaster Emanuel who is a drug safety advocate and expert explained this very well- if it is low THC pot, there is less danger of psychosis. If you grow your own pot and it is not making you psychotic, it means it’s low THC. If you are getting it off the street and you are experiencing high anxiety and psychosis, find some pot that has a lower THC. I personally do not choose to smoke pot as I think it adversely affects my moods. If a person smokes pot and is stable-is able to handle work and relationships and is an all around functional person, then pot is not a problem. But as you can imagine, I mostly see the problems! My biggest advice- if you are not doing well-

if the mood swings are consistent- if you have anxiety and psychosis or can’t seem to find a solid footing in life- smoking pot is not the answer. Managing this illness is the answer- if you want to smoke pot after that it’s up to you! For more information on pot and bipolar disorder, including a great video about the synthetic pot product Spice, click .

What do you mean by the High-jacked House and where can I find the article?  The High-Jacked House is a term I use to describe what happens when an adult child with bipolar disorder moves back home and the illness takes over the house. I’ve coaching parents of children with bipolar disorder for many years, and when an adult child moves back in, it’s so easy for the child and the illness to creep into every crevice of the house- even when the child doesn’t want it to happen!  Click here for the link to the article that explains how parents can recognize and prevent the High-Jacked House.  If you have bipolar, this is a great article to read as it helps those of us with the illness get more insight into how our behavior might affect others!

How’s your day going? Thanks for asking. Today is a VERY abnormal day. I woke up able to work and have worked for the past few hours. It’s usually a daily struggle. I have to use my Get it Done When You’re Depressed techniques all day long, but today it’s like I’m a normal person who likes what she does and just gets on with it. So, I have to take advantage of this. I cancelled a few things so that I could do the Facebook Q&A as I have promised to do it for a long time! No, I’m not manic. Manic is not very focused for me work wise- or, I should say it is hyper focused on one topic- such as outlining a new book! Today I feel regular. Oh, I would pay millions to be like this every day- just  normal person who gets to do her job. But as it’s rare, I’m taking advantage of it.

 

 

 

Hi Julie, I really need someone to talk to. Can we chat later today online?

 

What’s your favorite TV show? I’m obsessed with Vikings. Not a great show if you’re depressed- but incredible if you’re feeling stable! I am going to write my werewolf movie one day- and I want Travis Fimmel to be the lead. I will keep you posted! I also like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, The Mindy Project, So You Think You Can Dance and Modern Family. I mostly watch SOCCER and CYCLING!

 

 

 

Julie, I would like to ask how hard was (and is) it to “come out” so publically about your illness, and how you handle stigma/rejection by people (friends, colleagues, family) if that has happened to you.

I wrote a book on my experiences with bipolar disorder. What tips do you have for marketing the book?

It’s hard to write a book and then market a book when you have bipolar disorder! I find that the writing is easier than the marketing. What I am doing with this Facebook Q&A is an example of how you can use social media to get people interested  in  your work. The most important part of marketing is to show that you are credible in your topic. You can then offer advice and free information for the reader- as I am doing here of course! If they like what you do, they will naturally gravitate towards your books.  Here is the answer I gave to Martin when he asked this question again on Facebook.  From Martin Baker    Julie, I wrote a book on my experiences with bipolar disorder. What tips do you have for marketing the book? — as you know, I am writing a book about my experiences supporting my best friend who lives with bipolar. Any tips/suggestions you might have re querying agents/publishers would be very much appreciated.  Hi Martin- I’ve been in this business a long time. Everything has changed now that we have the Kindle and can publish our own books. I have three books I published myself and three books with big publishing houses. Marketing is the same for all of them. Here are three tips that you can start immediately.  1. Align yourself with successful writers in your field. Help promote their work. Learn about what they do and then ask to be a guest blogger. It’s harder to do this with the super established writers like myself as people ask us to do this all of the time… and yet you did it! You liked my Tweets- passed on my tips. Sent encouraging messages and asked intelligent questions. You were not intrusive and were understanding if I didn’t actually answer your questions in a timely manner- if at all.  I call this hooking your wagon to a star. If you truly care about promoting someone else and your work is in alignment with theirs, they will naturally want to work with you. So, would you like to be a guest blogger on my blog and write about your experiences with your friend and tell everyone about your book? If so, send me a DM and I will get it set up. I do have bipolar as you know- so I work at the speed of sludge sometimes, but it will happen eventually- ask my friend Sherry Joiner  She was just like you when we first met and now years later we are friends and she is with me during this live chat and is answering questions about schizoaffective disorder and her book Sherry Goes Sane on her page. My friend Gayathri Ramprasad is a similar story. She wrote Shadows In the Sun by Gayathri Ramprasad and I do all I can to promote her work! 2. Make sure your book is very well edited as are all of your social media posts. Start a blog and offer good, solid information for friends of those who care about someone with bipolar disorder. Make sure your posts are heavy on the SEO words: friend with bipolar, how do I help my friend with bipolar, my friend has bipolar how can I help? etc. 3. Hire someone to do a super professional cover that will look good as a thumbnail on amazon. You will need this cover as a calling card- you will put it on your cards and any other promotional materials- so get a GREAT cover. This cover is basic-but wow is tells the story and sold a lot of copies!  I’m excited for you to finish your book and look forward to working with you in the future!

Julie, I ordered the Health Cards but can’t find my link to download them again. Where do I go to get the link?

Julie, so you offer your books at discount?

What is the difference between Bipolar Disorder One and Bipolar Disorder Two?

Julie, can we meet and talk about bipolar disorder? I could really use your advice!

What new meds are you on Julie? I had to go off meds for quite awhile due to side effects. I use my Health Cards to manage this illness for the most part- but I need meds for the serious symptoms. I tend to have a lot of suicidal down swings and have dealt with a lot of dysphoric mania over the past few years. I take lithium when the depression is really bad, but the apathy side effects kick my butt- as does the weight gain.  I’m back on Lamictal and hoping it will work for me again. The biggest change is in my sleep meds. I can’t sleep without some kind of sleep medication- this has been going on for the past five years.  I used to have some nights when I could get to sleep on my own without any chemicals- but not anymore. I’ve had full sleep studies that show zero sleep apnea.  I’ve have tried every single natural remedy and suggestion you can imagine. I simply don’t sleep due to my bipolar disorder- and it’s not mania. I am now trying Trazadone with a small dose of melatonin (5mg) , 100 mg of gabapentine ( for sleep, not bipolar), magnesium and my regular Ativan. Ativan works well for me- and no, I’m not addicted, but I am getting way too used to it.  It’s a new regime, so I will see how it goes.  Not sleeping is a true problem for me. I was using Benedryl- but had weight gain because I had to use it every night. Benedryl works really well as a short term fix, but it’s not for daily use! I am open to trying other meds in the next few months if my depression sticks around.

Julie,  where do I get your column from BP Magazine? I love BP Magazine. I’ve been a columnist since the beginning and have watched it grow into the industry standard for mental health journalism! Here’s a link to the website for ordering a subscription- this is the only way to get my column. The amazing BP Magazine blogs are free!  The subscription price is very reasonable. It’s a magazine for ANYONE affected by bipolar disorder.

Do you write books when you are manic?

Julie, do you think Robin Williams had bipolar disorder? 

How do I get your newsletter for parents? I haven’t seen an issue in quite awhile!

Julie I have a friend who’s bipolar who’s working and having very difficult days and is unable to work. Is there a program that she can get into that exempts her when she’s in need of a mental health day?

Where can I get your Linda Formichelli’s Monday Motivation For Writers interview?

My partner is in the hospital and his doctor says it has to do with using Herbalife because of the caffeine.  If you could

warn people out there about  Herbalife, please do. Herbalife has too much caffeine , that contributed a lot on this episode, that’s what the doctor told me. What do you think Julie?

Who are your closest allies when you are cycling into a dangerous or severe episode?

You worked with Claire Danes? What was it like and why don’t you talk about it more?

What is your favorite book you’ve ever written?

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Keep sending in the questions on Facebook and I will keep answering! Julie

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Julie A. Fast Facebook Page Posts!
Julie Fast Family and Partner Questions