There is a type of depression where nothing satisfies, nothing tastes good, nothing pleases and human contact is too much work. It’s a brutal, mind numbing mood swing and I want us to plan ahead for this type of depression so that it no longer takes over our lives. Depression has many forms. Some depressive episodes are weepy and sad. Others are irritated and agitated. Did you know there is also a type of depression that takes away your ability to feel pleasure or move your body? I call this Catatonic Anhedonia Depression and it’s a beast.   This is the depressi ..read more

We can start this year and create a holiday plan that serves us for years to come. Let’s focus on what we need and how we want to feel during every holiday season. It’s possible to have stable and joyful holidays when you have bipolar disorder. (This plan works for family members and partners as well. You simply become the observer and come up with a plan that works for you.)  What do you want to happen this holiday season? Do you need less hustle and bustle or more contact with people? Now is a good time to look back on past holidays and think ahead to the next few weeks ..read more

If I buy into the idea that bipolar disorder is easy to treat and one day I’m going to magically be better, I will be upset every time I get sick. I have to accept my bipolar reality.   What My Bipolar Reality Looks Like I’ve had mood swings while sleeping.  I can tell that my eyes are closed and that I’m dreaming, but the symptoms of the day are still present even though my brain has supposedly gone into a different state. I’ve experienced panic attacks during a nap and have been so depressed I’ve rolled in a ball, promising the people around me that I would NOT ..read more

Bipolar took everything from me before I was diagnosed. I left everyone and everything during my out of control mood swings. I didn’t care that I hurt people… simply because I was too sick to think of other people! When I was manic, I had no empathy. When I was depressed, I was so focused on my own pain, I couldn’t think clearly. Bipolar is not psychological. It’s chemical. You can’t talk yourself out of something you don’t recognize. You have to learn how to manage this illness. When bipolar is in control, you WILL crave change. It will feel good to leave everything and everyone. You will hu ..read more

I’m often asked how we can tell the difference between bipolar disorder and the typical ups and downs of everyday life. One of the best ways to figure this out is to remember that bipolar is unexpected. It is not… and I must emphasize this…. bipolar is NOT a reaction that makes sense. Bipolar behavior is off kilter. Too loud. Too quiet. Too weird. Too difficult. Too open. Too closed. It is excessive. Bipolar mood swings don’t match the mood of the room. They don’t match the mood of the event that they are reacting to. They don’t match how regular people behave. And for the majority of the tim ..read more

Where is our common sense in this situation? Who is going to protect Britney Spears from bipolar? The ignorance I see in the free Britney movement is staggering. She is getting more and more ill every day. Who is going to free her from the reality of bipolar? No one. Bipolar is a biological illness that doesn’t care about money or fame. It is dangerous and extremely reactive to stress. She is ill. Freedom is only sweet if you are well enough to enjoy it. I don’t have all of the answers, but I certainly know bipolar. The lack of insight when a person is ill accounts for her Instagram posts. She ..read more

Julie A. Fast is the author of Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner.  She runs a group for partners on Facebook called The Stable Bed. The post below is an example of posts on The Stable Bed.    Hello dear reader! I am still on my self imposed break for a few weeks from daily social media and writing. This is an essential part of my bipolar management plan.   I don’t like it! I feel ridiculous to need breaks just because something normal is happening in my life such as an upcoming move. My goal on The Stable Bed is to show you ..read more

When I’m in an abandonment downswing, I think, “I am a worthless ant, a speck of dirt on this huge revolving planet. I’m completely alone!” The idea that I’m the last person on earth and no one loves me is a typical depression symptom. It’s not personal, and it’s not true. It’s a sign that I’m depressed. Three signs of abandonment depression You do have people who want to help, but you ignore their words and actions. You feel like even pets don’t want your company. The abandonment feeling encompasses home, work, and the world in general. You feel that EVERYONE and EVERYTHING is leaving you ..read more

Friendships can be very difficult for people with bipolar. My article from Bp Magazine can help you understand why… and how you can help yourself or a person with bipolar navigate friendships that cause mood swings…. Bipolar Disorder & the End of Friendships Bipolar can damage, even ruin, a friendship. If it ends badly, both people are hurt—and I might experience a mood episode. So, I discuss this freely with others and acknowledge my imperfections. Romance Fades, But Friendship Is Forever? I’ve noticed that, in general, our attitude about and understanding of romantic relationships is qu ..read more

Julie A. Fast is the author of  Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner. Loving was the first book written for the partner of a person with mental health concerns and is now in its second printing,  It teaches partners all over the world how to love someone with bipolar disorder while also getting their personal needs met in the relationship.  Dual Feelings in Bipolar Disorder Relationships Can be Confusing… but they can also be understood and managed….  It’s possible to love someone and be upset with someone. It’s possible to love ..read more