Product Description

When a person loves someone with bipolar disorder, life can be very stressful. From medication troubles to a partner's mood swings the demands on a partner can be intense. Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder takes a unique and practical approach to these issues.

Written by an author who has bipolar disorder (and who lived with a partner who also has bipolar disorder) and a coauthor with over ten books on the topic of mental illness, the book offers specific, practical and realistic tips on how a couple can work together as a team to create a treatment plan that teaches them to live with the illness while still maintaining a loving and joyful relationship. (Though this book is written for couples, friends and family members can use the techniques in the book as well.)

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder provides hope and encourages couples to work together to create a plan they can use to help stabilize bipolar disorder so that their relationship can focus on love and companionship instead of the illness. Chapters include ideas on how to create a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates medications and supplements, diet, exercise and behavior and lifestyle changes into one practical approach to this very serious illness. The partner of a person with bipolar disorder learns about communicating with their partner when they're ill, getting real about the situation and how to take on other roles in healing besides caretaking. Other specific topics include work and money, emotions, sexual issues and much more. The goal of the book is to help couples create a relationship that is based on support and prevention instead of constant crisis control.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2961 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Amazon.com
Julie Fast and John Preston have written a ground breaking book for couples who want to prevent manic depressive disorder from hijacking their relationship. Fast, a health writer diagnosed with bipolar illness and clinical psychologist Preston are ideal companions. Their innovative ideas will be welcomed by exhausted partners of "bipolar individuals"--whose illness can cause them to alternate between manic and depressed behavior. Once medication has been prescribed, the key is studying the specific ways your partner is effected. This allows couples to develop pro-active strategies for treating and stabilizing mood swings and symptoms, before they develop into full-blown crises. The techniques emphasize prevention, rather than putting out fires. These include understanding the difference between the person and the disease (know when "the bipolar disorder is talking") listing your partner's specific symptoms, identifying the triggers that lead to these symptoms and transforming the "bipolar conversation" The goal of all the tools is to pinpoint early warning signs of a manic or depressive episode and be prepared with a holistic treatment plan. Other segments of the book deal with the work (checkered resumes) and financial problems (spending sprees) created by this illness. The author's ideas are engaging, compassionate and realistic--an oasis of relief and hope. --Barbara Mackoff

From the Publisher
New studies estimate that 5% of the world's population has some form of bipolar disorder. This is a much higher number than originally thought. Many of the people with the illness have a significant other who is also impacted by the illness. This book is the first of its kind: written to the partner of someone with bipolar disorder and designed to mend strained relationships. Through the tools offered in the book, readers learn how to control episodic crises and discover how to create a loving, healthy, and supportive relationship with a person who has bipolar disorder.

About the Author
Julie Fast, writer, public speaker and webmaster of Bipolarhappens.com was diagnosed with Bipolar II ultra, ultra rapid cycling in 1995 after 15 years of constantly wondering, "What's wrong with me? " Her partner of ten years was diagnosed with Bipolar I in 1994, which gives her book a unique perspective. Her philosophy is that bipolar disorder is a predictable and treatable illness once a person finds the right treatment plan.

John Preston, Psy.D., ABPP is a Core faculty member with Alliant International University, Sacramento Campus. He has also taught on the faculty of UC Davis, School of Medicine. Dr. Preston is the author of eleven books, on various topics. His book, You Can Beat Depression, is endorsed by the National Mental Health Association.

Customer Reviews

Finally a Book That Focuses on the Partner of the Mentally Ill
Julie Fast, the author, and sufferer of bipolar disorder in this instance, has taken a long hard look at what devastating consequences can come to a relationship if one partner does not understand the disease inside and out.
She is a big believer in positive attitude being important right up there with medications. A lot of topics covered in this book, after being educated about bipolar triggers and symptoms, are how to be a positive thinker in different situations for your partner. This can be an extremely daunting task; bipolar patients can be very difficult.
The idea is to read the book together, develop the plans to use positive thinking and "be your own drill seargent" at the same time. That way, both partners are equally educated about what is possible above and beyond medications, working together.
The lists are helpful, but there are a ton; so plan on taking your time with these, lest you get burnt out.
On a personal note, I bought this book after my last hospital stay and my husband read it. It was the first material he'd seen geared toward the partner. Then we read chapter by chapter together. I became stable for the first time in years.

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder
I had this book recommended to me by a social worker. She had actually not read. I think this book is mandatory reading for anyone who has been supporting and enduring someone who has bipolar disorder. I believe that had I encountered this book (and if my husband would have acknowledged his ailment) our marriage could have been saved. I also think that, although the book is written for supporters of people with the disorder, sufferers should read it as well. Through it they can better understand that there is hope for them, for their relationships, and also understand what their behaviors do to their loved ones. The book is (in my case would have been)so helpful that I loaned to the social worker with the expectation that it will help her with her patients and their families.

JULIE FAST IS THE BEST!!!!
I purchased 2 books for our family; my mother-in-law has bipolar. Julie Fast is an INNOVATIVE expert & shares her life. I'm not having a relationship with my mother-in-law now because I am one of her triggers.

Hopefully, the other family members will read the books & learn. Right now I don't believe they are reading it & hospitalization has occurred twice.

I indeed have & continue to be able to show mercy to my in-laws. Without this author, I would have a difficult time with forgiving them.

Thank you, Julie Fast for your continual newsletters & calling of your life. You are a blessing to many; these books are worth more than your asking price!!!!!