Book Description
MANAGE YOUR MOODS. IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS. RECLAIM YOUR LIFE.Many people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are sent home with the name ofa doctor and prescription drugs. But few are able to manage their oftenout-of-control emotions with medication alone. Written by Julie A. Fast,who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age thirty-one, and bipolardisorder specialist John Preston, PsyD, TAKE CHARGE OF BIPOLAR DISORDERoffers a unique, personalized approach that teaches people with bipolardisorder and their loved ones to manage the illness and achieve dailystability. Fast and Preston's groundbreaking program combines medicationand supplements, lifestyle changes, behavior modifications, and otherindispensable management tools. Readers will learn how to: Understand thebehaviors caused by bipolar disorder Work with their doctors to find theright medications Develop a bipolar-friendly diet and exercise programRecognize the triggers and signs of major bipolar disorder symptoms to stopthe mood swings before they go too far. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Excellent Resource for Survivors and Supporters
Supporters of Julie Fast will find this book as easy to read, understand and follow as her other books and materials.Being a survivor of bipolar disorder myself, I appreciated the way she lays out a comprehensive plan of lifestyle changes, behavioral changes, asking for help, and using the 4-step treatment plan in everyday life.I like the way she keeps things interesting by using shaded areas, charts, conversations, people's stories, checklists, fill-in-the-blank response interactive sections, etc. to keep you involved in the process. I also like the charts and journal pages at the end.This book is not only a good resource for survivors of bipolar disorder, but also for supporters.

Great, imformative book.
This book is very well laid out and very helpful. Its a great book for newbies to the bipolar world and a good concise book for those of us who have done alot of reading. The four step plan is pretty common sense and touched on in other ways in different books. But it is nice to have it all in one book.

bipolar info
A very good book for those who have bipolar disorder and for the friends and family members of those with bipolar disorder as well.A well written book with lots of workbook pages.

The best I've read
As a parent of a bipolarII, I have read a number of books on the subject in order to find ways in which we family members could be of help.This is by far the best of them.It is clearly organized and written, incorporating a workbook which the bipolar person can use to individualize his/her management of the disease, and lots of wonderful support for families.Julie Fast (the author) is bipolar and knows whereof she speaks!

Very Helpful!
I had also bought another bipolar disorder workbook, and this one is definately my favorite of the two. This one addresses both Bipolar I and II, whereas the other one acted like Bipolar II didn't even exist! This one also seems more comprehensive, dealing with diet, and supplements and other things that are helpful to bipolar patients. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (56)

Excellent Resource for Survivors and Supporters
This book is an excellent resource for both survivors of bipolar disorders (I am one) and their supporters.It is packed with easy to understand and applicable information.I especially liked the idea of self-management of one's own bipolar disorder presented in the book.Much too often, books on the disorder promote too much dependence on others to help us manage our disorder.Miklowitz gives a realistic picture of bipolar disorder and uses case studies to illustrate his points.I especially liked that he took on one of the most frequently asked questions of all: "Is it an illness or is it me?" (p.54).Great resource for every bipolar survivor and their supporters.

Very Good Info for Bipolar and Families
My counselor recommended this book to me after years of having the diagnosis.I found out more about the disease from this book in the 10 years before from my doctors.This book has great information on recognizing mood swings, medication, lifestyle suggestions and more.I enjoyed the case studies of real people who suffer from the same disease and felt calmed and like I was not "the only one".The author takes away some of the fear of "being discovered" with a mental illness and I like how he confronts the disease with knowledge and compassion.With this illness now a "catch-all" disease for the media, I didn't feel quite like a freak after I read this book.I am definitely going to pass this book on to my husband and my family and I hope they come away from the experience the way that I did - with hope.

Excellent information
This book provides a complete picture of the illness. It answers numerous questions and provides an in depth understanding how the disorder affects people[differently]. The best book to understand the mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes. It is written with care and concern for the bipolar person.

Great help book
A well written book by a great doctor who personally treated my sister and assisted our family through a rough time. Thorough and helpful for the patient and their family. A must have for any family who has had to deal with this disorder. Being informed is the key to resolving issues and this book touches upon every aspect of bi-polar disorder. Having been though an episode with my sister, I personally know that having this guide would have been so helpful. So many people will want to give you their advice and opinions- just refer to this book to get the real scoop and you will be so much more grounded.

my brother loves it!
I bought it for him even thought he does not read to much...I think it has helped him understand other people have to deal the same problems he has and now he better understands why he feels teh way he does. ... Read more

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 MackoffBook 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

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!!!!!

Loving Someone With Bipolar Disorder
I found this book to provide direct information about Bi-polar disorder.The writers don't hold anything back.Bi-polar disorder is very destructive and can devastate a family.I feel the writer's offers practical help if one is committed to a relationship with someone that suffers from Bi-polar disorder.

Loving someone with bipolar disorder
I was very disappointed in this book.It did very little to make me feel hopeful about my relationship with someone who suffers from bipolar.It places all the responsibility of avoiding triggers on the healthy spouse.The person with bipolar has no responsibility in monitoring behaviors, medications, physical, or emotional health. It sends a very unhealthy message.I believe that ultimately it is up to the person with bipolar to manage the disease with the help of a well-informed doctor, loving and understanding family members, and loyal, supportive friends.

Something lacking
I was very excited for this book, I was really seeking out an all-encompasing book on the topic for my loved ones.After reading this book, not one of my loved ones will ever see this book, unless of course they seek it out and purchase it themselves.I think this book casts people with Bipolar in a very negative light.Instead of being useful and instilling hope, I found it to be depressing and very limiting.I feel you should give your loved ones a really good idea of what it means to be bipolar, but it should be cast in a positive light, not a negative one.

Superb Book
Everyone in a relationship with someone who suffers from bipolar disorder will benefit from reading this book.Period. ... Read more

Book Description

Bipolar disorder can be devastating. It can disrupt relationships and careers, it can wreak havoc on family life, and, when not properly treated, it can be fatal. Since 1999 this compassionate and comprehensive guide has helped tens of thousands of people cope with this complex disease. This, the second edition of Bipolar Disorder, is thoroughly updated and discusses promising new options for diagnosis and treatment along with new information on the disease's genetic components.

Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose. Dr. Mondimore explains how symptoms fluctuate in persons with seasonal affective disorder, how they can lead to a mistaken diagnosis of attention deficit--hyperactivity disorder in children, and how they may be made worse by alcohol or drug addiction.

The disease can also be difficult to treat. Dr. Mondimore gives advice about how to pick a psychiatrist and cope with the stigma of psychiatric diagnosis. He provides extensive information on treatment options, including the advantages, disadvantages, and side effects of various drug therapies.

He also describes what it is like to live with bipolar disorder and discusses how lifestyle changes can improve quality of life. Throughout, he focuses on the importance of building a support system, planning for emergencies, and giving yourself permission to seek help.

Customer Reviews (57)

Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families
This book is compassionate, intelligent and immensely helpful.Dr. Mondimore explains differences in various types of bipolar disorders and offers a real sense of hope to patients, family members and friends.Upon reading his book, I feel more confident in working closely with my doctor to find the right treatment plan and in acquiring tools and strategies for battling this disease.It is truly a resource I plan to revisit often.

Bipolar Disorder:A Guide for Patients and Families
One of the best books out there on this topic.Covers all issues and is easy to read for families and even professionals.It has been the most popular book in our Family 2 Family course sponcered by NAMI and is on their list of books that should be read if you or a family member has bipolar illness.

I'm not even bipolar, but I found it very helpful!
I borrowed this book from a loved one who is bipolar - I wanted to learn more about bipolar disorder.I sometimes suffer from 'regular' depression (which I now know is called "unipolar").I was reading the book to better understand my loved one, but ended up better understanding my own depression.The book is so detailed but still easy to read.It gives so much information about how the brain works, the chemicals involved, how drugs affect the brain chemistry - the list goes on and on.I came away from reading this feeling like I'd taken a college course in psychology!Seriously!Now I know terms like "reverse diurnal mood variation" and could actually explain it to someone! I now understand that my own depression seems to be seasonal affective disorder - the description fits my symptoms perfectly.They say that knowing (understanding) is half the battle.I like this book so much that, even though I am not bipolar myself, I'm buying my own copy to add to my collection of self-help books.It's great!

Bipolar Disorder: a guide for patients and famlies
Very, very helpful and comprehensive

Not so much
I got this book along with 2 others on the subject of Bipolar Disorder. This was my least favorite, a little too technical and scientific. I was looking more for symptoms and ways of coping with the disorder. ... Read more

Book Description
Bipolar Disorder affects many more people than just the 2.5 million Americans who suffer from the disease. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder also affects spouses, partners, family members, friends and coworkers. And, according to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, 150f children diagnosed with ADHD may actually be suffering from early-onset of Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies reveals some of the causes and consequences of bipolar disorder, let you in on some crisis survival strategies, and describe ways that friends and family members can support loved ones who have the disease. The book includes an overview of the causes and symptoms of bipolar disorder, explains step-by-step how to obtain an accurate diagnosis, discusses the medications available, and tells what you can and can't do to help someone with the disease. You'll learn:

• The different categories and potential causes of bipolar disorder
• How to select the right mental health specialist
• Managing employment-related issues brought on because of the disorder
• How bipolar disorder affects children
• Advocating for yourself or a loved one
• Planning ahead for manic and depressive episodes
• Selecting the best medications for you—including alternative "natural" treatments
• How to survive an immediate crisis situation
• Identifying triggers and mapping your moods

Complete with fill-in-the-blanks forms and charts, key web site and email addresses, and first-hand accounts from real people, Bipolar Disorder For Dummies gives you the latest information and self-help strategies you and your loved ones need to help everyone affected feel a whole lot better.Download Description
A reassuring guide to understanding, treating, and living with this complex condition Recent revelations by popular television host Jane Pauley and former Chicago Bear football star Alonzo Spellman;that they each suffer from bipolar disorder ;has shed light on what was once a very hidden and misunderstood disease. This important guide delivers the latest information to help sufferers and loved ones learn about and cope with bipolar disorder. Topics include diagnosis and treatment, selecting a mental health specialist, advocating for oneself or a loved one, managing employment-related issues, planning ahead for manic and depressive episodes, the brain chemistry behind the disease, social dysfunction caused by the illness, children affected by the disorder, and much more. Candida Fink, MD (New Rochelle, NY), is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. Joe Kraynak (Indianapolis, IN) is a professional writer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Factual reference book
This is a factual reference of Bipolar II told in a way that anyone can understand.There are little or no opinions in the book yet it is told in a light and easy to read fashion.I highly recommend this option as a starting point for learning about soft bipolar disorder.

Bipolar for Dummies
This is the best book I have read on bipolar.

I have always had doubts about my diagnosis of being bipolar, but after reading this book I feel much better about the effects the disease has had on me.Not only did the book confirm my suspicions about my disease, but it gave me ways to counteract some of the feelings I have/had.

I have suggested that my wife read the book (when I am finished) as it is equally directed to your support team as it is to the patient.

Helpful
This gave insight into the bipolar thinkng and help for me to understand it better and deal with it in others.

okay but not that great
I read some of it but it really didn't give the info I wanted or needed.

A Must Have!
This is, by far, the best book on understanding Bipolar Disorder--that is, if you can get past the "dummies" label.It is a "must read" for people who have been diagnosed and for anyone who knows or loves someone with the disorder.It helps identify stressors and triggers, teaches how to take control of your treatment, how to select a mental health specialist, how to maintain mood stability, how to make positive lifestyle changes and gives you medication and other treatment options.All of this and with a dash of humor!I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Book Description
The Natural Medicine Guide to Bipolar Disorder,an innovative and inspiring book on natural medicine treatments for a healthy mind, is about healing bipolar, not merely enduring it. Within these pages, medical journalist Stephanie Marohn explores the key contributing factors and triggers for mood disorder and profiles a range of effective, nondrug-based approaches that can truly restore health.Treating the underlying imbalances, rather than suppressing the outer symptoms (as most drugs do), leads to lasting recovery. And only by considering the well-being of the mind and spirit as well as the body can comprehensive healing take place. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Amazing news about Bipolar!
This book really explains how your nutritionally deficient body contributes to your bipolar and maybe even be causing it.

The Natural Medicine Guide to Bipolar Disorder
Besides the author be a journalist, she have done a terrific work, collecting rich information about these disorders, that affect between 1% to 8% of world population, in different severity grades. She also collected important testimonies from many MD's, who do not agree with traditional medicine and drugs for treatment of these diseases, which in most cases creates several undesirable side effects. I have used these drugs for about 10 years, and know I'm looking for alternatives less agressives to my organism. I'm gifting copies of this book to known and friend doctors, one experienced psychiatrist, and one experienced endocrinologist. It's important to have their support to implement this change, considering the complexity of the disease.

book review
this book had alot of information material that I was not aware of.
very pleased with it--

Great information!
Useful and easy to read information.
Chapter Six 'Amino Acids: Giving the Brain What It Needs'
has helped me treat depression/insomnia.
In fact I would pay $50 for chapter six alone.

I Need a List
Some good information. Some of which you can get off of the Internet. Some of which you can't. I waited a while before writing this review, because people were praising the book so highly I thought I had missed something during my initial reading. So I went back and read it again. I didn't miss anything.It's nice to know that there are alternative therapies, because I have been on every med out there that's use to treat mania, and I've had major problems with all of them. They either don't work at all (the anti-convulsants) or send me to the emergency room with outrageous blood sugar problems (the atypical antipsychotics) that only clear up when I go off of the meds. My doctor talked about trying natural remedies, but he was unfamiliar with them. So after deciding that I was not going to take insulin just so that I could take psych meds, I started researching natural remedies for myself. I also decided that since one med that I know of does cut my mania within hours of taking it, I do not need to be on meds 24/7/365. I think this 24/7/365 med taking is marketing hype by the pharmaceutical companies. Plus, my doctor told me that, outside of lithium, no other drug is actually known to forestall manic episodes. So unless a drug takes weeks to build up in your system before it'll work, there is no scientific reason to take the drug 24/7/365.

What I really need from this book is a clear and organized list of the names of the alternative meds and a description of each; for instance, a description of what each is supposed to treat, as well as comprehensive state by state lists of the clinics that practice natural medicine. My health insurance would never pay for me to go out of state for treatment. So the book is not helpful, unless I can use it to self-medicate. All I learned from it is that there are alternatives. However, for most of us, who have limited resources, the alternative resources are out of reach. ... Read more

Book Description

Seven years ago, John McManamy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through his successful Web site and newsletter, he has turned his struggles into a lifelong dedication to helping others battling depression and bipolar disorder reclaim their lives. In Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder, he brilliantly blends the knowledge of leading expert authorities with the experiences of his fellow patients, as well as his own, and offers extensive information on:

Customer Reviews (32)

Very good book if you are trying to understand you're bipolar
When you read this book I suggest 2 things.#1) You use a highlighter and mark everything that helps you explain your bipolar to your loved ones.#2) and use stick-it notes to tag those pages to make then easy to find your highlights.

This book is very good at explaining the good, bad, and ugly of Bipolar.I like the sections on the meds and how they work.

Also read, An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison, An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

And get a subscription to BP Magazinehttp://www.bphope.com/ well worth it....

All the best in understanding this difficult condition.

Best book ever!
Wow! I've read all the books on this subject, and this is the best. John, bipolar himself, goes outside of the mere lists of symptoms and speaks topatients and those who deal with them--friends, families, providers. He includes comments from the many readers of his blog and newletter. He covers the science and meds issues in understandable ways but also gives the skinny on all the other things we need--talking therapies, thinking therapies, support groups, nutrition, spiritual practice, hope, and healing. Healing? Yes! We can reclaim our lives. We will not be "cured", but we can climb out of our black holes and live richly.

Guide to living with BP
A very well written book full of information and advice on hope to cope with having bipolar disorder in everyday life.

What makes this book fantastic...
...is that instead of accommodating you to your illness, it hands you tools and a mission: REMISSION IS THE GOAL. Where other books hold your hand and tell you to use your tools, this one evaluates each tool so that you can use your intelligence and experience to choose what to use. After I read this book I saw pharmacalogical psychiatry in a whole new way: instead of drifting from drug to drug, I am deploying the ones that work best for me. I decide what side effects are OK. I decide whether to try a new drug. The doctor's opinion plays an important role, but I get better results when I carefully and conscientiously follow my instincts.

This book is filled with things I might deploy, from lifestyle and diet tinkering to medicine. And the goal of all this is to drive my illness into full and complete remission. After reading this book I am doing better than I have in a long time.

Don't miss the advice about taking your mood temperature frequently, as opposed to waiting for the symptoms to begin. Intercepting changing moods before they gain momentum is extremely important.

Take a giant step ahead from the patronizing how-to books out there and the currently fashionable medicines, and understand what's new and what's happening in depression and bipolar. Some readers will find a few chapters heavy with science, and decide to skip to the main points, but those who want to know how this disease is being fought and conquered will find it far ahead of other volumes. Oh, I'm sure there are some other good books on bipolar out there, but if you're ready to change your entire perspective on your illness for the better, give this one a try. It may not change your life as dramatically and rapidly as it did mine, but I defy anyone with bipolar illness to argue that this book isn't full of the most potent information available between two covers.

For those who are also ill, my best wishes for your recovery, and remember, THINK REMISSION, not treatment of symptoms.

From One who Lives this Every Day
It took many years and many medications for depression before my doctor finally diagnosed me with Bipolar Disorder. The first book I bought and read was John Mcmanamy's "Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder - "
I couldn't put it down as so many pages were "me".My husband read it with much interest, and said it helped him to understand events of the past and how we might both deal with this problem together in the future.
I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Approximately 5.7 million Americans have bipolar disorder, a brain disorder also known as manic-depressive illness. The Bipolar Disorder Answer Book is an authoritative reference for people with Bipolar Disorder and their loved ones, providing sound advice and immediate answers to their most pressing questions.

Written by an experienced psychiatrist, The Bipolar Disorder Answer Book covers such topics as:

-What are the symptoms and different types of Bipolar Disorder?
-Can other illnesses cause Bipolar Disorder?
-What therapies, medications and relapse-prevention strategies can help with Bipolar Disorder?
-How does Bipolar Disorder differ in children and adults?
-What special issues are there for women with Bipolar Disorder?
-How can family and friends respond in a psychiatric emergency?

The Bipolar Disorder Answer Book offers up clear, confident counsel in an easy-to-read Q&A format that explains confusing medical lingo and guides readers through the world of Bipolar Disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Bipolar Disorder Answer Book
I found this book to be extremely helpful.It's a fast read, well organized and answered all the questions I had and some I wasn't yet aware where nagging questions and were associated with this disease.I I have very recently been diagnosed with BP and was anxious to learn as much as I could as soon as possible.This book helped to give me a sense of comfort in understanding what had been happening to me for so many years, why I did the things I've done and most importantly, gave me hope that this diasease can be controlled.I'm already using things I learned here to manage my life.

Finding answers to a complex diagnosis
Dr. Atkins gives the reader a user-friendly approach to his vast knowledge of a complex illness. He neither talks down to the lay person nor tries to dazzle him with lofty pronouncements. His down-to-earth book opens the way to understanding the disease and makes it a useful reference source. The chapters of the book each start with a list of questions to be answered and they are, satisfactorily and succinctly. I highly recommend this book to both those involved with the disorder and anyone wishing to gain general knowledge of it.

Bipolar self-help that's helpful
Having read several self-help books for people with bipolar disorder and for their families and friends, I find Dr. Atkins' book to be the best of the lot.His style and constantly engaging examples take this book beyond the usual advice and helpful hints.Dr. Atkins offers personal experience unlike other authors' "I've been through the sturm und drang" - approach. As a psychiatrist, he is clearly highly informed and first-rate, ready to share his knowledge. His insights are quite accessible, helpful, and his advice sensible as well as highly informed, making the book very user-friendly.I highly recommend it.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (20)

This book saved me!
This book is so awesome for someone who has been newly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. It breaks down the disorder into manageable chunks that make it easier to deal with. It saved me! I am so much more in control now that I have the tools to be so.

Empowering Tool
This is an outstanding tool for anyone who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.Each exercise provides insight into the patterns and actions caused by the disease.This knowledge is the true value of this book.Here is a book that actually provides tools to recognize symptoms and control them.This is power over the disease and the real win for a patient.A final positive is that the completed workbook is itself a reference tool of personal triggers, disease patterns and treatment therapies.I strongly recommend this to anyone who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Something for Everyone
Having been diagnosed very late in life a few years ago, I constantly research materials that are simple, informative and practical.This book meets all criteria.In fact, I have given it to my therapist who really appreciates it and am now purchasing it for newly diagnosed friends or family members who have BP.It targets all audiences:newly diagnosed; experienced but needs some reminders; experienced but wants to review certain sections; and family members.

Covers many different angles and stages of Bipolar
I wasn't sure what to expect when i ordered this book. A bipolar friend of mine suggested the book (not the workbook) written by Monica Ramirez Basco. I haven't read it yet but plan to. I think the workbook is great. It is a great way to learn to retrain the way you think. There are parts of the workbook that apply to me right now, parts that I've already been through and will probably not read, and parts about things I haven't dealt with yet too. It's one of those things that will help you out now and you can pick it back up months/years later and it will help you again.

Better for Bipolar I patients, than Bipolar II.
It seems to be much more for Bipolar I sufferers. I have Bipolar II and much of the material in the book didn't really apply to me. Though I'm sure it would be good if one had bipolar II, and I'm still working through the book in the areas that do apply to me. ... Read more

Book Description
Discover Exciting New Treatments For Bipolar Disorder
Now you can maintain control of your bipolar disorder and begin enjoying life again—today! This book dispels the myths and fears surrounding bipolar disorder. It offers compassionate, practical, and immediate guidance for anyone affected by this disorder. Inside, world-renowned experts present important, life-altering advances, including:
·The causes, symptoms, and patterns of bipolar disorder
·New medications
·The latest psychiatric findings
·Cutting-edge treatment models
·Complementary therapies that work
·Effective and practical tools for parenting your bipolar child
·And much more!
"This easy-to-read book demystifies the illness and teaches without scaring. A real addition to mental health literature!" —Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., professor and chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
"This creative, authoritative, state-of-the-art book is an enormously valuable tool in dealing with depression. Written from three unique perspectives, it is certain to profoundly impact the lives of patients and their families." —Martin Keller, M.D., professor and chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

A pearl
I am bipolar & highly recommend this book. It's one of the few that actually offer some hope. While reading the reviews, I've noticed most of the 4-5 star reviews are by people such as myself, who are also bipolar. Others who give it low ratings seem to use anonymous names & refer to the bipolar co-author as "loopy" and "illogical." These terms strike me as common, but ignorant, stereotypes. The pharmaceutical companies are obviously going to be unhappy with this book.
This is one of the few books I won't give away. However, I will buy it for friends & give it as a gift.

Overly Explanatory with Examples by an Annoying Patient Recounted Throughout
This book includes basic information on mood disorders, including major depression, mania, and hypomania, all components of what used to be called manic-depression and is now known as bipolar disorder.

I found other books more helpful as far as scientific knowledge and explication.I found Kay Redfield Jamison's books insightful, inspiring, as well as incredibly knowledgeable.I found this book annoying, and it relied too heavily on the double whammy of an explanation or point made by one of the medical authors with a lay person follow-up by Nancy, a patient with bipolar disorder whose experiences and anecdotes are leaned on heavily throughout the book. In trying to warm up what they perhaps feared might be an overly objective, medical reference book, which it is far, far from being anyway, the authors used Nancy as a device to humanize the condition.

I got very tired of Nancy and her loopy examples.When not preening over the authors' attention as the pet subject of the book, she was just illogical and somewhat strident or annoying.She had a very definite "voice," which to me was loud and probably possessing a strong New York accent.I feel for Nancy and her experiences with this disorder, but her examples had no resonance for me and detracted from any actual information.

Go for Jamison definitely and browse through some other newer sources.Skip this one.

Hopeless
Unless you are a layperson and very new to bipolar disorder, this book is just a regurgitation of very old techniques.What's more, the regurgitation is often wrong.Anyone who has dealt with this illness for more than a year will know more than this book can teach them.

I would recommend almost any book over this one.Dr. Fieve's book Moodswing is particularly good, as is anything by Kay Jamison.

If all you want is a feel-good, fast read, not particularly enlightening book, this might be for you.Otherwise, keep looking.Anyone you know with bipolar, or you, if you are afflicted, will be thankful for it.

No new Info.
Nothing new here and almost nothing about mania, hypomania and its various forms. Heavy focus on depression which is generally well understood. I felt nothing for the woman who supposedly has bipolar and cowrote the book--could not identify one bit. Nothing about the newer drugs which have been recommended to me and which led me to buy the book since it was about "new hope". Bunch of psychodrivel about taking charge of your life which might as well have been written by Tony Robbins. I don't want some motivational book. I was loooking for a more serious discussion.Save your money.

Book reviewer correction
A very helpful source for information on this book and depressive disorders was noted by a reader from Bethesda. However the organization name is "DRADA" not "DRAGA". Depression and related affective disorders association. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Trite, But Not Without Merit.
Bipolar Disorder Demystified is the third book I've read on the subject of Bipolar Disorder.It's an easily read book covering everything from depression to hypomania, medication to the importance of vitamin consumption.The information in this book is expansive almost to the point of unnecessary.The chapter on Biochemistry and Genetics was informative.The chapter on Personality and the "Quadrants" of Perfectionism was senseless.

Lana Castle's attempt at intertwining her personal experience with scientific knowledge was charming in the beginning of the book, but trite towards the end when she tells of joining a Quaker church only to leave due to a persistent suitor, or the excerpts of her journal which read like the rantings of a lunatic.

From what I've read, I'm guessing that Castle is a little flaky.I'm glad that she's been able to find the stability she needs in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, but it's mentioned more often that the importance of psychotherapy and medication compliance.The chapter on Exploring Nonmedical Options began with substance, but ended disappointingly with the mention of using massage and aromatherapy as viable options for this disorder.She suggest communing with nature to relieve stress, but then recommends tasting "the sweat that pours from your face after an aerobic workout", for reasons unknown.

The chapter on Creativity is extremely self-absorbed.Once again, it begins with good intentions, but disappointingly segues into a timeline of Castle's attempts at creativity and pretty much reads like a resume of her creative endeavors or like a child screaming "Daddy, look at me! Look at me!"

Overall, Bipolar Disorder Demystified isn't a terrible book.It's full of a variety of important information on dealing with this disorder and the destruction it can cause.The unevenness in joining her personal encounters and scientific or substantial information (for lack of a better word) is not entirely the fault of Lana Castle.The blame should be placed on the editor for not reining in her clearly self-absorb writing style. (She figuratively thumbs her nose at a former psychiatrist for shooting down her ambitions for being a writer! See pages 301-302).

If you roll your eyes when you see a hippie, or laugh at the though of using penny-royale to cure a flu, then this book is not for you.If you are a hippie and have yerba mate in your refrigerator you'll find this book right up your alley.I consider myself ¼ hippie and found this book useful at times, disappointing but not entirely without merit.If you can stomach the ego of Castle, then read this book.When she's not too busy staring at her reflection in the mirror Castle can be a solid writer.

An overly self-referential book without much research into the malady.
It's stunning to see that this book has earned a 4.5-star rating from readers, given the fact that only the first paragraph under each header has anything to do with BPD generally: the rest is all about how the author had sex with her car's stick shift (!), smoked pot or whatever else is related, if only tangentially, to the subject at hand. This makes for a very tedious read, as it appears she has done little, if any, research beyond a mostly regurgitated recollection of what she learned in her therapy sessions.

This is one embarrassingly creepy book. No, I didn't get past the third chapter--who wants to?

There are better books out there.

very helpful
i found the book to be very helpful and understanding; it was easy to read, which is very helpful for someone with bipolar disorder.

First book I've finished in 12 years!
This book was well written and EXTREMELY informative.Although I was a little disappointed at the author's constant need for medication as part of a solution, I understand that this recovery route was part of her personal story.This story, intertwined with great facts, was probably the perfectcombination of humanity and science that made the over 400 page book incredibly easy to get through.

I am not a "reader", but would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about not only bipolar disorder, but other brain disorders as well.

In response to Sarah Shoemaker -BOOK FOR BIPOLAR
Sarah,

An EXCELLENT book for Bipolar and pregnancy, and all the stages of a WOMAN'S life-read'WOMEN'S MOODS' by Deborah Sichel, Jeanne Watson Driscoll.

This book is unbelievable. It will change your life!!! ... Read more

Book Description
The second edition of this groundbreaking guidebook provides up-to-date treatments and compassionate guidance for anyone affected by bipolar disorder—from the recently diagnosed to chronic sufferers and their families. You’ll receive tips from world-renowned experts—including coauthor Nancy Rosenfeld, herself a bipolar survivor—and learn about vital new options and innovations in bipolar treatment and research, such as:

•New precautions: why some patients can get worse rather than better when taking antidepressant medication

•The inside story on atypical antipsychotic medications,antidepressants, and other medications that affect neurotransmitters

•New genetic research, studies on serotonin, studies into childhood and adolescent bipolar disorder, and results of neuron imaging and neuropsychological testing

•Advice on making instant, effective lifestyle changes, coping with stigma, and deciding whether or not—and how—to disclose your illness to others.

•A guide to the many evolving forms of psychotherapy ... Read more

Book Description
While coping with teenage moodiness can be difficult under any circumstances, it can be especially challenging if a teenager has a serious mood disorder. This concise, readable book is the definitive guide to understanding and getting effective help for adolescents with depression or bipolar disorder, designed for parents and other adults in contact with afflicted teens. It combines the most current scientific expertise available today--including the newest treatments and medications and the latest research findings on mood disorders--with no-nonsense, hands-on advice from parents who have faced these disorders in their own children.Among other topics, the book addresses the biochemical roots of adolescent mood disorders, the ongoing debate over psychiatric medications for young people, and practical strategies for helping a teen cope at home and at school. It concludes on a hopeful note, by reviewing the latest scientific evidence on methods of stopping mood disorders before they start or minimizing the risk of recurrence. A growing body of research now shows that early diagnosis and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder may reduce the severity of these diseases, both now and in the future. Including red flags to look out for and warnings on the dangers of doing nothing, this book will provide the information and tools parents need to help adolescents achieve the best possible outcome. On the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series:The Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series addresses some of the major mental health issues facing teenagers today--eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia. Of the dozen or so books planned for the series, the first four, including the two presented here, focus on how parents and other adults, including teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, and even pediatricians, can help afflicted teens overcome the disrupting and often devastating challenges of these disorders. Each book is an authoritative guide that offers essential information such as how to go about getting a diagnosis, what the latest treatment options and prevention strategies are, how to help teens cope with mental illness at home and at school and, perhaps most importantly, what the warning signs and red flags are that parents and other adults should look out for in teenagers who may be at risk for these diseases. Combining the expertise of leading psychiatrists and psychologists with the experience of everyday people who have faced these disorders in their own children, the books are designed to help adults deal effectively with adolescent mental illness and to empower them to act immediately and wisely in getting teens the best available treatment possible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice Little Overview
I honestly think that there is such a vast difference between Depression and Bipolar Disorder, I think they should have just gone ahead and printed two separate books.

This book is well-written and easy to read, and short.It provides a quick overview of what these illnesses are, warning signs, an overview of treatments, and getting accommodations at school.

I liked the short stories from parents about real-life kids with these disorders, and I liked the one line tipes and summaries on every couple pages, offset in the margins.

I was rather shocked that in the short section on dietary supplements they only mention SAM-e and St. John's Wort without mentioning Omega-3 Fatty Acids which HAVE been proven to be of help. It was even mentioned as using as an adjunct with lithium.

There also wasn't any emphasis on "sleep hygiene" which is always touted as being so important to success.

It is far from a "Bible" of adolescent Depression or Bipolar Disorder, but as I said, it is a nice little overview.

... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Eye-opening book!
THis book really was great and made me change the way I think about my Bipolar and do something else about it without drugs persay.

Bipolar Quandry
Mental illness is a difficult condition to diagnose, understand, and treat.Denial is the overwhelming response of most patients and families.Almost all of us want to believe these conditions are imaginary or imbalances that are amenable to systematic holistic cures. This is not the case. The first major complication is that mental illnesses are often misdiagnosed especially bipolar disorder.Currently, this is a trendy diagnosis (just as ADD and ADHD were a few years ago) for which practitioners of every discipline have developed protocols.According to researchers bipolar disorder is rare and the bulk of mental problems people struggle with are actually a variety of afflictions that often can be corrected by vitamins, supplements, and alternative therapies.Personally, I have been dismayed to find that my lifelong belief in the superiority of organic foods, vitamins, supplements, Bach flower remedies, herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, exercise, journaling, meditation, and prayer has proven to be unequal to the task of fighting schizo-affective disorder.In fact my first symptoms of psychiatric disturbance occurred during my daily meditation.After thirty years of meditative practice I was flooded with voices, delusions, and terrifying visions that merged with my normal thinking.None of my regular practices made a dent in these symptoms and as I got more and more agitated and paranoid I was ready to try anything for relief.My sister took me to a psychiatrist who just happened to be a well-recognized and respected doctor and researcher in the treatment of bipolar disorder.He gave me Clonodine and Lamictal and within four days I was able to calm down enough to breathe normally and sleep.It turns out that I am one of a tiny minority of people who have the right combination of genetic, chemical, psychological, and developmental elements that can be triggered by altered states and stress.Once the condition is triggered it can be mitigated but not cured.Contrary to common perception, there are side effects for every treatment just as there are consequences for every action. Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that charts its own erratic path so for the author to be symptom-free for two or five or fifteen years is typical just as having daily symptoms is also typical.Unfortunately, it doesn't mean the disorder is defeated.It can reappear at any time like shingles or cancer.It is a disorder whose form is specific to each sufferer.Many kinds of approaches may help butanecdotal data does not prove the existence of an antidote.At the end of all the debate about the best treatment for mental illnesses, what emerges is that the support of family and friends provides the most consistent healing influence.It is interesting to note that in undeveloped countries where there are no psychiatrists, many people stricken with mental illnesses do recover because the traditional treatment is to relieve the ill person of all duties, surround them with loving family and the support of the community and let them find their way back to themselves without any other treatment at all.Let's have a book about that.

Only part of the story
This book offers information that may work for some people.I know it is possible to not be medicated for Bipolar Disorder from my personal experience.I have healed my condition.There may be nutrients missing in the body which is her point.

However, she breezes over the real solution I found.The spiritual focus replacing the reliance on drugs, works well.In an altered state also called hypnosis or meditation the subconscious can heal the body.With dedicated changing your life through this approach a new foundation can be built.Upon this basis of releasing fear and replacing it with love, there is no chemical imbalance.My book coming out will go beyond this book into the root causes at a soul level of recovery.

Healing Depression and BiPolar without Drugs
I have given this book to a bi-polar friend, but have not read it myself.
Nevertheless, I respect and recommend anything written concerning the
orthomolecular approach to nutrition.

Very Informative
I've not finished the book, but thus far I've gained a lot of information and help from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent resource -- a must -buy for your bookshelf
Finally, a book on CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) for the rest of us! Everyone who deals with bipolar disorder will find Basco's work very helpful.I've read many books on CBT, including those by Ellis and his students -- they have great ideas, but they are not so easy to put into practice if you are cycling through the mood swings of manic depression.Basco customizes the CBT approach for bipolar and explains the process clearly.Multiple studies have shown this approach's usefulness.If you and your health care provider prefer a cognitive approach to help manage your bipolar symptoms, this book (now in paperback) is your best resource.

Excellent source of info on one aspect of bipolar treatment
This book should be read by anyone trying to optimize treatment of bipolar disorder through the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy.In fact it should be read both by patients and by therapists and possibly psychiatrists too.The book is well written, well organized, and fairly easy to understand.It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to surviving bipolar disorder- if the reader wants a comprehensive guide, see Torrey's "Surviving Manic Depression" and Miklowitz's "Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide".But for just learning about cognitive-behavioral therapy, this book is excellent.Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Well Done!
This book states its' purpose, limitations, and offers a lot of helpful information on how to prevent hypomania and mild depression from escalating to full major depression and manic episodes.I believe that the book has alot to offer in communication skills for everyone.It is helpful not onlyfor therapist but for those afflicted with manic-depressive illness andtheir family members. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

A prequel to the Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide?
This book preceded Miklowitz's very popular "Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide".The question then arises: should you buy this book as well?I think the answer is yes.This book puts forth the family-focused treatment approach, and in doing so supplements the information in the "Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide", which is more so directly about patients suffering from the disorder. Furthermore, this book is very well written and organized, and focuses upon a perhaps underappreciated means for treating the illness.Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Excellent reference, effective approach
Overall excellent reference for the background, progress, and prospects for bipolar disorder and its sufferers.As the book points out, along with appropriate medications, family support is critical to a favorable disease course.Education of the patient and family is the cornerstone of episodic recovery and the prevention of relapses (as much as is possible), and this book provides excellent, useful summary information as well as proven approaches for resolving difficult issues.Many of the tools described in the book such as active listening and basic problem solving skills have wide application beyond the FFT approach.Their application to bipolar patients and their families, though, requires great delicacy at times, and the authors provide helpful insights through actual clinical examples.Each bipolar case and family is different, and there are no universal cookie-cutter answers, but combined with recent pharmacological advances, this proposed approach provides the best hope for a favorable course.

As the primary supporter of a bipolar family member, I've learned many of these lessons the hard way over the years.Even with that long experience, I found new insights here.My experience strongly supports the authors' premise that the patient and his/her family are THE critical elements in a favorable episodic recovery and long-term maintenance.Though written for the clinician, Bipolar Disorder: A Family-Focused Treatment Approach is easily understandable and usable by family members and patients.I highly recommend it for both.

EXCELLENT
This is an excellent informational book for those who have bipolar disorder and their families.The book is designed to be used by mental health care professionals, and I most certainly encourage them to purchasethis book for a family treatment plan that will benefit their clients andthe client's family. The approach of the therapy takes the entire familyinto consideration.It is not just the individual with bipolar that goesthrough the trauma, but the entire family.The therapy educates thepatient and the family as to the disorder and its' attributes, gives thefamily ways of coping with the disorder and hospitalization, works onmedicinal compliance, and prepares the client and the family for any futureepisodes.Most importantly, it improves the communication of the familywhich leads to a healthier environment for the client as well as thefamily.This book is a definite must have for mental health care providersas well as clients and their families.Excellent Job Dr. Miklowitz.Bythe way, I have bipolar disorder and am a graduate student studying AgencyCounseling Education.I have every intention of using the methods in thisbook for my clients and myself.Well Worth The Money!!! ... Read more