You never find happy individuals walking into a psychiatrist’s office for the first time. People with bipolar disorder only seek help when their life is going terribly wrong or when their brains have taken them hostage. Your situation is probably looking pretty bleak at the moment, and the last thing you need to be told is you are not normal—whatever normal is. "How can I live with a brain I can’t trust?" you may be wondering. "How can I face my family and friends and colleagues—the...
Read moreWork! Work! Work! It's stacked up around me like planes over O'Hare. Things to do, places I need to be, deadlines to meet. Suddenly, I... Read more »
Over a course of four posts, we have been discussing the numerous cognitive burdens that go with our illness, even when our moods are... Read more »
Introduction Doctors who first noticed that the chemical element lithium caused mood stabilization were using it to treat gout. In 1949... Read more »
Topamax is an anti-seizure drug that's sometimes prescribed as a mood stabilizer to treat bipolar disorder. Topamax - and the generic... Read more »
It's very common for people with bipolar disorder to be diagnosed first with depression. Very often this is because hypomanic or even manic... Read more »
I’m often asked how to cope with bipolar disorder. It is a question all of us with the disorder are asked. The truth is, sometimes we cope... Read more »
Expert patient John McManamy, who has battled bipolar disorder, is taking his voice to a new level. His informative and provocative book, Living... Read more »
My wife and I have 5 kids in various stages of growth, including a son who’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When it comes to parenting, the... Read more »
Here are some common questions and issues to think about regarding a diagnosis of bipolar disorder: 1. How do I know that I have bipolar... Read more »
If you're a person who suffers from bipolar disorder, you may be tempted to take a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to the condition with your... Read more »