Product Description
MANAGE YOUR MOODS. IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS. RECLAIM YOUR LIFE. Many people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are sent home with the name of a doctor and prescription drugs. But few are able to manage their often out-of-control emotions with medication alone. Written by Julie A. Fast, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age thirty-one, and bipolar disorder specialist John Preston, PsyD, TAKE CHARGE OF BIPOLAR DISORDER offers a unique, personalized approach that teaches people with bipolar disorder and their loved ones to manage the illness and achieve daily stability. Fast and Preston's groundbreaking program combines medication and supplements, lifestyle changes, behavior modifications, and other indispensable management tools. Readers will learn how to: Understand the behaviors caused by bipolar disorder Work with their doctors to find the right medications Develop a bipolar-friendly diet and exercise program Recognize the triggers and signs of major bipolar disorder symptoms to stop the mood swings before they go too far.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 23 reviews)

Amazing!

This year I ended up in the hospital for severe re-current depression & anxiety- my outpatient psychologist & inpatient therapists all thought there was a mood disorder- but my awful doctor wouldn't hear of it. He put me on a lot of anti-depressants & shoved me out into the world 10 days later.

Everyone was pushing me to go back to work, but I didn't feel right. A month later I ended up in the ER for an overdose- not because I wanted to die- but because my Psychologist/Psychiatrist still knew there was a mood disorder & did nothing to treat it. You can only take so much of feeling like you're living for nothing with no control over yourself.

When I got out of my second inpatient hospital stay a week later, this book was the first thing I picked up. I highly recommend it- it's not just a one time read- it's a guide to go back and read up when you need help. This also helped my mom and the rest of my family tremendously with dealing with my mood swings & how to deal with me. I only wish I'd have picked this up when I had a good feeling I was probably Bipolar in the first place.
September 03, 2008

Very Good Information on How to Manage Bipolar Disorder

This book has a nice overview of different ways one can better manage their bipolar disorder and find and maintain stability more easily. It shares a "prevention" approach to the illness, rather than a "reaction" approach, which is helpful to anyone who is willing to help themselves as much as they can. It does also talk about when one is experiencing the illness and different ways to plan for these times, and how to ask for help. Family members can also use this book to better understand their loved-one's illness.
August 17, 2008

If I could do this . . .

If I have to do all that is recommended in this book to feel well, I'd rather not feel well. Following all the advice in this book would be a great way to let bipolar disorder take over and control every aspect of your life. Reading this book was a very depressing experience for me. If I were to boil it down to one sentence, it would be: "To cope with bipolar disorder, you must let go of all your dreams, stick rigidly to a schedule and never, but never drink coffee or eat sugar again."
August 17, 2008

Great way to get some understanding from a bipolar viewpoint

My husband of 13 years was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2. In an effort to try to understand his recent upheaval of our entire life, I bought this book. The author was bipolar herself and struggled for many years to get her life back together. It is easy to read and gives a lot of helpful hints for people like me. I gave it to my husband to read as well, and he really did find a lot of the suggestions to be helpful. There are lots of exercises you can do either together or alone, if the patient can be motivated enough to do them. It's definitely a great start to trying to get a handle on this disease from either the perspective of the patient or the loved one trying to help.
August 09, 2008

Out ranks all others

As a mental health professional who specializes in the management and treatment of persons with bipolar spectrum disorders, I find this to be the most informative and helpful book on the subject. I keep copies available in my office to make sure my clients have a copy in hand when they begin treatment with me. Fast's personal insight and well developed coping skills make this the best resource for those recently diagnosed or who have been struggling for years to find ways to live with this disorder. Fast/Preston help to bring "order" out of disorder in a well organized and easy to read book. Families and friends find this book user friendly and the best source of answers to many questions. It is a must read not only for those challenged with bipolar disorder but also for those who live with, work with or seek a greater sensitivity for someone trying to take charge of their lives. Thanks for providing such a user friendly text which provides hope and help in all the areas which need attention. Vilda S. Brannen, MS, LPC, NCC
April 22, 2008

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder
by Julie A. Fast, John D. Preston

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know
by David J. Miklowitz

The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings
by Monica Ramirez Basco

Get It Done When You're Depressed
by Julie A. Fast, Psy.D., ABPP, John D. Preston

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