Yup, it’s the gift-giving season. I’m buying some gifts that I can’t afford and others that I don’t like. Ah, the holidays.
But the question is, are there gifts that are actually appropriate for someone with bipolar disorder?
Actually, yes, there are.
Bipolar Christmas Gifts
Here are a few Christmas gifts that I think people with bipolar disorder could use.
- A light box – this is a gift that you really should check with the person with bipolar before you buy, but light boxes are great gifts. These boxes provide sunlight-type-light on even the darkest days and this has been shown to improve mood. See here for light boxes recommended by a doctor and more about light therapy. (Always check with your doctor before starting light box treatment.)
- A sleep mask and ear plugs – sleep problems are very common for people with bipolar disorder and these two simple items can make a big difference. (See why here.)
- A dawn simulator – this is a fancy kind of alarm clock that wakes the person up using light rather than sound. It simulates the way the sun would wake you up. It’s designed to help with sleep/wake problems and is a lovely way to wake up (I’ve been using one for years.) For more own dawn simulators, including what to buy, see here.
- Light-blocking eyeglasses – to help with getting to sleep, a person with bipolar disorder can block blue spectrum lighting at night. This type of light particularly comes from electronic devices. So instead of turning everything off at night, these glasses can be worn. I’ve been wearing mine for about a year and they really help turn a brain down at night. See more, and where to buy, here.
- iTunes gift certificate – there are a number of mood-tracking apps available on iTunes. Just giving a small gift certificate means that the person can down load one or two and try them out. I recommend that everyone track their moods especially during periods of instability or medication change. (I actually talk about a free mood-tracking app here.)
- Books – Books can be a personal thing, but there are many good ones for people with bipolar disorder. I’ve listed some suggested gifts below, although there are many others.
Your Gift Ideas
Do you have any other ideas for what might work for a person with bipolar disorder?
What do you want for Christmas?
Any other good books about bipolar that people should consider for holidays gifts?
Books for the Bipolar
- Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression and Bipolar by Natasha Tracy (me)
- An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison (the quintessential bipolar memoir)
- Electroboy by Andy Behrman (a memoir that focuses a lot on mania)
- A book on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) (Very helpful for many. Get one with a workbook See a list here.)
- Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder – Understanding and Helping Your Partner by Julie A. Fast and John D. Preston, PsyD. (Actually for partners of people with bipolar disorder, but I wanted to list it anyway. See a review I did of it here.)
You have to be kidding right???
Bipolar gifts ???????????
I don’t know if I should laugh or cry !
Bipolar disorder is what you have, NOT who you are.
Bipolar disorder is just another illness you deal with and manage. Individuals not the disorder.
I can’t believe you see yourself as “bipolar”. I have a idea for a gift, buy them a car !!!!! I am in a state of shock..
Oke doke, this is my third, and probably final, comment, and as you can see I am ‘vehemently disagreeing with you’ (quoted from your rules for comments) and you might well choose to moderate, delete my comments which are quite harsh. Even if you moderate/delete, which you’re entitled to do, I hope you’ll still consider what I have said, for yourself.
Here, you refer to ‘the Bipolar in your life’ and I see that none of the ‘bipolars’ above have taken offense to this, but, with respect, it is not on to refer to someone by their medical condition – be it bipolar, an epileptic, or the ‘appendix’ in bed four etc not socially a good way to speak to people in your blog, hope this tip helps, even though the handful of replies here do not raise this issue. I just struggle to see the way you speak about people and your language reveals a lot of what you’re not saying.
My other more harsh comments disagreeing with your blog about saying good bye to your brother (abandoning him, in other words) you may choose to moderate and edit or even delete, but if it’s not too late and, while it’s your choice, why not pay attention to your brother instead of spending time on your blogging? Where is he now? Does he have a bed tonight? I’m not coming back here, but hope you’ll think it over, for the sake of your brother and yourself, too. Take care.
Hello, i have been reading your comments and i have a child who is 12 yrs, has been dx with bipolar and it is very hard for us because u never know in what mood he is going to get up even if he had a good evening, now he has been into art he loves to draw
Chuckie is the voice of my bipolar personality. Chuckie often tells it like it is because he is hurt, humiliated, or stupefied by stupid people. First a bipolar person suggest a human being with two poles, for example his head and his ass – which pretty well sums up the definition of bipolar. Second what do you buy a bipolar for Christmas? In bipolar land there is no Christmas. That feeling died with one of many diagnoses // prescriptions administered when the said multipurpose person THOUGHT there was something wrong. Don’t think, it will always lead to self destruction, like a doctor, a girlfriend, or worse an education.
The most useful, thoughtful gift you can give a bipolar is [moderated]
While the above outraged and ridiculous comment was not meant to rattle, but to battle with the semantics of disease, mental or otherwise, it does beg for a gram of truth. People who hurt don’t need things to feel better, they need other living beings who are at most sympathetic without being patronizing.
I am so glad I stumbled across your blog. I was recently diagnosed with bipolar and started my own blog about what it is like to live with it, get treatment for it, blah blah blah. I am going to print out this post and hand it to my boyfriend. He still has 4 days before Christmas, haha!
I just want normal presents that have nothing to do with bipolar. Like my favourite perfume and chocolates, homewares because we’re starting up home again. I want to be with my family, eat my favourite xmas foods, play in the swimming pool, snooze after lunch, and eat leftovers for dinner.
For one day in the entire year, I want to forget about bipolar. I don’t want to read about it, explore therapies and treatments or anything else related.
Merry xmas, in advance Natasha, because I won’t be blogging that day.
I definitely suggest the book by Julie Fast – Loving Someone With Bipolar Disorder. I also reviewed it and found excellent information, HOWEVER, the book is written more for the non bipolar person in the relationship. So, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that for someone with bipolar, but a gift for their significant other.
Also, not to toot our own horn, but there is always the Best of Ask A Bipolar 2010-2011. Questions asked by friends, family, bipolarees that are answered by individuals who have bipolar disorder. :) Available on the eReaders as well as hardcopy
Another book that is FREE is from International Bipolar Foundation and is called Healthy Living With Bipolar Disorder. You can get a copy of that at http://www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org
Madness by Marya Hornbacher is another great read for someone who has bipolar.
~christi~
Thanks for the book titles electroboy sounds a lot like me
Thanks for these great gift ideas, Natasha. I’ve been wanting a light for mood. Hmm, maybe one day I’ll have extra cash to blow to treat myself :)
Hi Rachel,
Just as an FYI, while I prefer the clinically-tested lamp, there are others at a variety of pretty affordable price points. :)
– Natasha Tracy
Thanks for letting me know about the affordable lamps. I’ll click on the link you provided to find one.
Understanding and patience. It’s all I want right now.
A couple of more Christmas gift ideas for someone with bipolar disorder:
Digital recorder – comes in handy for taking notes.
Daily Planner – I like the ones with a month on two pages and room for daily details.
Wall calendar – With big blocks for the dates – to write in appointments, etc.
Big generic bags with zippers – To transports medicines, etc.
Medication organizer – I have a weekly.
Digital scales – They make seeing trends easier. I like Heath o Meter.
Microwavable bowls – For those times when you can’t cook.
Old style Walkman AM-FM radio headset – To pass time while in hospital.
Permanent markers – To put your name on stuff you take to the hospital.
A really nice pillow – Cadillac version.
PJs or jogging outfits – For hospital stays.
Art supplies – Watercolors, arcrylic, charcoal, canvas, paper, etc.
Small AA flashlight – Can never have too many, because I lose everything.
Kay Redfield Jamison’s book “Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament.”