Bipolar blog Archives - Page 24 of 82 - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

Recognizing the Real, Bipolar You and Not the Idealized You

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 24, 2018

I realize I need to recognize the real me who has bipolar disorder and not the idealized me that, theoretically, does not. What I need to recognize, to deal with, is the me of today and not the me before bipolar disorder or the me of five years ago. Things change. I have changed dramatically and what I’m capable of has changed too. I need to recognize this in everyday life. I need to work with the current, real, bipolar me and not the me I wish I were.

Why I Don’t Hate Drug Companies & Why You Shouldn’t Either

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 17, 2018

Many people hate drug companies and I totally get why. I spent years hating drug companies. But I’ve changed. I don’t hate drug companies anymore and I don’t think you should either.

Can You Be Fat and Happy on Bipolar Medication?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 9, 2018

For many of us, we are expected to be fat and happy on bipolar medication. This is because many...

Good and Bad New Year’s Resolutions If You Have Bipolar

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 1, 2018

It’s the time of year when everyone is making New Year’s resolutions – including New Year’s resolutions by those with bipolar disorder. While I’m not a huge believer in “New Year’s” resolutions (I think you can resolve to change in small ways at any time), I do think that there are ways to create good New Year’s resolutions if you have bipolar disorder and, perhaps more importantly, bad ones. Here’s how to avoid bad New Year’s resolutions by making good New Year’s resolutions if you have bipolar disorder.

Causing a Bad Bipolar Day – What Did I Do Wrong Yesterday?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 13, 2017

If you have a bad bipolar day, you might wonder what you did wrong yesterday to cause it. I know I feel this way. I know I look for causes. And I know it feels like it’s my fault. I feel like I must have done something wrong to cause the bad bipolar day. It feels like a punishment for screwing up the previous day.

Bipolar Disorder – I’m Not Angry but My Bipolar Brain Is

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 5, 2017

My bipolar makes me feel so angry, but I know I’m not. I know I’m not really angry. I know that the signals that I’m angry are coming from my sick, bipolar brain. But I feel very angry anyway. I can’t make the anger go away, even through notable insight. It’s so frustrating and the existence of the anger, and my inability to make it go away, makes me even madder.

Medication Adherence Improvement with Abilify Computer Chip?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 20, 2017

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a computer chip inside of aripiprazole (Abilify) pills. This computer chip is designed to indicate whether the person has taken his or her medication or not. The theory (and marketing push) is that this computer chip will improve treatment adherence (compliance). It will “ensure” people are taking their medications as prescribed. But will a computer chip inside of an antipsychotic really improve medication adherence?

Why Aren’t More Drugs Approved for Bipolar Disorder?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 12, 2017

Thoughts on My Time with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Have you ever considered why more drugs aren’t approved in the treatment of bipolar disorder? I have. I, specifically, wonder why there aren’t more drugs for bipolar depression, considering that the depressed state outweighs the presence of mania/hypomania 3:1 in many cases. Here’s what I think about why there aren’t drugs getting approved for bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Depression and Dealing with Mistakes

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 25, 2017

When I make a mistake while experiencing bipolar depression, I beat myself up like none other. I get so angry with myself and obsess over any tiny, perceived mistake I make. Bipolar depression (and depression, in general) is brutal for that. As we all make them, we need to learn to deal with mistakes even with bipolar depression.