In Bipolar Disorder for Dummies, we discourage anyone from attempting to self-diagnose or diagnose others suspected of having bipolar disorder and encourage you to obtain a diagnosis from a qualified doctor – preferably a psychiatrist who has some experience in diagnosing bipolar disorder and ruling out other conditions that could have similar symptoms.

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog with Some Minor Edits Whether you've been recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder or have been dealing with it for a long time, it's likely that nobody has taken the time to sit you down and explain what you can and should be doing to help yourself. We've put together this Top 10 list to bring you up to speed on bipolar self-help strategies that really work:

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog In a previous post entitled "Is Your Current Bipolar Medication/Therapy Working?" we recommended filling out a form prior to your doctor's visit to provide detailed information on the effectiveness and possible side effects of your current treatment plan. I think this form is a great tool, and I would love to have patients bring me something this detailed, but if the form seems a little overwhelming, you may prefer a simpler approach - keeping a daily mood calendar.

Dr. Fink and I co-host two blogs – Bipolar Beat (this blog), and our original Bipolar Blog. Although most content is shared between the blogs, we include some unique content on each. Bipolar Beat, for example, is the home of the biweekly series Bipolar Disorder Medication Spotlight. One of the most popular areas on our Bipolar Blog is Share Your Bipolar Story, where we encourage visitors to post their stories and insights and read and comment on stories that others have posted. Currently, we have over 30 stories and look forward to hosting many more.

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog In Part I of this series, I highlighted the challenge of returning to work with bipolar disorder and provided some practical advice on how to smooth the transition back to work after experiencing a major mood episode. In this second part of the series, I provide some more in-depth information and recommendations on obtaining additional assistance with your back-to-work efforts:

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog Many people with bipolar disorder are able to successfully return to work once they’re on an effective treatment regimen, which typically includes one or more medications. In Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, however, we recommend that you avoid stressors and mood triggers – and returning to work, especially a demanding job, can be loaded with stressors and triggers. In this post, we offer some suggestions on how to ease the transition back to work.

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog Whenever you have a change in medications or therapies, your moods will improve, worsen, or stay about the same. Documenting how you feel can be a valuable tool in helping you team up with your doctor and therapist to obtain the right combination of medications and therapy. Use the following form to record the most recent change in your treatment plan and in how you feel since the change. (Or download the form as a Word Document.)

Many people with bipolar stop taking their medications at some point in their treatment. This is a reality that patients, doctors, and family members often wrestle with. But it's important to understand some of the possible reasons why. Understanding that there are often compelling factors in someone's decision to stop their meds can help loved ones approach the problem without judgment. And for people with bipolar disorder it is critical to honestly evaluate why they want to stop taking their medication, because then they can tackle these issues directly and without judging themselves.

In Chapter 12 of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, we discuss mood stressors and triggers – situations, events, or certain times of the year that tend to lower your threshold for the onset of a mood episode.

When we wrote Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, we took some heat for the "irreverent humor" that is characteristic of the For Dummies® series. Some people felt that we went too far. They thought our irreverence crossed the border into the land of insensitivity. Two of our editors told us to soften it up. (In a few cases, we followed their advice.) A couple reviewers gave the book positive reviews and then qualified them by saying that our prose was likely to offend sensitive readers.