http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar News and insights into bipolar disorder. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:06:47 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. This week, we focus the spotlight on medications that can help you sleep. Before we crack open the medicine cabinet, I’d like to say a few words about bipolar disorder and sleep. Sleep ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/11/bipolar-medication-spotlight-sleep-aids/ When we were in Slovenia a couple weeks ago, Cecie and I did an interview for a televised report on bipolar disorder. The interviewer asked me what it was like to be married to someone with bipolar disorder. I stammered and stuttered, not really sure how to answer and then ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/11/whats-it-like-to-be-married-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder/ Garett Asks... Five months ago, I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. First I was on Depakote and then I told my doctor I was still having major problems with my sleep. I was always up and about knowing it was 3 o'clock in the morning. I told her about the ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/10/bipolar-disorder-q-a-how-do-i-tell-my-doc-this-isnt-working/ I was recently talking with a friend of mine, Mikal Belicove, who happens to be a marketing and positioning expert. I was describing someone I had met during a recent trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia to help promote the release of the Slovene edition of Bipolar Disorder for Dummies – a ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/10/who-should-be-the-bipolar-spokesperson/ Yesterday, on Good Morning America, accomplished actress Glenn Close and her sister Jessie Close spoke about mental illness in their family (watch the clip). Except for George Stephanopoulos saying that Jessie "is" bipolar, I thought it was a good piece. The Close sisters did an excellent job of presenting bipolar, the ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/10/glenn-close-and-sister-jessie-speak-out-about-mental-illness/ [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Mrs. Tovornik, Cecie Kraynak, Tatjana Novak, Maja Valic, Darja Budja, Joe Kraynak, Sanja Svajger (Journalist) at Book Presentation in Ljubljana, Slovenia, October 12, 2009 "][/caption] Cecie and I participated in another book presentation for the Slovene edition of Bipolar Disorder for Dummies. Unlike the presentation on Saturday ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/10/notes-from-slovenia/ [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sitting: Peter Smole and Roman Peklaj and Maja Valic; Standing: Joe Kraynak, Darja Budja, Cecie Kraynak, Emi Kladnik, Ana Sorc, and Katja Jus"][/caption] Cecie and I were invited to visit Ljubljana (lyoo-blee-ah-nah), Slovenia for the release of the Slovene edition of Bipolar Disorder for Dummies. We accepted ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/10/bipolar-disorder-in-slovenia/ Last week, Joe posted a piece entitled "Bipolar Dilemma: Insensitive Jerk or Irresponsible Oaf?" in an attempt to spark a discussion and collect insights on what to do when you sense that your loved one with bipolar is exhibiting symptoms of mania or hypomania. This week, Dr. Fink weighs in. Dr. ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/09/what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-with-bipolar-shows-symptoms-of-mania/ Welcome to Bipolar Medication Spotlight, where we shine the light on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and other symptoms often related to bipolar disorder. Two weeks ago, we covered the benzodiazepines (or benzos for short) – a class of powerful and fast-acting anxiolytics (tranquilizers) used to calm the nerves ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/09/bipolar-disorder-medication-spotlight-buspar-for-anxiety/ When you're in a relationship with someone who has bipolar disorder and seems to be exhibiting symptoms of mania or hypomania, you're likely to face the dilemma of whether to say anything: If you honestly express your observations by saying something like, "You seem like you're getting a little manic," you ... http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2009/09/bipolar-disorder-dilemma-insensitive-jerk-or-irresponsible-oaf/