When you're in the grips of an ongoing bipolar episode, there really isn't much you can do to help yourself.  Therefore, any positive attempts at self-help would be on an ongoing basis to try to prevent episodes.

Recently, I read a book called "Shrinking the Judge: Freeing the Inner Child", by Rick Malter, Ph.D. and Rosalie Malter, M.A. and, in my opinion, this is a very important book about a very powerful and relevant topic.

Many times I have referred to my bipolar disorder as an entity outside myself, which helps me to separate me from my disorder.  In their book, the Malters do that by naming this entity "the Judge," and defining it as "a powerfully destructive psychological force."

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings.  It is inevitable that you or your loved one will go into a manic episode at some time; therefore you must have a plan in place.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings.  It is inevitable that you or your loved one will go into a depressive episode at some time; therefore you must have a plan in place.

Many Christians with bipolar disorder have grappled with the question, "Why hasn't God healed me?"  For some, it causes them to question their faith.  Others have even turned away from God altogether because he hasn't healed their bipolar disorder.

Today I'm having trouble coming up with some moving, intellectual, quotable words of wisdom for you to take away with you that would change your lives for the better!  So, instead, I'm going to use someone else's words:  "It's not the answer that really matters, but the search itself that makes us who we are."  Roberta Croteau said those wonderful, inspiring words.

I have known for a long time that isolation can be a trigger to a bipolar episode; however, I didn't realize how slowly isolation can creep up on you, whether you have bipolar disorder or not.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

Most of us have normal sleep patterns, with no complaints; however, many people have a hard time getting to sleep (insomnia).  Others are able to get to sleep at first, but have a hard time sleeping through the night (sleep disruption).  In fact, many people have been diagnosed with actual sleep disorders, such as Sleep Apnea, where they stop breathing in their sleep.  Sleep disturbances cause major problems for many people.

Although it originally started in Arizona in 2003, there's a WONDERFUL cost-free website that EVERYBODY WORLDWIDE can join, in order to reduce the amount of perfectly good items going in to land-fill sites, which will also save people money.