Julie A. Fast is the bestselling author of Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder: A Four Step Plan to Help You and Your Loved Ones Manage the Illness and Find Lasting Stability and Get it Done When You’re Depressed: 50 Strategies for Keeping Your Life on Track. Julie won the Mental Health America Journalism Award for her columnist work in BP Magazine and the Eli Lilly Reintegration Award for her work in the bipolar disorder management field. Julie is a regular speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Julie’s frequent coauthor, Dr. John Preston specializes in the medications used to treat adult onset bipolar disorder as well as pediatric bipolar disorder and guides Julie in all of her writing and advice regarding medications. Julie is a coach for partners and family members of people with bipolar disorder and has one of the top bipolar disorder blogs on the web at www.BipolarHappens.com/bhblog. For more information about Julie’s work, please visit www.JulieFast.com
Bio
- Ms. Julie A. Fast
- @https://twitter.com/JulieBipolar
Specialties:
- Mental Health
- Psychology
- View Credentials
Affiliation:
- Bipolar Disorder and Depression, Teen Mental Health, Author
Location:
- Portland, OR
Group Memberships
Credentials
- Honors or Awards
-
Eli Lilly Reintegration Award for work in the field of bipolar disoder and depression.
Activity
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How can I help my young child with bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is triggered by life events. Preparing for symptoms is the #1 way to help a young child manage the illness. Birthday parties, for example, offer a perfect environment to help your ...
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Why is bipolar disorder difficult to diagnose?
I think it's quite easy to diagnose bipolar disorder once you know the basics of the illness. Bipolar Disorder doesn't change much in terms of symptoms—what changes is the s...
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What is sport psychology?
I have a concept in my depression book Get it Done When You're Depressed called Think Like an Athlete. Take a moment and think of the qualities that make an elite athlete. They get out on the...
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Is there a blood test for bipolar disorder?
Unfortunately, there is no blood test to tell you if you have bipolar disorder. (I wish!) Instead, blood tests are used to measure drug levels as well as basic bodily needs. Here is a list of spec...
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How can I help my child after a suicide attempt?
The first thing to remember is that suicide is a very common symptom of bipolar disorder. I’ve been suicidal off and on for 20 years. I used to be so scared of the symptoms and then one day I...
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As a teen, how do I tell my friends that I have bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is no longer a taboo subject. I’ve heard kids in high school talk about it openly. My friend Amanda is in 11th grade, so I asked her what she knew about the illness. Her ans...
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As a parent, how can I get my child to talk about his bipolar disorder?
Moms and dads have very different relationships with their children. I’ve learned this through years of coaching. The mother is often the one who talks about the illness, asks the child to ta...
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Can I test myself for bipolar disorder?
Sure—ask yourself these questions. Have I ever been depressed? If yes, then . . . Have I ever been depressed and then suddenly felt incredibly better? Like a cloud had been lifted from my...
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What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is an illness that affects a person’s ability to regulate their moods. Bipolar disorder is easy to understand as the symptoms stay the same for everyone. But it’s a ver...
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Does bipolar disorder run in families?
If your partner has bipolar disorder, an important topic for you to discuss with your partner and your other family members is the genetic risk your children have of developing bipolar disorder. Wh...
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Who can diagnose bipolar disorder?
A diagnosis should be made by a licensed psychiatrist, although nowadays many people are diagnosed by general practitioners or other mental health professionals who may or may not have the necessar...
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What is the link between depression and sexuality?
One symptom of depression is a lack of sexual desire. But sex with a loving partner could help a person manage depression. It is very likely that orgasms are accompanied by a release of endorphins...
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How is major depression different from bipolar disorder?
The main difference between major depression and bipolar disorder is mania. A person absolutely can’t have bipolar disorder unless they have had a manic episode. There are no excepti...
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What are some useful tips for adults with ADHD?
I’ll answer this with a personal story—here is some background. I have bipolar disorder and was very ill for ten years. I finally found the right mix of meds and management strategies a...
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What are the effects of ADD/ADHD medications?
I developed ADD later in life. It’s now very severe. I always assumed it was a symptom of my bipolar depression, but even though my depression is better, the ADD is as strong as ever. I&rsquo...
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