Bipolar Blog

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies

When we sat down to discuss our approach for Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, we considered the audience for the book and decided to address both those who have been diagnosed with BP and their friends and family members. One of the most challenging aspects of BP is that although only one person might carry the diagnosis, friends and family members are all affected by BP in some way and all play an important role in reducing stress and assisting the person who has BP obtain and maintain treatment.

Both of us (Candida in her practice and Joe in his family) noticed that family members, simply by being uninformed, can unwittingly increase the stress that often triggers a mood episode. The family member who has BP is more sensitive to stressors and is the one who eventually “takes the hit” for any dysfunction in the family, and then that person gets tagged as “the problem,” which, to say it nicely, sure doesn’t help a whole lot. We wanted to ensure that friends and family members are well aware of their roles and responsibilities. By becoming better informed, through our book and other sources of accurate information, family and friends can learn more effective techniques for communicating with one another and building a more effective support network.

To develop a clearer understanding of what BP feels like from the eyes of someone who’s living with it, we strongly recommend An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison. Our book is more of a comprehensive how-to manual that discusses the diagnosis and the most effective treatment options currently available. We believe that medication alone is very helpful but often not completely effective, for whatever reason, and we recommend several therapies in addition to medication, including cognitive behavioral therapy, social rhythm therapy, and relationship and family therapy. We also discuss alternative therapies, some of which are complete bunk and others of which some people with BP have found helpful. By presenting the available tools and helping readers steer clear of useless or counterproductive alternatives, we hope to enable those with BP and their families, with the guidance of their qualified doctors and therapists, to structure a treatment plan that works most effectively for all involved.

Listed on Oprah Select!

The Ups and Downs of Raising a Bipolar Child

Bipolar disorder has recently been identified as one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed conditions affecting children — and it is dramatically on the rise. The Ups and Downs of Raising a Bipolar Child gives parents the sound advice and expert information they need to cope with this challenging diagnosis, and shows how to provide essential care and support for a bipolar child as well as for the rest of the family.

Praise for the Book

“A sympathetic roadmap….It not only outlines the territory, but it reminds the reader how sensitive these children are and offers helpful suggestions that can make life smoother.”
Janice Papolos
Coauthor of The Bipolar Child

“This book gives poignant firsthand accounts of what it is like to be the parent of a child with bipolar disorder. For those who are looking for assistance and guidance from a parent’s perspective, the book provides reasonable, commonsense suggestions that caregivers are likely to find quite helpful.”
Robert L. Findling, M.D.
Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

“The authors provide a tremendous service to parents with bipolar children. The information provided is comprehensive and specific. This book fills a big wide gaping hole that those in need will deeply appreciate.”
Miriam Arond
Editor-in-Chief, Child Magazine

“This is the book I was looking for years ago and couldn’t find! The authors have captured the experience of parenting children with bipolar disorder, and have provided validation and support for this most important journey.”
Ruth Field, M.S.W.
Past President and Cofounder, Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation