Here, in this place--in your place--to be a "follower" is a sign of strength. Follow then, and learn, for you've nothing to lose except confusion.

Living & Surviving as a Bipolar:

1. Crisis Plan/Advanced Directive For The Diagnosed - This is a form, created by Mary Ellen Copeland, that you MUST get, fill out, sign with an attorney and place in the hands of those persons who may have to make decisions about your care should you become unable to. Visit her website here, and be sure to complete a directive (A Must Do Task).
   
   
2. Mental Illness in the Family - Part III: Is Hospitalization Necessary? - "Of the 5.4 million people who sought mental health treatment in 1990, less than 7% required hospitalization. More than half of those who needed inpatient-care had schizophrenia, one of the most severe forms of mental illness. If you, or someone you know, have a mental illness, the chances are that you will not need hospitalization. But, if you do, the following information will help assure you of the best care possible."
   
   
3. Sleep Loss Can Trigger Mania -- This is a newspaper clip from Reuters detailing some of the problems associated with sleep deprivation and bipolar disorder.
   
   
4. SleepNet - For those who need some help with regulating sleep and dealing with sleep disorders, this is a superb site. Highly recommended
   
   
5. Joy's Famous People File: Living Bipolars and Unipolars -- It's Joy's site alright, and probably the best known list on the net. I include it here and under the creativity page. It's in this section just to make you feel good. If these folks can achieve greatness while battling this illness, then what might you achieve?
   
   
6. Bipolar NOT Bonkers -- Visit Sandy at her lovely website - dedicated to those living with Bipolar Disorder. I highly recommend it to each of you,  . . .especially to my readers who have a strong Christian faith. And thank you dear Sandy for the beautiful award :)
   
   
7. Violence and mental Illness -- "People who have mental illnesses very rarely make the news. The overwhelming majority even those with severe disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder want only to live in dignity, free from the suffering brought by their illnesses."
   
   
8. Mental Illness and Homelessness -- "Approximately 20-25% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness (Koegel et al., 1996). Despite the disproportionate number of severely mentally ill people among the homeless population, the growth in homelessness is not attributable to the release of severely mentally ill people from institutions."
   
   
9. Manic-Depressive Illness: An information book for patients, their families and friends -- Erika Bukkfalvi Hillard, MSW, RSW Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C. Winter 1992 - You simply cannot afford to miss this booklet of incredibly useful information for virtually everyone in the bipolar circle. Extremely Good!!
   
   
10. What to Do (On & Off the Web) In the Six Weeks You're Waiting For Your Antidepressant to Kick In -- Deb Deren offers some good advice for getting through those tough first weeks on new medication.Worth checking out.
    
    
11. Journey Back to Sanity: A personal tale by Susan Dime-Meenan about how she lived through years of undiagnosed illness and her ultimate success at achieving wellness and equilibrium.
    
    
12. Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families -- This is such a useful article that you will be doing yourself an unbelievable disservice if you fail to read it and apply the information available here. Topics addressed include discussions for family coping, stress reduction, help in remaining treatment compliant and even another mood chart you can use if the one on this site doesn't suit you.
    
    
13. Re-Experiencing The Self: Controlled Manic-Depressive Disorder -- An unpublished guide-circa mid 1970's-written by Rochelle Cashdan, Ph.D. shortly following her own bipolar diagnosis and stabilisation. Historically interesting.
    
    
14. Study: Warning About Mixing Prescription Drugs Not Always Given -- An article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal / The Atlanta Constitution, Monday, August 19, 1996, this essay explains the results of a study that showed that pharmacists rarely fully or adequately explained the dangers involved in mixing medications.
    
    
15. Depressive Illness: The Medical Facts/The Human Challenge - Find here some good information on choosing a doctor, psychotherapy, using a mood chart and more Worth a peek