The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Second Edition: What You and Your Family Need to Know

All selections were well worth reading. It took tremendous courage for each author to write their personal memoirs about their struggles with Bipolar Disorder. I am grateful that they took the risk in order to to help others better understand the illness and the volatile moods and often devastating behaviors of those who suffer with it, as well as the challenges and difficult decisions that those who love them must face. These personal stories help to further open the public conversation on what was once a hushed and even tabooed topic and, hopefully, they will provide greater compassion and understanding for all who suffer with mental illness. For in depth knowledge of symptoms, diagnostic tools, distinguishing characteristics and symptoms of bipolar disorder in various forms, and contrasts with often misdiagnosed mental disorders, and appropriate and effective treatments, "The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Second Edition" by David J. Miklowitz, is indispensable to the patient and those who love them. Although the patient must acknowledge and take responsibility for seeking and complying with treatment, it also underlines the important role of family and friends in supporting and encouraging those diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), and it provides a guide for all who must make this challenging journey. For a balanced blend of courageously shared personal experiences and incredible medical and psychological knowledge, Kay Redfield Jamison's books are, to my knowledge, unparalleled. Her writing is fluid, poetic, and deeply moving. Each word seems to be carefully chosen to express her thoughts and feelings; each phrase is beautifully crafted, imbued with warmth, passion, and raw honesty. Her works are certainly scholarly in content and contribute greatly to both the medical body of knowledge and greater understanding for non medical readers. Moreover, Kay Redfield Jamison's prose draws you in in closer and closer, first speaking to your mind, but then, also touching your heart in a way that makes you feel that you are moving through her journey with her. To me it was so compelling that I could not put the book down until I had experienced the last page.

When I was first diagnosed, I would have been too drugged to read this book. After being toxic on and off with lithium toxity I read this book. I believe I have read every piece of literature available and that includes two textbooks. I realized for the first time the loss of memory and now the loss of balance had to do with my medication. I called a neurologist I had seen and he made room for me right away. I had been on medication four times stronger than today for over twenty years. I have a life today. I have control over what I am going to take and have lots of room to make that decision. I report what is happening and how I am doing each day and also complete a mood chart which I have done daily for over 19 years. This book describes everything I have been through up to the end when the neurologist diagnosed me right away in his office. I had a terrific non-medical detox, the last four hours of which I thought I was going to die. I have a full life today. I have completed my MBA. I have become a speaker, writer and photographer and now operate an online business called CHS Online Ventures LLC This is the most complete, EASY To READ book on the market today. It is very accurate. I could relate to every page. This would have been perfect when I was diagnosed, for my family, and great for me a month or so down the line. I refer to it often. I bought the Kindle version the minute it was for sale. If you are bipolar (I am a bipolar one) and want to make sure you are having the best life possible, read this book. It covers material more accurately than any psychiatrist did for me in over twenty years. This book has saved my life. I would have likely gone into organ failure, including my brain, within days. This is the cheapest bipolar information and suggestions that really work. I have found it the most accurate of anything I have read in over twenty years. I don't know how I can recommend it more.

This was a thorough and informative book. The author kept an upbeat and reaffirming tone throughout and Bipolar disorders were explained in an understandable and encouraging way. This would be a good book for anyone wanting to better understand the disorder. the information was clear and complete. However, if you lean towards finding treatments that are not drug-cure oriented, I would supplement your reading with other books by people who have overcome this illness without a constant reliance on medication. There is so much new information on the brain and how it works, that I would search out additional resources before deciding on a medical treatment.

I truly am thankful to this guide. It probably saved my life. I was able to understand more of my condition, why I act certain ways, and was introduced to tools that have become essential in my day-to-day life now. *It is written amazingly well. You can actually understand the author's writing and know that he's not trying to lose you or show off his medical term knowledge. If he introduces difficult terms, he actually defines them in an easy-to-get manner. *This updated guide (I've read the first and second editions) allows for more in-depth review of the current medications out there for bipolar disorder and gives a little more insight into parenting information and women's issues with the disorder/meds. *It provides a quick "cheat sheet," if you will, that you can copy and give to family and friends so that they can understand more of the disorder. *Lastly, this guide includes real testimony from real people with both classifications of bipolar disorder. I felt a little less like the lone sufferer in the disorder after reading how other people have been dealing with this disorder. I would buy this again and if anyone else had questions of this sometimes disabling disorder, I'd recommend this book to them in a heartbeat.

This book is saving my life. I haven't finished it yet, as I'm taking my time to really absorb everything and fill out the worksheets included. After I finish, I am encouraging my fiancee to read it (so he knows what he's getting himself into) and then my mom, so she can finally understand what I am going through. Jamison's An Unquiet Mind, in my experience, is a great read for the bipolar sufferer, as you will see that there are others out there who are going through what you are going through, but THIS book is perfect for the sufferer and his/her loved ones. It goes through the science of what is happening in the brain and genes (don't worry, Miklowitz breaks it down to be easily understood), covers the various drugs that your doctor might prescribe, treatment options, and actual steps you can take to get better! Thanks to this book, I have taken big steps in the right direction to control my moods - avoiding alcohol, keeping to a regular sleep schedule, and charting my moods to look for patterns. By the way, the mood chart recommended in this book is no longer available at the website given, but with a little Google-Fu you'll be able to find it easily. I give this book a perfect 5/7.

This is essentially the best book if you go by amazon feedback and rankings or simply when you type in books on bipolar. The author is a bit of a big deal and there was some great stuff in here but I kind of expected more. There was some good insight and tips in the earlier chapters but I think it is a shame that nobody really has written what I would call a "classic" book on bipolar - I certainly haven't read every book, but I have read a few and each tends to have some nuggets but each one falls short of expectations. Maybe I need to write my own and get critiqued myself, I know it is no easy feat!

I was diagnosed Bipolar I at the beginning of July, 2013. It's currently mid-August 2013. This guide is practical, helpful, and thorough. The advice given by the author has helped me learn my triggers, helped me understand my medications, and has helped me keep an eye out on the typical pitfalls found by those suffering from bipolar disorder. So far, I've begun mood charting (to help find my triggers), talked openly with my psychiatrist about medications and their usage, and benefited from psychotherapy. I have taken away from this book the good questions to ask about medications, the importance of psychotherapy AND medication, how to identify triggers, and how biological this disorder really is. For someone newly diagnosed, it has everything, including a chapter on how bipolar affects women specifically around their menstrual cycle (things I hadn't even considered!). In the darkness of the diagnosis, this book was a lighthouse to my wayward ship. I recommend it to anyone diagnosed with or who loves someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. (You also learn a lot about how manic doesn't look like it is portrayed - always happy. The irritability is how my manic episodes manifest...#justsayin')

I have been diagnosed with bipolar, type 1 disorder for 15 years but have had it all my life. I'm 62 years old. It is something I keep to myself and rarely tell anyone because how the general populations views or judges mental health disorders."Oh! she must be crazy! Watch out, she has bipolar! She may have an episode and hurt herself or her friends!" I believe that public perception has gotten more aware and educated about bipolar recently and possibly more accepting as several famous people have been open about having this disorder and treatments. It is no different than having a chronic disease/disorder such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, etc. It's still hard as a person with this diagnosis to accept this disorder and be one with day to day challenges and now the label of Bipolar. This book has been such an amazing educational help to me, my family and my friends. I now purchase copies and highlight a few pages that completely describe what I am experiencing and it has helped all of us understand the ups and downs....the ins and outs I highly recommend this book. You can open it to anywhere and will find education and answers and help to the questions and problems you may face on a daily basis.

Great book! Full of easy to follow and practical knowledge on bipolar. I especially like the stories of others diagnosed with bipolar.

Muito util. Recomendo para pessoas que necessitam um norte para sair da espiral destrutiva que só quem passa por isto sabe como é difícil.

Really really very useful.. Comphrensive, reliable. So many examples. Covers all topics.

Encontré información oportuna de la condición y de otras condiciones que son parecidas y que valen la pena considerar. Los síntomas se exponen de manera clara y en general es un excelente libro de consulta.

Miklowitz's book about how to live with and to live with one that has bipolar disorder is well written. Miklowitz writes with deep respect for everyone who is in touch with the disease. Be that the ill person him- og herself, family relative, friends or work colleagues. The book gives you a well founded review of the disease itself and the medications and various therapy techniques available to improve life conditions and hopefully make this more bearable. According to Miklowitz's you can't do without medication, in which I certainly agree, while therapy can do a lot of good, but it can't stand alone, and works onlyunder the condition that medical treatment is undertaken. Most exciting perhaps is the chapters about especially what you as a patient can do to improve your condition. The book reviews different tools - eg. a mood chart - which can be of help in coping with the disease. I think tools like these can be very important for many. Think about relatives, colleagues and so on, who perhaps find it very difficult to accept that bipolar disorder is a disaese which you can medicate, but probably not cure. Often they get the impression that the patient uses the excuse, that because of this his or her behaviour is out of his or her own control. Here you get some tools where you a least can try to do something actively to make conditions better. The books mix of reviews of the disease, its medication, therapy and tools for working actively as a patient with yourself in combination with its writing style makes it in my opinion an excellent book for all who wants to know more of the subject without needing reading several hundred or thousands pages. My recommendations to this book. Niels Peter Hermansen The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know