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.

I have bipolar disorder Type 1 and I've recommended this book to people who have bipolar disorder and purchased copies for friends. It is a comprehensive book about bipolar disorder which is packed with useful information. Although I don't agree with the idea of telling coworkers about having the condition (this is one idea about how to handle bipolar disorder at work, with another idea given to not disclose the condition at work), I find the book to be useful overall.

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.

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