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134 of 139 found the following review helpful:
 Help in Understanding this terrible condition Apr 05, 2005
By Sarah Luciani
I first off want to say that I am dissapointed in some of the reviews I have read regarding this book. The Woman who wrote this book never claimed to be the "Be all, Give all" answer to Bipolar disorder. Bipolar is a broad spectrum illness and while one may suffer from severe manic episodes, another may be depressed all the time. One may spend money wildly, another may have slight irritation. I am speaking from personal experience, as I, my mother and sister all have Bipolar disorder and none of our symptoms are the same. I read a review where one woman was upset about her husband taking away her credit cards because people with bipolar can have spending problems. That doesn't mean everyone with bipolar has spending problems!! If her husband took away her credit cards that sounds like a personal issue in their marriage, and if it is due to one book that he read and not due to characteristics of his wife, then that still sounds like a problem!!
What I enjoyed about this book is that it gave me a greater sense of understanding of my mother's erratic behavior, and illness. I have bipolar also, but very mildly so. My mother is extremely manic, and my family and I have spent years being mad about her erratic behavior, spending sprees etc. This book helps to bring you back to a loving place with someone that has this illness. It helps you see that much of the time it is the disease talking and not the person. I am learning to forgive my Mother and recognize her behaviors much better now due to this book. I am coming to a place where I see I can't save her,I can accept who she is, and be more loving about it. If you really care about someone with Bipolar and want to learn how to love them more, I suggest reading this book.
64 of 65 found the following review helpful:
a great resourse for family members Jun 06, 2004
My daughter has bipolar disorder. She was diagnosed at 31 and has struggled with her medications and life style management for years. Her parther bought this book and asked me to read it as well. What a difference this book has made for us! I have so much trouble knowing what mood swing my daughter is having. I can never remember what is what and I always seemed to do the wrong thing to help her. This book has finally given me the tools I need to learn what to do when I see the first signs that she's getting sick. Julie Fast constantly reminds the reader that bipolar is an illness and there is often a pattern to the mood swings. I used to think my daughter was just out of control all of the time. She could never settle down and she was always trying something new to make her life better. I understand this more now. I understand pyschosis more as well as the anger she often has when she's sick. This book has helped us so much. I just never knew whether to leave her alone and let her mess up or to get involved and get her mad at me. Now I have tools and they work. Suicide is my biggest worry, but we now have it out in the open. This helps me with my worry and guilt that I don't or can't do enough to help her. This is a tough illness, but there is hope. Things are a lot less stressful for us now.
62 of 64 found the following review helpful:
Straight talk, real help! Apr 16, 2004
After several years of living with a bipolar disorder person, and consulting every book, article, and medical journal I could find, as well as consulting with psychiatrists, psychologists, and support groups, I can truly say that Julie Fast and John Preston have done an outstanding job of creating the most comprehensive resource to date for friends and families of loved ones suffering with bipolar disorder. They have spelled out very frankly the subtelties that indicate a mood change is coming on and the chaos and horrors that can befall the vicitms of mania and depression. Their guidance gives the reader the necessary information to help, yet counsels a compassionate response. Objective, knowledgabe helpers can be a lifeline to their loved ones when they are ill. I have never seen this much information and level of detail in one place before. It has taken me years to collect this volume of information, some of it at a a very dear cost -- here it is in one book. If you love someone with bipolar disorder, buy and read this book -- every person in my family is getting their own copy. Many thanks to Fast and Preston!
31 of 31 found the following review helpful:
A Relationship Saver - Literally Jul 19, 2004
By S. Perez
This book was a life saver for our relationship. It gave us a reality check on issues that we were facing and taught us how to deal with them hands on. Before reading this book, I thought that I could deal with Bi-polar in my partner. I had NO idea what that meant. This book was completely honest in the expectations. It was an eye-opener. It helped me realize that Bi-polar is treatable and helped me realize that I wasn't alone. It gives real examples of treatment plans. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has someone in their life with bi-polar (not just a partner) a friend, sibling, parent, child etc. Thank you Julie for taking the time to write this amazing book!
26 of 26 found the following review helpful:
BUY this book, early Sep 10, 2005
By Brian Hunt
"BrianHunt"
I found this book quite by accident while looking for something to read at Borders. I was diagnosed as bipolar about a year ago. But in the previous two yearsfore diagnosis, I wrecked my marriage, my finances, was suicidal, and almost bankrupted my company. With medication, good support around me, i am doing much better. Most bipolar people do not think anything is wrong, only that people around them are distressed. My advantage (disadvantage) is that my Dad also developed the disease at midlife and so I know i have the same thing, and that all things i do or say do not always make sense.
I honestly believe that having this book earlier in my condition and having a spouse who used the techniques described, would have saved my marriage and finances.
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