ACLR 001: Using Curiosity to Identify & Manage Mental Health Disorders with Julie A. Fast
How can you really tell who has a mental health disorder and who’s just…different?
This week we take a peek inside the brain, debunk myths of mental illness, and tackle coping strategies with expert Julie A. Fast.
Who is Julie A. Fast?
After living with untreated bipolar disorder for over 15 challenging and chaotic years, Julie was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder at the age of thirty-one. In 1998, after trying over a dozen different medications, she found herself at a life-or-death crossroads: The medications were not enough and the quality of her life was spiraling downward due to the drugs’ intolerable side effects.
World leading mental health expert on the topics of bipolar disorder, depression and mood disorder management.
Best selling author of four of the top selling books on mental health.
Award-winning columnist and winner of Mental Health America Journal Award for best mental health column in the US, and Mental Health America Excellence in Mental Health award.
Original consultant to Claire Danes for her role in Homeland. Go-to mental health specialist during times of mental health crises in the news (e.g., Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook mass shootings). Owner of one of the top mental health sites, BipolarHappens.com
International speaker, consultant, and coach.
What will you learn?
How to define and understand the different types of mental illness – mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders are not the same.
How to identify patterns that hide clues to mental illness.
How you can (or help loved ones) manage mental illness.
How many of us are mentally ill and how policy has gone wildly wrong.
How to understand suicide in a completely new way.
Stuff about mental illness that will blow your mind.
Curious questions.
WTF is mental illness anyway?
Should mentally ill people be banned from owning guns?
Aren’t we all mentally ill?
Links and resources:
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner by Julie Fast
Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder by Julie Fast
Bipolar Happens! 35 Tips and Tricks to Manage Bipolar Disorder by Julie Fast
Get It Done When You’re Depressed by Julie Fast
No, Really We Want You to Laugh by Dave Mowry
Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5
Julie’s article on Chris Cornell’s suicide
Better, Smarter, Richer by Jackie B. Peterson
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Thanks for Listening!
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Join the Tribe of the Curious.
Special thanks to Julie for joining me this week. Until next time!