Bipolar II: Enhance Your Highs, Boost Your Creativity, and Escape the Cycles of Recurrent Depression--The Essential Guide to Recognize and Treat the Mood Swings of This Increasingly Common Disorder 
asked by linda on November 23, 2006 2:43 AM
Thirty years ago, Dr. Ronald Fieve pioneered the use of lithium for what was then known as manic depression. His book Moodswing was a runaway hit, published in seven countries. Since then, Dr. Fieve has focused on patients with mild bipolaritywhat is now known as Bipolar II. He has discovered that Bipolar II patients arealmost across the boarddriven, successful, high-achieving individuals who, with the right treatment, can actually turn their illness into an asset. In this first book to concentrate exclusively on milder bipolarity, Dr. Fieve explains how newer drugs with fewer side effects are revolutionizing the treatment of Bipolar II. Some people with mild bipolarity may not require drugs at alljust a specific lifestyle program, which Dr. Fieve spells out in this book. In the past, many patients with the illness have resisted treatment because they did not want to give up the euphoria of the highs. But left untreated, the conditions lows can be devastatingsometimes resulting in suicide. Here, Dr. Fieve reveals his remarkably successful treatment program (with results supported by thousands of patient histories) that allows patients to keep the highs while minimizing the lows. And he explains how his program can help turn the illness into a positive and patients into what he calls bipolar beneficials.
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If you don't know what a bipolar disorder is (and you probably think you do but don't really know), this book will explain it. It will also explain how Bipolar II differs from Bipolar. But it's not just for some small group suffering from a specific illness.
We all know someone with some kind of mental illness or disorder, and probably none of us can say we've never had any dysfunction ourselves. I've known two people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorders, and both have much to offer the world. Unfortunately, they have had to suffer both stigma and a lack of understanding and support.
It annoys me that so many behavior problems are a matter of choice and discipline but are labeled a "disease." This is true of most people with obesity and inattention problems. It's not, however, true of people with bipolar disorders. So, it's good to read a book by an expert who has the big picture and accurately discerns what is what on the spectrum of mental conditions.
It's obvious that Fieve intended for this book to be profoundly useful. It is full of tools and information that will help a person who is dealing with a Bipolar-affected individual to understand what to look for and what to do. The book is also laced throughout with sidebars that list tips or that sum up material in that section of the book.
Like most laypersons, I want information--as opposed to misinformation or disinformation--and have to contend with many "snow jobs" along the way. That isn't helpful, but this book is. Properly presented and vetted information helps me form a framework for understanding what to do when faced with a problem I have neither the expertise nor the resources to solve. In reading this book, it quickly became obvious Fieve knows how to properly present and vet information.
Most people with Bipolar (and its cousin, Bipolar II) Disorder simply do not get the treatment that would help them. There are many reasons for this. One reason for this is the stigma. None of us wants to be thought of as a person who has "something wrong" with us. My personal take: there is no shame in having a bipolar or related disorder. The shame is in not taking care of it.
It's important to understand that such a disorder is not the affected person's fault. Many people assume it is, that a "Bipolar person" just lacks discipline or whatever. But in fact, doctors have reams of evidence--brain scans, chemical assays, MRIs, and so forth--showing this is a physical issue. There are things a person can do to treat a bipolar disorder and to avoid triggers--but the disorder itself isn't something the person is at fault for. We don't know what causes bipolar and related disorders.
The good news is such disorders treatable. The bad news is very few people with such a disorder can or will obtain treatment without the help of someone who knows what to look for and what to do. Partly, this is because the disorder itself affects the person's judgment in a way that s/he can't tell there's a problem. Worse, once an affected person begins to improve, s/he often feels "cured" and stops complying with the protocol.
The field of mental health is complicated. A close friend of my mother's has known me my whole life, and she's a mental health professional. I've gained an immense appreciation of this field by listening to her for all these years, and by also seeking her counsel occasionally on personal matters. One of the principles she espouses in dealing with other people is this. You can try to help them save themselves from drowning, but don't let them pull you down with them.
I think this book makes for one heck of a life preserver. Of course, that comes with a few caveats. The first is to realize that no book is going to make you a mental health expert. I am sure there are some people who will read this and then go around "diagnosing" other people. These are the same kind of folks who read some book on relationships and then tell you what's wrong with your marriage. They would both misunderstand and misapply this book.
This book is an excellent tool for developing the understanding you need to recognize the danger signs and to know how to proceed with the next steps. It does not claim to make you an expert, and no reader should infer that. Used properly, the information in this book will indeed help readers save others without being pulled down. Even if you aren't presently dealing with someone whose behavior gives you cause for concern, this book will prove useful for helping you understand more about people and maybe even yourself. That alone makes it worth reading.
A note on the writing: form is important, as it dictates readability. Fortunately, this book scored very well on substance and on form. This book actually uses Standard Written English (SWE). This was a refreshing change from the Pidgin English that so many of today's authors slop onto our reading palettes. The care taken in writing this book shows that the author and publisher actually cared about the reader. That's a huge plus.
We all know someone with some kind of mental illness or disorder, and probably none of us can say we've never had any dysfunction ourselves. I've known two people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorders, and both have much to offer the world. Unfortunately, they have had to suffer both stigma and a lack of understanding and support.
It annoys me that so many behavior problems are a matter of choice and discipline but are labeled a "disease." This is true of most people with obesity and inattention problems. It's not, however, true of people with bipolar disorders. So, it's good to read a book by an expert who has the big picture and accurately discerns what is what on the spectrum of mental conditions.
It's obvious that Fieve intended for this book to be profoundly useful. It is full of tools and information that will help a person who is dealing with a Bipolar-affected individual to understand what to look for and what to do. The book is also laced throughout with sidebars that list tips or that sum up material in that section of the book.
Like most laypersons, I want information--as opposed to misinformation or disinformation--and have to contend with many "snow jobs" along the way. That isn't helpful, but this book is. Properly presented and vetted information helps me form a framework for understanding what to do when faced with a problem I have neither the expertise nor the resources to solve. In reading this book, it quickly became obvious Fieve knows how to properly present and vet information.
Most people with Bipolar (and its cousin, Bipolar II) Disorder simply do not get the treatment that would help them. There are many reasons for this. One reason for this is the stigma. None of us wants to be thought of as a person who has "something wrong" with us. My personal take: there is no shame in having a bipolar or related disorder. The shame is in not taking care of it.
It's important to understand that such a disorder is not the affected person's fault. Many people assume it is, that a "Bipolar person" just lacks discipline or whatever. But in fact, doctors have reams of evidence--brain scans, chemical assays, MRIs, and so forth--showing this is a physical issue. There are things a person can do to treat a bipolar disorder and to avoid triggers--but the disorder itself isn't something the person is at fault for. We don't know what causes bipolar and related disorders.
The good news is such disorders treatable. The bad news is very few people with such a disorder can or will obtain treatment without the help of someone who knows what to look for and what to do. Partly, this is because the disorder itself affects the person's judgment in a way that s/he can't tell there's a problem. Worse, once an affected person begins to improve, s/he often feels "cured" and stops complying with the protocol.
The field of mental health is complicated. A close friend of my mother's has known me my whole life, and she's a mental health professional. I've gained an immense appreciation of this field by listening to her for all these years, and by also seeking her counsel occasionally on personal matters. One of the principles she espouses in dealing with other people is this. You can try to help them save themselves from drowning, but don't let them pull you down with them.
I think this book makes for one heck of a life preserver. Of course, that comes with a few caveats. The first is to realize that no book is going to make you a mental health expert. I am sure there are some people who will read this and then go around "diagnosing" other people. These are the same kind of folks who read some book on relationships and then tell you what's wrong with your marriage. They would both misunderstand and misapply this book.
This book is an excellent tool for developing the understanding you need to recognize the danger signs and to know how to proceed with the next steps. It does not claim to make you an expert, and no reader should infer that. Used properly, the information in this book will indeed help readers save others without being pulled down. Even if you aren't presently dealing with someone whose behavior gives you cause for concern, this book will prove useful for helping you understand more about people and maybe even yourself. That alone makes it worth reading.
A note on the writing: form is important, as it dictates readability. Fortunately, this book scored very well on substance and on form. This book actually uses Standard Written English (SWE). This was a refreshing change from the Pidgin English that so many of today's authors slop onto our reading palettes. The care taken in writing this book shows that the author and publisher actually cared about the reader. That's a huge plus.
reviewed by bulldogs on November 25, 2006 9:28 AM
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The book was very readable for patients and equally helpful to family members. I found this book to be an excellent resource book for patients and families who want to have a consultation on their bipolar condition.
reviewed by lovieduvie on November 28, 2006 1:11 AM