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Book Review of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know
Helpful Score: 5


I believe this is a great book to help in the managing of your bipolar disorder. The book has a lot of exercises and worksheets to help you discover patterns in your depression or mania so you can "head them off at the pass," as the author puts it. Some of the exercises and chapters in the book include a family tree exercise intended to help you see how genetics may have played a role in your disorder; there is a mood chart to help you figure what triggers your change in mood; there are suggestions on writing a contract with loved ones to help you during manic or suicidal periods; info on sleep-wake cycles; a section on scheduling pleasurable activities; and also a chapter devoted to work place issues and how the Americans with Disabilities Act can help you.

What I found especially helpful was the section on keeping a regulated sleep-wake schedule. It helped me realize that I have a problem with "sleep bingeing." I didn't know that there was a term for it or that it is a common bipolar problem, but now I do and I also have greater knowledge of how to prevent sleep bingeing.

I recommend this book for the day to day management for bipolar!