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“Bipolar disorder can make you feel as if you’ve lost control of your life. With practical, easy-to-implement wisdom, Dr. Miklowitz shows how to regain a sense of control over this sometimes frustrating, often baffling illness. His insights are invaluable for anyone who has a bipolar diagnosis, or who cares about someone who does. It’s rare to find so much clinical expertise combined with such genuine compassion.”

—Terri Cheney, author of Manic: A Memoir


“This is an excellent book—a very practical guide to living with bipolar disorder. Dr. Miklowitz, an acclaimed authority in the treatment of mood disorders, provides clear and valuable suggestions for how to navigate a seemingly unnavigable condition.”

—Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, author of An Unquiet Mind


“This is the book I’ve been longing to read! As a family member of several people with bipolar disorder, I find Dr. Miklowitz’s book to be an invaluable resource. He writes with authority, warmth, and compassion. It’s the salve every family like mine needs.”

—Meg Kissinger, author of While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence


“It is amazing how Dr. Miklowitz takes complex scientific information and boils it down to an accessible guide on how to live with bipolar disorder gracefully. Every conceivable practical aspect of life is covered, from anxiety to sex, from suicidal thoughts to dealing with bosses and coworkers, from combating insomnia to managing anger and irritability. An incredible resource!”

—Michael J. Gitlin, MD, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA Health

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Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction: Getting to Know Yourself through Mood Charting

I. Psychological Challenges: Being Your Own Ally

1. Depression: Prevention and Coping Strategies

2. Mania: Minimizing Severity and Reducing Frequency

3. Coping with Anxiety and Worry

4. Dealing with Irritability and Anger

5. Protecting Yourself from Suicidality and Self-Harm

II. Domains of Life: Managing Daily Routines and Stress

6. Strategies for Healthy Sleep

7. Effective Communication with Family Members

8. Thriving with a Partner: Dating, Sex, and Long-Term Relationships

9. Making the Best Use of Your Skills at Work and School

10. Staying Healthy: Physical Activity

11. Staying Healthy: Eating and Nutrition

12. Managing Alcohol and Substance Use

III. Your Treatments: Making the Most of Medications and Therapy

13. Taking Charge of Your Medications

14. Psychosocial Treatment: Living Well while Maintaining Mood Stability

Bibliography

Index

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About the Author

David J. Miklowitz, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, and Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He is author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide and Living Well with Bipolar Disorder, for general readers, and several award-winning books for professionals, including Bipolar Disorder: A Family-Focused Treatment Approach. Dr. Miklowitz has published over 300 scientific articles and 70 book chapters. He has won Distinguished Investigator awards from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. Dr. Miklowitz is one of the few psychologists to have received the Award for Research in Mood Disorders from the American College of Psychiatrists.

• Author's website
• All titles by David J. Miklowitz

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Audience

Adults with BD; also of interest to family members and mental health professionals.