Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Understanding and Helping Your Partner

By: Julie A. Fast, John D. Preton

Narrated by: Jo Anna Perrin

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

An essential resource designed to help partners of people with bipolar disorder mend strained relationships, negotiate episodic crises, survive the turbulence manic behavior may cause, and more.

©2004 Julie A. Fast, John D. Preston (P)2011 Tantor

Definitely worth the read

If you could sum up Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder in three words, what would they be?

Informative, Validating, Honest

What other book might you compare Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder to and why?

This is the first book I've read about this topic.

How could the performance have been better?

I'm sure the narrator is a lovely lady, but her voice makes me zone out. The dialogues between people should've been read by different people. Her voice is so monotone that I would have to rewind because I wouldn't hear half of what she said. A different narrator would make this book much better.

What did you learn from Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder that you would use in your daily life?

I realized I was taking things personally when I shouldn't. I realized the disorder is much more serious than I initially thought. I understand now what I thought used to be personality flaws are really just bipolar symptoms.

Any additional comments?

I'm so glad I read this book. I think it will be the first step in making positive changes in my relationship. Thanks!

Just not for me

What made the experience of listening to Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder the most enjoyable?

The book does address major points of living with someone with Bipolar disorder - it just wasn't for me. The worksheets would likely help, but this book wasn't really conducive to driving which is when I have to do my listening.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It's a factual look at an illness. I'm not sure the story could be changed to make it more enjoyable.

Bipolar Has Strained My Marriage

Being the one with bipolar, this audio book has done wonders for me to see it from a different perspective. It is hard to hear at times, because I'm guilty of the behaviors the author points out. It really makes me appreciate the pain I've caused my spouse throughout our 17 year marriage. I wish I could have accepted my diagnosis earlier and worked to repair my marriage sooner. This audiobook will help those living with someone with bipolar, but also those with it to understand the wake we leave behind us.

Reality isn't always easy, facing it can be scary

I'm not the partner of a person with bipolar. l am a person with bipolar.

My partner won't read this type of book, so l did to try and get their perspective.

l didn't like it. l realise that although l am the sick one there is a lot l must try to do to save our relationship - if it is not already too late.

Great book for understanding loving someone with bipolar

This book helps describe the symptoms and triggers for someone with bipolar. Is your great ideas on how to understand them and work with the triggers. You just have to truly love and be a very patient person to stay married to someone with bipolar.

Life and Relationship Saver!

After 21 years of marriage my husband was diagnosed with Bipolar type 2. Needless to say I was shocked but looking back it made sense. This book has helped me navigate and help my husband not to mention myself and kids in ways I don't think I would have figured out of my own. I have the audio book and ebook with me at all times for reference. I can't stress enough how vital this book is to people with a loved one who has Bipolar.

Do not completely agree

Being diagnosed with bipolar 2 myself I Do agree with the treatment plan although there are some things I don't agree with. This book paints a picture that bipolar patients are on the extreme spectrum and that non bipolar people will experience extreme stress. Not all bipolar patients are extreme. Those who are, are not as common as the media portrays. If they are extreme those paitents most likely have not been diagnosed nor treated. Not all either have issues with work or finances or sex. This book also paints a picture that bipolar paitents due to their illness can't control their symptoms or that all of their moods are due to the disease and must always be treated sick. This is not true and one must view if their moods are bipolar or controlled. The book also says that love is a feeling and if those feelings are lost that one may consider leaving or not. Love is a verb. one must act to love. The feeling is the result of the action. Would a person not love someone if they have cancer? No. The same goes for bipolar. I know a few couples who also have one partner with bipolar who not only have the illness treated and controlled, they and their kids also have a very happy life. It is possible not impossible.

Get myself ready?

This might be helpful for a partner who needs to understand bipolar.... however no one should ever have to be their partners full time therapist. One cannot blame their bad behaviors on bipolar. Should a spouse help pave the way? Of course. If your spouse is bipolar plus narcissistic - npd, this book is not for you. Just run the other way.

PUBLISHING COMPANY SCREWS JULIE FAST

People who purchase this book may not know this, but this company is NOT compensating Julie for any Audiobook purchases. GET THE ACTUAL BOOK INSTEAD TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR.

-Rob, California

A Chapter Topic List would help.

The book is interesting but its unfortunate that the topics covered in each chapter aren't listed. It makes it impossible to find specific topics. Instead you just have to listed to the 9 hour book and hope it is going to cover what you want to learn about eventually. Super frustrating.

The title says it all...

I have downloaded 3 books on Bipolar Disorder, each with a different focus. This book focuses on the partner. However it is very informative and deals with the many symptoms of Bipolar. I don't fully agree with other comments I have read. The 'workload' is shared as much as it possibly can be, and the well-being of the partner (the target reader) is equally promoted. It faces the harsh realities and offers a logical approach to caring for someone with Bipolar Disorder. The narration is 'determined', as if each sentence is the punchline in a presentation. However, it is clear, and the book is well formatted and indexed.

I cannot say whether the techniques in the book work - I was on a fact finding mission - but I can say that I feel the content has helped me understand the condition more, and what could be done to make life better.