Bipolar Breakthrough: The Essential Guide to Going Beyond Moodswings to Harness Your Highs, Escape the Cycles of Recurrent Depression, and T

by Ronald R. Fieve

Book Overview

More than 30 years ago, Ronald R. Fieve, MD, gained national recognition for his pioneering treatment of what was then known as "manic-depression." Since then, he has focused on patients with mild bipolarity, also known as Bipolar II. With the right treatment, these patients can turn their illness into an asset.
In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Fieve presents a highly successful program that allows Bipolar II patients to harness the creativity...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1605296457
• ISBN13: 9781605296456
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Rodale Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

For bipolar 2 Patients

Explains in easy to read english what bipolar 2 is and various treatments.

insight and optimism

gee, why is it that this book has 4 & 5 star reviews, and 1 and 2 star reviews, but no 3 star reviews? Could it be that everyone writing a review is either MANIC or DEPRESSED?!? I really liked this book. One reason is that it's one of the few books that's honestly given me cause for optimism - I can be my old, confident, hyperactive self again, at least sometimes. I don't have to mope around and play video games for the rest of my life or sit on a park bench with a bottle in a paper bag going, 'I coulda been a contenda!'. It also gave me an understanding of what it was all about - it's actually a mixture of monopolar and bipolar, and, like homosexuality, you can be anywhere from 0% to 100% bipolar. And it also woke me up to the mildly bipolar people in my family and all around me. It's really fairly common, like in silicon valley where I am.

BIPOLAR PATIENT FOR 20 YEARS

THIS BOOK IS PROBABLY THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ON THE TOPIC OF BIPOLAR II MOOD DISORDER. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT FOR THE PATIENT AND ESPECIALLY FAMILY MEMBERS SEEKING UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMATION.Moodswing: Dr. Fieve on Depression: The Eminent Psychiatrist Who Pioneered the Use of Lithium in America Reveals a Revolutionary New Way to Prevent Depression

Potentially Life-Changing

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

Brilliant and Helpful

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.