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Bipolar Disorder: The Ultimate Guide
Written in a highly-accessible question and answer format, this comprehensive and compassionate guide draws on the latest research, a broad range of expert opinion, numerous real-life voices and personal experiences from people with bipolar. With a list of useful resources, it is both the perfect first port of call and a reference bible you can refer to time and time again.
From how to recognize the symptoms to how to explain to a child that their parent has been diagnosed, first cousins Amanda and Sarah – who have four close family members diagnosed with the condition – explore and explain absolutely everything that someone with bipolar disorder (and those who live with and love them) needs to know.
From how to recognize the symptoms to how to explain to a child that their parent has been diagnosed, first cousins Amanda and Sarah – who have four close family members diagnosed with the condition – explore and explain absolutely everything that someone with bipolar disorder (and those who live with and love them) needs to know.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2008
46 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Owen
77 books6 followersSarah Owen has been a health journalist for UK newspapers and glossy magazines, such as Psychologies and Cosmopolitan, for fourteen years.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 13, 2024
“It’s so common, it could be anyone. The trouble is, nobody wants to talk about it. And that makes everything worse. We need to take the stigma out of mental illness. People shouldn’t be ashamed of it.” - Ruby Wax.
Bipolar Disorder: the ultimate guide is a resourceful book about bipolar disorder. Everything from facts about it, to people living with it, and the family supporting them, you also get to know treatment, how to help, and more.
As someone who is going to therapy and finding out my own mood swings, this was really helpful. My psychiatrist told me to read about bipolar disorder, and I felt incredibly seen. But, we are still “investigating” if I have it; writing down my mood (recently went through an extreme depression), talking about it in therapy, medication, etc.
If you want to learn more about bipolar disorder I’d recommend this one. It has the answer to literally anything you might have questions about. Or if you have recently been diagnosed, or want to read other people’s experience’s about it: you are definitely not alone 🫶
“One of the things that baffles me (and there are quite a few) is how there can be so much lingering stigma with regards to mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. In my opinion, living with manic depression takes a tremendous amount of balls.” - Carrie Fisher.
Happy reading!♥️
May 4, 2018
For some reason, I lost interest about this. Most likely because I did not find anything new. Still, a good guide for the newly diagnosed. I have recommended it to several patients.
January 8, 2025
4 ⭐
Sehr interessantes Nachschlagewerk, wo jede 'dumme' Frage beantwortet wird.
Den Großteil habe ich nur überflogen, da man im Falle des Falles nochmal nachschlagen kann bzw ich vieles auch wusste.
Außerdem war meine Edition von 2008, also nicht mehr ganz Up To Date. Und das UK-Gesundheitssystem + Abläufe ist für mich auch nicht relevant.
If you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, there’s no doubt that life has dealt you a challenging hand...
- Bipolar Disorder: The Ultimate Guide, p. 1
Sehr interessantes Nachschlagewerk, wo jede 'dumme' Frage beantwortet wird.
Den Großteil habe ich nur überflogen, da man im Falle des Falles nochmal nachschlagen kann bzw ich vieles auch wusste.
Außerdem war meine Edition von 2008, also nicht mehr ganz Up To Date. Und das UK-Gesundheitssystem + Abläufe ist für mich auch nicht relevant.
February 21, 2022
it doesn’t happen often that just information makes one cry…
not much depth, but a lot of surface - great for newly diagnosed :):
a big minus is that the resources are focused on U.K.
not much depth, but a lot of surface - great for newly diagnosed :):
a big minus is that the resources are focused on U.K.
July 5, 2010
A useful handbook of contacts, and written from experience by the two authors whose lives have been interconnected by the condition. Lots of other first person testimonies. Throughout, an emphasis that 'bipolar' cannot be 'cured' but managed so that life can be fulfilling and reasonably happy.
Some of it seems to me a little thin, such as sections on complementary therapies and nutrition: skeptical I may be, but I am to be convinced about mood food and vitamin therapy, while not dismissing the need for a good diet.
Particularly helpful is the continuous focus upon those supporting sufferers and words of advice for them.
I'm not sure this is an ultimate guide. I think that without going into arcane jargon it would have been possible to offer some more on the ongoing debates about what constitutes bipolar, and, also more on the possibility of misdiagnosis. Possibly one of the problems in attempting an overview manual is the wide diversity in the customary spectrum of the disorder, which can be qualitatively different in its attributes, and range from the mild to the very severe in its impact upon a person's life. Nevertheless, overall it is helpful, useful and supportive.
Some of it seems to me a little thin, such as sections on complementary therapies and nutrition: skeptical I may be, but I am to be convinced about mood food and vitamin therapy, while not dismissing the need for a good diet.
Particularly helpful is the continuous focus upon those supporting sufferers and words of advice for them.
I'm not sure this is an ultimate guide. I think that without going into arcane jargon it would have been possible to offer some more on the ongoing debates about what constitutes bipolar, and, also more on the possibility of misdiagnosis. Possibly one of the problems in attempting an overview manual is the wide diversity in the customary spectrum of the disorder, which can be qualitatively different in its attributes, and range from the mild to the very severe in its impact upon a person's life. Nevertheless, overall it is helpful, useful and supportive.
November 3, 2023
I found Sarah Owen’s and Amanda Saunders’ Bipolar Disorder: The Ultimate Guide helpful and informative to me personally when I was going through a period of hypomania in 2014. It didn’t stop me from being hospitalised shortly after, but it did provide me with huge insight, which many of the nurses and doctors noted in hospital.
One of the key strengths of the book is that it documents the comments and views of both those who suffer from the illness as well as their family members and carers, therefore creating an exhaustive and engaging read on the illness. It has a very accessible format being organised in the form of questions and answers, meaning readers can access the material as they please. The six main areas the book covers are: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis; Treatment; Support; Hospital Care; Lifestyle Choice; and Living with Bipolar.
It first states the different kinds of bipolar disorder, which I have summarised in a different post. I found it most helpful when on Page 56 they talk about the issue of identity. I know this is a sensitive issue for some with many believing a person should always say they have bipolar disorder instead of the illness becoming their identity with the phrase “I’m bipolar”. Personally, I’m not that bothered with terminology – I find it easier to say “I’m bipolar” than utter what is more of a mouthful, “I have a bipolar disorder”, but as Owen and Saunders suggest, simply saying you have bipolar still sounds a bit strange, but it might be easier to say to others with the illness.
Owen and Saunders don’t hold back any hard truths from their readers; they clearly state the statistics relating to the illness. The stats regarding suicide were the hardest to stomach as it is men who are more likely to die by suicide. However, the impression they gave on this topic was that those in most danger are those going through a mixed or depressed episode. It seems that it is this instability that leads to suicide, so if a person has bipolar but is stable and has been stable for a long time, it is little or no risk they will die by suicide. Although it was discouraging to read, “in almost all cultures, the suicide rate rises with age, with the highest rates in the UK of men over the age of 75”, so I guess I’ve got that to look forward to. Oh, yeah, and “divorce rates are around two to three times higher for individuals with bipolar than in the general population”.
Overall, both Owen and Saunders give an objective and comprehensive guide. The only criticism some may level against them is that they are journalists, not health professionals – nor has either of them had a bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, they prove more than worth their salt by producing an accessible guide that will be a handbook for sufferers of the illness and carers for many years to come.
For more book reviews visit my website:
www.bluesmaniac.com
One of the key strengths of the book is that it documents the comments and views of both those who suffer from the illness as well as their family members and carers, therefore creating an exhaustive and engaging read on the illness. It has a very accessible format being organised in the form of questions and answers, meaning readers can access the material as they please. The six main areas the book covers are: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis; Treatment; Support; Hospital Care; Lifestyle Choice; and Living with Bipolar.
It first states the different kinds of bipolar disorder, which I have summarised in a different post. I found it most helpful when on Page 56 they talk about the issue of identity. I know this is a sensitive issue for some with many believing a person should always say they have bipolar disorder instead of the illness becoming their identity with the phrase “I’m bipolar”. Personally, I’m not that bothered with terminology – I find it easier to say “I’m bipolar” than utter what is more of a mouthful, “I have a bipolar disorder”, but as Owen and Saunders suggest, simply saying you have bipolar still sounds a bit strange, but it might be easier to say to others with the illness.
Owen and Saunders don’t hold back any hard truths from their readers; they clearly state the statistics relating to the illness. The stats regarding suicide were the hardest to stomach as it is men who are more likely to die by suicide. However, the impression they gave on this topic was that those in most danger are those going through a mixed or depressed episode. It seems that it is this instability that leads to suicide, so if a person has bipolar but is stable and has been stable for a long time, it is little or no risk they will die by suicide. Although it was discouraging to read, “in almost all cultures, the suicide rate rises with age, with the highest rates in the UK of men over the age of 75”, so I guess I’ve got that to look forward to. Oh, yeah, and “divorce rates are around two to three times higher for individuals with bipolar than in the general population”.
Overall, both Owen and Saunders give an objective and comprehensive guide. The only criticism some may level against them is that they are journalists, not health professionals – nor has either of them had a bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, they prove more than worth their salt by producing an accessible guide that will be a handbook for sufferers of the illness and carers for many years to come.
For more book reviews visit my website:
www.bluesmaniac.com
June 21, 2019
" أمسكت يدي بقوة محاولة ان تحنيها لكي تكسرها ، ثم أخذت تركل رجلي برجلها تحاول إيقاعي على الأرض ، أنها عدوانية ... قلت لها فقط اتركيني وشأني ، أريد ان أذهب ، لم يصدر مني شي لكي تفعل بي كل هذا ، فقط وفقط تكلمت بعض الكلمات .... وفيه مرة كان ولدها يركل الخزانة في المطبخ برجله ، فقلت له لماذا تفعل ذلك بكل هدوء ؟ واذا بها تقول لي لا تضعي غضبك في ولدي !!! أني لم أقل له شي وهي تدعي علّي بالغضب والغيظ ..... "
هذه أحدى قصص مريضة ثنائي القطب العديدة والتي لا تحصى ، هي تروي معاناتها مع زوجة ولدها ، قصة رغم قصرها الا ان فيها بتر كثير جدا وإضافات كثيرة جدا بالنسبة لأصل الرواية الصحيحة والواقعية ، والسؤال لماذا كل هذا البتر والإضافة ؟؟ يكمن السبب الأساسي في أن ثنائي القطب رغم انه يمتلك ذاكرة فريدة من نوعها الا ان القصة عنده بالعادة تكون فيها ثغرات وفراغات وهو يريدها كاملة تامة فهو وفي حالة رغبته بالسرد المستمر والسريع من غير توقف يملئ الفراغات والثغرات من خلال ابتكار أفكار وخيالات جديدة لا تنتمي للقصة الحقيقة ، هذه الأفكار التي يصنعها دماغه تتدفق بغزارة شديدة ما لا يستطيع اللسان ان يكون بقدر سرعة التدفق عند النطق بها ، لذلك يمتاز ثنائي القطب بالسرعة في الحديث والقدرة على الثرثرة المتواصلة حتى ان بعضهم يستطيع مواصلة الثرثرة ثلاث ساعات من غير توقف او حتى يوم كامل او ثلاثة ايّام ، أنها مقدرة خارقة ، وهذه القدرة التي عليها ثنائي القطب تتأتى من تقلبات المزاج التي يتلون بها ، هذه التقلبات تعطيه مرونة كبيرة في موضعة الأفكار ومن ثم تشكيلها وصياغتها من جديد كما يريد ان تكون قصته او الاحداث .
للاسف في مجتمعاتنا والتي لا تعترف بالعلم بالخصوص في مجال الاضطرابات العقلية ينتشر الجهل بهذه الحالات التي تنتسب بالعادة الى الجن والسحر والعين بينما في الناحية الاخرى حتى لا نقول الغرب فالبعض يتحسس من كلمة الغرب مقابل الشرق ، هناك الدراسات تقدمت كثيرا والابحات والتجارب المخبرية على قدم وساق والمؤلفات في هذا المجال كبير جدا مقارنة بالكتب العربية التي وعلى افضل حال لا تتعدى 10% من المجموع الكلي هذا اذا ما كان أقل من ذلك .
هذه أحدى قصص مريضة ثنائي القطب العديدة والتي لا تحصى ، هي تروي معاناتها مع زوجة ولدها ، قصة رغم قصرها الا ان فيها بتر كثير جدا وإضافات كثيرة جدا بالنسبة لأصل الرواية الصحيحة والواقعية ، والسؤال لماذا كل هذا البتر والإضافة ؟؟ يكمن السبب الأساسي في أن ثنائي القطب رغم انه يمتلك ذاكرة فريدة من نوعها الا ان القصة عنده بالعادة تكون فيها ثغرات وفراغات وهو يريدها كاملة تامة فهو وفي حالة رغبته بالسرد المستمر والسريع من غير توقف يملئ الفراغات والثغرات من خلال ابتكار أفكار وخيالات جديدة لا تنتمي للقصة الحقيقة ، هذه الأفكار التي يصنعها دماغه تتدفق بغزارة شديدة ما لا يستطيع اللسان ان يكون بقدر سرعة التدفق عند النطق بها ، لذلك يمتاز ثنائي القطب بالسرعة في الحديث والقدرة على الثرثرة المتواصلة حتى ان بعضهم يستطيع مواصلة الثرثرة ثلاث ساعات من غير توقف او حتى يوم كامل او ثلاثة ايّام ، أنها مقدرة خارقة ، وهذه القدرة التي عليها ثنائي القطب تتأتى من تقلبات المزاج التي يتلون بها ، هذه التقلبات تعطيه مرونة كبيرة في موضعة الأفكار ومن ثم تشكيلها وصياغتها من جديد كما يريد ان تكون قصته او الاحداث .
للاسف في مجتمعاتنا والتي لا تعترف بالعلم بالخصوص في مجال الاضطرابات العقلية ينتشر الجهل بهذه الحالات التي تنتسب بالعادة الى الجن والسحر والعين بينما في الناحية الاخرى حتى لا نقول الغرب فالبعض يتحسس من كلمة الغرب مقابل الشرق ، هناك الدراسات تقدمت كثيرا والابحات والتجارب المخبرية على قدم وساق والمؤلفات في هذا المجال كبير جدا مقارنة بالكتب العربية التي وعلى افضل حال لا تتعدى 10% من المجموع الكلي هذا اذا ما كان أقل من ذلك .
October 19, 2018
Sarah Owen sets out her book by posing a series of questions about Bipolar Disorder and answering them clearly, informatively and honestly.
The questions were well chosen, from the frequently asked 'What is a Manic Episode?'to the specific 'Can you smoke in Psychiatric Hospitals?' and covers as wide a range of topics, with a nice run down of different medications and a whole chapter dedicated to support.
Owen worked closely with those affected by BP themselves and their ages, occupations and when/how they were affected by Bipolar. They are asked about their own experiences and these are quoted in depth throughout the book, giving a bunch of really great first person accounts of living with Bipolar Disorder, as opposed to onlybbeing given answers by a single party.
This is a great resource that was sensitively written, detailed, very clear and concise and something I would highly recommend those with BP give to friends, partners and family to aid their understanding. Additionally, newly diagnosed? This is likely to answer the million of questions flooding your brain and probably more.
The questions were well chosen, from the frequently asked 'What is a Manic Episode?'to the specific 'Can you smoke in Psychiatric Hospitals?' and covers as wide a range of topics, with a nice run down of different medications and a whole chapter dedicated to support.
Owen worked closely with those affected by BP themselves and their ages, occupations and when/how they were affected by Bipolar. They are asked about their own experiences and these are quoted in depth throughout the book, giving a bunch of really great first person accounts of living with Bipolar Disorder, as opposed to onlybbeing given answers by a single party.
This is a great resource that was sensitively written, detailed, very clear and concise and something I would highly recommend those with BP give to friends, partners and family to aid their understanding. Additionally, newly diagnosed? This is likely to answer the million of questions flooding your brain and probably more.
January 12, 2021
I liked this book, even though it is a kind of a slow read, but in a very informative and clear way! It is in a form of questions (80) and answers, and in each chapter, there is plenty of real-life situations and stories that people who have been diagnosed with bipolar share with the readers. I think that part where people share their stories and experiences is a very important aspect of self-help/psychology related books as it brings realness into the book and a sense of closure, where many people can actually relate to what is written. However, it did get a little boring and repetitive in the middle that I could not help but skim through, but the last few chapters were exceptional and very interesting.
July 13, 2021
The book was great. I read it because I wanted to know how to help a friend with bipolar disorder. The book made me realize that I actually felt that her diagnosis was the end of the world. I was in despair. But the testimonies included in the book were amazing, eye-opening and reassuring. Yes, it's not easy but it's also manageable. I didn't know that, and knowing it gave me hope. We can think a system, form a team and deal with realistically.
The format of questions and answers was great. It helped me retain the information and it catered to my concerns. It is also so accessible to common readers and the language used was clear and compassionate.
The format of questions and answers was great. It helped me retain the information and it catered to my concerns. It is also so accessible to common readers and the language used was clear and compassionate.
February 1, 2024
If you have a loved one that has bipolar I would highly recommend this book. As someone that was diagnosed with bipolar 18 months ago and still struggles to define what this diagnosis means to myself and to those around me, I now have a resource that can help others understand what I struggle with.
Ultimately I would say this book is designed for people who have a loved one with bipolar rather than those suffering themselves as the authors can only touch on what those around them with bipolar experience and not their own unique experience of being bipolar.
Ultimately I would say this book is designed for people who have a loved one with bipolar rather than those suffering themselves as the authors can only touch on what those around them with bipolar experience and not their own unique experience of being bipolar.
October 30, 2024
Love the way, the book is formatted around questions and answering those questions.
Eg: How does caffeine impact bipolar symptoms? Or something. We then get to hear the insights available at that time (2008), we also get to hear first hand experiences of people with bipolar. And we get to read experiences of them throughout the book, it's like we are having a conversation with Lucy, Neil, Su, etc (people who were interviewed for the book)
Eg: How does caffeine impact bipolar symptoms? Or something. We then get to hear the insights available at that time (2008), we also get to hear first hand experiences of people with bipolar. And we get to read experiences of them throughout the book, it's like we are having a conversation with Lucy, Neil, Su, etc (people who were interviewed for the book)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2020
It had good practical information in a question and answer format so you might not need to read the whole thing. It's also very much based in the UK with some of it's facts and answers but they do mention the US at times. It covers adults and children and would be a good read for both those with bipolar and family members who interact or take care of family members with bipolar.
May 29, 2021
A perfect book for someone with bipolar disorder, or for their families.
I would remark the importance about some facts related to drugs, because it's important to know for many people genetically predisposed to bipolar disorder how marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, as well as some medications may lead to trigger the disorder.
I would remark the importance about some facts related to drugs, because it's important to know for many people genetically predisposed to bipolar disorder how marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, as well as some medications may lead to trigger the disorder.
March 6, 2019
Despite being written for UK “users”, the information gave me necessary insights and tips on how to manage bipolar disorder. Factual. A lot of testimonials too but I almost never read them (I was hungry for facts). A ton of references for future reading. Excellent starting point.
February 9, 2021
This book taught me so much and I'm so glad I read it, I know so much more about Bipolar then I did before. If you have Bipolar or have a loved one who has it I strongly recommend this book, it has everything you need to know and more.
June 2, 2018
A very informative book. Useful.
Currently reading
April 8, 2023Extremely helpful
December 2, 2024
Very comprehensive Q&A style guidebook. Totally recommend.
June 1, 2018
Very informative book, I’d recommend it to anyone suffering this illness and looking for outside-the-box information.
February 12, 2013
Most of this is the usual pep-talk that having a mental health issue is just like having a broken leg. If that's what you are looking for, it's got plenty of little quotes from people living with bipolar disorder,and their long suffering friends and families. There's a lot of links to help sites, but it was a bit simplistic for me. I found out more about the condition and treatments doing a 30 min web search.
May 14, 2014
Excellent resource book. I will refer to it again and again.
June 29, 2016
This truly is the ultimate guide, however much of the information on organisations and services (of which there is a lot) is out of a date. A new edition is very much needed.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews