Julie A. Fast

JULIE A. FAST is a bestselling international author, researcher, educator and sought after expert in the mental health field. She is regarded as a brain disorder pioneer for her groundbreaking, comprehensive approach to treating bipolar disorder, unipolar depression, anxiety, psychosis and schizoaffective disorder using both mainstream and her personal management strategies. Her international bestselling books include: - Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner - Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder: A Four Step Plan for You and Your Loved Ones to Manage the Illness and Create Lasting Stability - Getting it Done When You're Depressed: 50 Strategies for Keeping Your Life on Track Julie is a family and partner coach for those who love someone with bipolar disorder or other mental health concerns (www.JulieFast.com), writes a column for BP Magazine (www.BPHope.com), blogs for Psychology Today and has a popular blog and parent and partner newsletter at (www.BipolarHappens.com/bhBlog). Julie runs The Stable Table group for parents and caregivers of loved ones with bipolar on Facebook and The Stable Bed for partners. Julie also trains pharmacists, psychiatric residents, social workers, alternative health care practitioners, general physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists and many more health care professionals on the topics of bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression and psychosis management. Julie was the original consultant for Claire Danes and her TV series Homeland on Showtime. Julie speaks regularly on the topic of cannabis marijuana and how it interacts with bipolar disorder. She created The Bipolar Significant Seven list that identifies seven substances that can affect the bipolar brain. She also researches the role a ketogenic metabolic therapy diet can plan in bipolar and psychotic disorder management. Website: www.JulieFast.com Julie is on Instagram @JulieFast Julie's books have sold over 500,000 copies. Julie's Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis Julie was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder II in 1995 at the age of thirty-one, after she had unknowingly lived with the disorder for over fourteen challenging and chaotic years. In 1998, three years after the diagnosis and twenty-three medications later, she found herself at a life-or-death crossroads: The medications were not enough and the quality of her life had spiraled downward with unhealthy relationships, work problems, weight gain, a loss of dreams and money issues as a result. This experience became the inspiration behind the treatment plan found in all of her books. If diagnosed today, Julie would receive a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis as she also lives with a psychotic disorder. A Note from Julie: Do you care about someone with a brain health disorder? Do you have brain health disorder symptoms? I want to let you know it's going to be ok. I live with my symptoms daily. The anxiety is rough. The mania is enticing. The depression is dangerous and the psychosis is always a challenge... But I survive and you can too. I want to encourage you to keep going until you find your path. There is hope. Julie