Customer Reviews

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

BPfD is succinct and practical, offers clear explanations of the disease and its pain. Written from perspective of both patient and loved ones, it is not frightening, falsely cheery, or professionally overbearing. Gives How To lists for pre- and post-diagnosis.

Great book, with an appropriate sense of humour too. I rate it a "must buy".

Even though I was dx-ed 8-years ago and know a lot about manic-depression, this book had a lot of good information in it that I wasn't aware of. It is also a good handbook for my fience so that she knows how to deal with my moods and how they effect her moods.

If your fulmiliar with they typical "Dummies" type book and how easy they are to follow along, and you are Bi-Polar, or a loved one is, then this is the book for you. Easy to read, quick to learn. A Very well written book. I give it an "A+" rating.

This book gives basic information on Bipolar Disorder - the physiology of it, the various medications available (and possible side effects), and some alternative/additional treatments.

I found the book to fall apart, however, when it came to their suggestions of how to make changes in your life to make recovery better/easier. A person would have to live in an ideal life in order to put their suggestions into place to the degree they outline. They presume that you have (or can get) family and friends who can/want to be a support system for you, and that you can take the time to just step back from regular life and focus on your recovery.

But, in real life, the people I know who share a BP diagnosis rarely have family or spouses open to taking on a significant supportive role, open to getting into counseling, etc. Single parents - or parents in general - will find it difficult to put 90% of the authors' suggestions into their lives.

They also sometimes contradict themselves: they talk about the importance of removing big sources of stress in your life during your recovery - and then tell you not to quit your job or divorce your spouse or make any major decisions in your life. Well, those *are* the big sources of stress in most people's lives.

The information is helpful (although much of it can be found on the Internet), the suggestions are too idealistic to be realistic. Suggestions for those of us, the majority, who have no choice but to jump back into work and parenting and daily life following an episode would have been much more helpful.

Who is expecting a book with very usefull trends to everyday practice will find this book great. As will patients, families and caregivers that are looking for correct and reliable information about Bipolar Disease. It is not, however - as honestly his title shows - a book conceived to cover with expertise all the aspects - or most of them - of the theme. I found it very interesting and usefull in my everyday practice with patients and their families and caregivers, with many valuable suggestions and tools to an educationnal approach, for instance.

This is the best book I have read on bipolar.

I have always had doubts about my diagnosis of being bipolar, but after reading this book I feel much better about the effects the disease has had on me. Not only did the book confirm my suspicions about my disease, but it gave me ways to counteract some of the feelings I have/had.

I have suggested that my wife read the book (when I am finished) as it is equally directed to your support team as it is to the patient.

I believe that this book should be given to everyone diagnosed with Bi Polar disorder and their family. It explains things in clear easy to read format. You can skip parts that you don't need ( I skipped the part about children with Bi polar because only my husband has been diagnosed) . It reads like a friendly magazine. Doctors are to technical and some books are to anacdotial.

THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST INFORMAITIVE BOOK ON BIPOLAR I'VE READ YET. 4 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE THIS DISORDER AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING IT FOR SALE.

RAYANNE L. NEELY
FLAT ROCK, MICH.

Written with humor, intelligence and straight forward answers, this book priceless. I have always loved the "For Dummies" format for computer and web design related things but I had no idea it could be so helpful with mood disorders.
It speaks to you in plain english, uses real life situations and common sense answers. It is NOT a replacement for treatment, but it is an EXCELLENT guide to finding the RIGHT treatment, asking the right questions and helping you understand the condition.
If you have biploar disorder or know someone who does, buy this book! It's an EXCELLENT handbook for friends and relatives. Buy one for yourself copies for those you love.

After being realeased from a rehab facility (where I was admitted for severe depression) I left with a diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder and knew nothing about it. I finally had an answer to why I would have extreme swings of ups and downs but I didn't know how to manage it. The first thing I saw that seemed like it wasn't medical mumbo jumbo was this book. I ate it up and digested it as if I had discovered some exotic food for the first time that I couldn't get enough of. Talk about answers!!! From the first page I started reading, it explained in VERY SIMPLE, EASY TO UNDERSTAND terms what Bipolar disorder is, what to look for, and how to come up with a plan. My support team (husband, parents, sister, and best friend) were all given my "plan" as a result of this book that has come in very handy when I was on one extreme or the other. If you have bipolar disorder or have a spouse, friend, or family member with the disorder, this is the FIRST AND ONLY book I would recommend.

This is a factual reference of Bipolar II told in a way that anyone can understand. There are little or no opinions in the book yet it is told in a light and easy to read fashion. I highly recommend this option as a starting point for learning about soft bipolar disorder.