Customer Reviews

Break the Bipolar Cycle: A Day-by-Day Guide to Living with Bipolar Disorder

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This is a brilliant self-help guide. Elizabeth Brondolo has provided anyone grappling with bipolar spectrum disorders (especially hypomania & soft bipolar, as well as classic bipolar, et al) an invaluable work which in addition to very readable text, provides tools to monitor one's own behavior and make lasting changes in one's life. It includes easily implementable exercises for the layman (i.e. me) for dealing with "Bipolar Spectrum Disorders" (BSD). The exercises provided in the book are meant to be photocopied. They are non-onerous, logical and will make you stare your behavior in the face. This is not a guide for the clinician per se -- it is for those of us who suffer from the effects of this often debilitating condition.

This wonderful book will undoubtedly become a classic in an area of psychiatry that is poorly understood and often ignored by intelligent and otherwise effective therapists and psycho-phamacologists. It serves as a perfect companion to Jim Phelps' "Why Am I Still Depressed", which takes a more clinical approach, but is equally approachable. Phelps' book is especially useful from the psycho-pharmacological side in determining what your diagnosis might be and how to deal with it. Brondolo is a Ph.D. in Psychology (therapist) while Phelps is an M.D.

I was recently diagnosed with hypomania after being in therapy for 13 years and having being prescribed antidepressants for the majority of that period. Sadly, most professionals don't acknowledge more than a few meaningless gradations in the bipolar spectrum and the term "bipolar" is so scary and brings up such horrifying & stigmatizing images of manic depressive behavior (i.e. Jamison's portrayal of herself cited a few lines below), that most would rather avoid the topic entirely, dismissing therapists and M.D.s as "crazy". One thinks -- "This is not me!". Guess again -- it might be. (for a classic book that reads like a page-turner on full-on Manic Depression, see: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison, Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University).

Most of the gradations along the "bipolar spectrum" are not even recognized in the DSM IV which is the most comprehensive guide for psychiatric professionals in making diagnoses. The whole concept of bipolar spectrum disorders is a relatively recent phenomena, having only been truly studied and understood over the last decade or so. DON'T BE SCARED AND DON'T CONTINUE TO WRECK YOUR LIFE - many hypomanics are incredibly successful professionals (see: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (A Little) Craziness and (A Lot of) Success in America - John D. Gartner, which is a highly entertaining read, and uplifting, because it makes you realize that there is plenty of hope out there).

Brondolo's book is a wonder for those of us who have suffered most of our lives and always thought that those closest to us giving us loving feedback were the crazy ones. It provides some easily understandable guidelines, exercises and common sense pieces of advice (good luck finding a therapist who understands what is going on with you -- after years of poor judgment and simply lying to therapists and myself, I would strongly recommend some form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy or Dialectic Behavior Therapy). Brondolo & Phelps also provide one with a framework for how to approach what you've been suffering from and how to approach your therapists and M.D.s with these issues, as many of them (the majority in my experience -- even those who understand BSD well) will not ask you many key questions or monitor key behaviors that are essential for you to get better unless you bring these things up yourself (makes one feel really great that you're spending so much $$$ on these folks).

One of the scariest things that emerges in Brondolo & Phelps' work is that at least 50% of people who suffer from BSD have been mis-diagnosed for years (on avg 10 years) and have been on the usual array of antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, et al). THESE ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN FACT HAVE THE TENDENCY TO BRING ON AND/OR EXACERBATE HYPOMANIC EPISODES!

BRONDOLO & PHELPS' BOOKS ARE "EASY READS", easy to browse through, and easy to pick up and start again at a new place. I am grateful for the existence of these two works (and you will be too -- and no -- no one has paid me for this review -- I'm the one who has paid dearly all these years -- and continue to pay). Best of luck.

If you only buy one book on bipolar this should be the book!

I had spent tons of time (and money) looking for a relevant, helpful and intelligent book on bi-polar II. There are countless books focusing on bipolar I, but very few on it's step-sibling bipolar II. There are even more books addressing depression, but none on hypo-mania. Just when I was finally giving up on ever finding a helpful book this one fell into my lap! And I was so excited.

I can't stress how HELPFUL and RELEVENT this book is to anyone with bipolar but especially bipolar II. The first part of the book focuses on educating the reader---about diagnostic techniques, brain chemistry, medication, etc. The second half helps the reader to understand what steps to take next after the diagnosis.

This book gave me great hope and comfort. My hope came in realizing that there would one day be a time when this disorder didn't color my every day and I would just live life. And comfort came in knowing that I was not the only one experiencing these challenges and in the validation that I wasn't making it all up. I recognized myself in so much of this book.

The biggest endorsement I can give this book is that I immediately ordered copies for my parents and closest friends. The books does an incredible job on communicating what life feels like from the patients perspective and I know this information has been invaluable to my family and friends. They have become active partners in ensuring I stay safe and stable and recognize warning signs and problems on there own. And for that I will always be eternally grateful.

This book addresses both bipolar I and II and gives equal time to both. It includes exercises--relevant ones including what to bring to a doctor's visit and how to recognize stress triggers--that even I completed.

I really cannot say enough great things about this book and I encourage all bipolar patients to read it!

I don't know of any other book on the subject of Bipolar Disorder that is as state-of-the-art, comprehensive and accessable (i.e. readable) as "Break the Bipolar Cycle." What is most striking about this book is how useful and practical it is for everyone involved in the process of living with and/or treating Bipolar Disorder (and perhaps mental illness in general). As someone who is very familiar with Bipolar Disorder, I am impressed with Brondolo and Amador's ability to reach and inform not only the person suffering with the disorder, but his/her family and treatment team as well. Interspersed throughout the book are illuminating clinical examples which make for an interesting and relatable read. Most of all, the book offers a practical and hopeful picture of what it is like to live with this illness and how to take control and make the best life possible for yourself, your loved-ones and your clients. Thank you Drs. Brondolo and Amador for this very important work and for dedicating your lives to helping those in need. "Break the Bipolar Cycle" is a must read for anyone who has been affected by Bipolar Spectrum Disorders.

I found this to be one of the best written, clear, and practical books for the lay person on mental health that I have read in a long time. I learned a lot about bipolar disorder even though I am in the mental health field. People who suspect they may be bipolar spectrum even if not frankly bipolar should read this book and get their families to read it too.

In my opinion the authors of this book do an excellent job presenting the latest thoughts behind the symptom complex of bipolar spectrum disorder. I can identify with the symptoms and the explanations helped me understand my illness better. Some of the concepts may be a little technical for someone who is experiencing symptoms like concentration problems or does not have a high school education. Although in general it is easy to read and the exercises are excellent. One draw back is after reading the book, it can be frustrating to interact with health care professionals who do not know this information and are still relying on old thoughts about the disorder. An informed patient can be misunderstood easily.

After a lifetime of depression and suicidal ideation, on meds since 1994, and a diagnosis of major depression in 2001, I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder I, Mixed episode, unspecified. Every resource I had found just regurgitated the list of symptoms from the DSMVI-TR, which wasn't any help in understanding why the doctor came up with this diagnosis. This book very quickly and succinctly gave real-life examples of things such as racing thoughts, halluncinations, pressured speech, obsessive thoughts,etc. I thought I understood what all of these were, but I had no idea how they could manifest themselves in real life. It was only after reading this book that I have begun to accept the diagnosis I was given, and can see for myself what symptoms I have been having for years without even knowing it! I recommend this book to anyone who wants something that goes beyond the clinical basics, who wants to know what it's really like to experience these symptoms and how to manage them.

the way this book is written is a bit different than others that i've found. i ended up buying this book because i was writting too much in my notebook. now i can highlight it and mark up the pages. the other books i would recommend are 'loving someone with bp disorder', 'bp for dummies' and 'living with bp disorder'. i was diagnosed with bp disorder last year - my sister and i. if you are looking into this because you have it or someone you know has it know that you are not alone and this illness SUCKS...but, there is hope. get a GOOD psychiatrist and therapist and learn what these books say. that's the best thing to do. i've cried many times thinking about all the others that are out there going through exactly what i'm going through.

I have read nearly everything written regarding bipolar disorder and this book is a nice addition to my collection. It explains behaviors and thinking traps that become all to common is those who suffer from this disorder. I highly recommend it to those diagnosed with BPD and their families.

I purchased this book for my sister, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 3 years ago. Now that her medication and doctor's visits and therapy are all under control and in place, my family and I wanted to learn more about ways to modify behavior to help balance my sister's lifestyle and keep the ups and downs to a manageable minimum. The book is great in its explanation of how the disorder works in the brain and the body. The worksheets and activities in the second part are excellent tools for getting organized and helping with day to day stresses and large changes that can set off the highs and lows that come with bipolar disorder.

The book is easy to follow, written well and accompanies medical treatment nicely. The book is also very helpful with families who feel like they don't know what to do or say anymore to help but want to do something. Please remember if you have bipolar disorder, you need to be seeing a psychiatrist first and foremost!

This book has been a great guide for me & my husband. My husband was recently diagnosed with Bipolar. The symptoms he was experiencing weren't the "typical" ones that come to mind when you hear the term bipolar. After reading this book, we have been able to identify several symptoms that indicate where he's headed, as well as triggers. The symptoms of Bipolar II, NOS, are not as extreme and therefore can go on undetected. This is an excellent resource for those recently diagnosed & have softer bipolar disorder. Also great for loved ones who want to understand the disorder.