Rating: 
Summary: Very, very helpful
Review: Julie Fast's book is an excellent tool for those who have Bipolar disorder or those living with someone who is Bipolar. This is a difficult subject for me, my girlfriend has Bipolar and we have had a very bumpy road, especially this last year. We still wish to remain together and this book has helped, we read it together.
This is probably the most misdiagnosed mental disorder out there. For those who are new to it, it is extremely difficult to get help or find good real information on how to deal with it. We didn't know how to manage Bipolar. There are many people out there who can live with this and have done so for many years, but for most of us it takes a lot of time, understanding, and acceptance that it exists and must be dealt with like any other illness. This book was written in real language by someone who has obviously walked the walk.
It has helped me tremendously as I feel it was written for me. This is a book about communication. Chapter eight "The Bipolar Conversation" was very helpful. We often refer back to the book. We understand life will not be easy with Bipolar but we get hope from Julie Fast and many others who suffer from it that you can in fact manage your life with Bipolar and lead a productive life. Thank you very much.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: Julie has done a amazing job writing this book. My 19 year old son has struggled with these same issues. Julie's book is full of many helpful ways that help me know how to help him. I understand him much better. I have read many other books about this disorder but none helpful in this way. The ways Julie has found are extremely helpful.
Rating:
Summary: a great resourse for family members
Review: My daughter has bipolar disorder. She was diagnosed at 31 and has struggled with her medications and life style management for years. Her parther bought this book and asked me to read it as well. What a difference this book has made for us! I have so much trouble knowing what mood swing my daughter is having. I can never remember what is what and I always seemed to do the wrong thing to help her. This book has finally given me the tools I need to learn what to do when I see the first signs that she's getting sick. Julie Fast constantly reminds the reader that bipolar is an illness and there is often a pattern to the mood swings. I used to think my daughter was just out of control all of the time. She could never settle down and she was always trying something new to make her life better. I understand this more now. I understand pyschosis more as well as the anger she often has when she's sick. This book has helped us so much. I just never knew whether to leave her alone and let her mess up or to get involved and get her mad at me. Now I have tools and they work. Suicide is my biggest worry, but we now have it out in the open. This helps me with my worry and guilt that I don't or can't do enough to help her. This is a tough illness, but there is hope. Things are a lot less stressful for us now.
Rating:
Summary: superb advice
Review: Only someone who combats this illness daily could have written a book this thorough. The information presented within is written with compassion. A superb book for anyone who is bp, or anyone who lives with or loves a bp person.
Rating: 
Summary: Understanding Bipolar Family Members
Review: This book is so accurate. So many things that were said in the book are verbatim what has been said in our house. Not only was this book informative for my husband, but it also provided valuable information on bipolar disorder for me as well. I highly recommend this book for anyone affected by bipolar disorder.
Rating: 
Summary: Totally wrong
Review: This book is the opposite of Codependent No More. It promotes and fosters codependent relationships and puts, as other reviewers below said, the responsibility of the BP person onto the partner who is well. Don't forget that BPD is not a license to do what you want. Personal responsibility, like taking prescriptions, visiting the doctor, and striving towards real balance, cannot be overloooked. Do you like to tiptoe on eggshells all the time and bend to someone else's issues , sacrificing your identity and life? That's what this book recommends. My analyst agrees. Dangerous and wrong.
Rating:
Summary: A Relationship Saver - Literally
Review: This book was a life saver for our relationship. It gave us a reality check on issues that we were facing and taught us how to deal with them hands on. Before reading this book, I thought that I could deal with Bi-polar in my partner. I had NO idea what that meant. This book was completely honest in the expectations. It was an eye-opener. It helped me realize that Bi-polar is treatable and helped me realize that I wasn't alone. It gives real examples of treatment plans. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has someone in their life with bi-polar (not just a partner) a friend, sibling, parent, child etc. Thank you Julie for taking the time to write this amazing book!
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