Table of Contents

Introduction: Where Are We Now?
I. The Experience and Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
1. How This Book Can Help You Survive--and Thrive
2. Understanding the Experience of Bipolar Disorder
3. Into the Doctor's Court: Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
4. "Is It an Illness or Is It Me?": Coping with the Diagnosis
II. Laying the Foundation for Effective Treatment
5. Where Bipolar Disorder Comes From: Genetics, Biology, and Stress
6. What Medications and Psychotherapy Can Do for You
7. Coming to Terms with Your Medications
III. Practical Strategies for Staying Well
8. Tips to Help You Manage Moods
9. Heading Off the Escalation of Mania
10. Halting the Spiral of Depression
11. Overcoming Suicidal Thoughts and Feelings
12. For Women Only: What You Need to Know about Bipolar Disorder and Your Health
13. Succeeding at Home and at Work: Communication, Problem-Solving Skills, and Dealing Effectively with Stigma
14. "Does My Child Have Bipolar Disorder?": How Would You Know and What Should You Do?
Resources for People with Bipolar Disorder

About the Author

David J. Miklowitz, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Semel Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, and Senior Clinical Researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He directs the Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program at UCLA, where he supervises psychiatry and psychology trainees and conducts research on psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents with bipolar disorders. Dr. Miklowitz's numerous publications include the bestselling self-help resource The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Third Edition, as well as acclaimed books for professionals, including Bipolar Disorder, Second Edition: A Family-Focused Treatment Approach and, with Michael J. Gitlin, Clinician's Guide to Bipolar Disorder. He has received Distinguished Investigator awards from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology.

Reviews

"This book is a true gift. As parents, watching our daughter's illness unfold was terrifying and heartbreaking. I only wish that Dr. Miklowitz's book had been available then to help guide us on this rollercoaster of a journey. It not only gives sufferers and their family members a better understanding of bipolar disorder, but also shows how to achieve stable moods and lead a full life."--Vicky G., Santa Monica, California

"A practical, straightforward book that will be a great help to those who have bipolar illness, as well as their families. I could not recommend this book more highly."--Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, author of An Unquiet Mind and Robert Lowell, Setting the River on Fire

"I used to spend way too much time searching the Internet for tips on managing my bipolar disorder. Now, whenever I need ideas about how to feel better, I just pick up The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide. It is an incredible resource that gives me tons of new and effective coping strategies to try. Reading it, you'll feel like an expert is taking the time to really talk to you--it's clear that Dr. Miklowitz cares."--Christine S., Houston, Texas

"Dr. Miklowitz is an experienced therapist and skilled researcher whose decades of work with people with bipolar disorder shine through in this easy-to-follow book. If you or a loved one have bipolar disorder, I highly recommend this updated third edition."--Mary A. Fristad, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

"The author's expertise, compassion, and experience are evident throughout....Well worth reading and remembering." (on the first edition)--NAMI Advocate

"Recommended for patient education libraries and medium and large public libraries." (on the first edition)--Library Journal