Understanding the Best Resources on Coping with Bipolar Disorder
Author: John Michaels
John Michaels is a mental health advocate and writer, focusing on providing actionable advice to those coping with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder can feel overwhelming for both individuals and families navigating its challenges. With the right tools and guidance, coping with bipolar disorder becomes more manageable. These top 10 books have been selected to provide the most impactful advice on living with bipolar disorder. Whether you’re looking for personal stories, expert techniques, or practical strategies, these books can help guide you on your journey toward understanding and managing bipolar disorder.
10. OMG That’s Me!: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and More…: OMG That’s Me!, Book 1
Author: Dave Mowry
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5 stars (897 ratings)
This book offers a humorous and heartwarming perspective on coping with bipolar disorder. It’s an excellent pick for readers looking for something more relatable and light-hearted.
Why You’ll Love It
Dave Mowry’s conversational tone and honesty make this book an enjoyable and insightful read. The balance between humor and real-life struggles provides readers with a unique way to cope with bipolar disorder.
Fun Fact
Dave Mowry began writing after experiencing a series of mental health episodes and uses his personal journey to encourage others to embrace their vulnerabilities.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
9. The Princess Diarist
Author: Carrie Fisher
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1/5 stars (8,008 ratings)
Carrie Fisher’s memoir gives insight into her battle with bipolar disorder while offering readers a blend of humor, candidness, and raw emotion. It’s more than a celebrity memoir – it’s a deep dive into mental health struggles.
Why You’ll Love It
Fisher’s narrative is incredibly engaging, and readers will find solace in knowing even famous figures face similar mental health challenges.
Fun Fact
Carrie Fisher was one of the most vocal advocates for mental health awareness, using her platform to reduce stigma around bipolar disorder.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
8. Insane: America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness
Author: Alisa Roth
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5 stars (304 ratings)
In Insane, Alisa Roth highlights the disturbing ways in which America’s criminal justice system is handling mental illness, including bipolar disorder. The book shines a light on the systemic failures that result in the incarceration of people struggling with mental health challenges.
Why You’ll Love It
This powerful exposé offers a new perspective on mental illness in America, helping readers understand the bigger social context in which individuals with bipolar disorder are often trapped.
Fun Fact
Roth is a former NPR correspondent, and her journalistic rigor gives this book a deep level of research and insight.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
7. The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings
Author: Monica Ramirez Basco
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5 stars (935 ratings)
This workbook offers practical tools to manage the ups and downs of bipolar disorder. Written by Dr. Monica Ramirez Basco, it’s a comprehensive guide filled with exercises and strategies to control mood swings and foster emotional balance.
Why You’ll Love It
The interactive format makes it easy to implement techniques in real-time. It’s perfect for people who want actionable steps to cope with bipolar disorder in their daily lives.
Fun Fact
Monica Ramirez Basco has worked as a consultant for the National Institute of Mental Health, lending credibility to her advice on coping with bipolar disorder.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
6. Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner (The New Harbinger Loving Someone Series)
Author: Julie A. Fast
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5 stars (1,472 ratings)
Julie A. Fast provides a compassionate guide for partners of people with bipolar disorder. This book offers practical advice on navigating relationships, helping partners understand and support their loved ones without sacrificing their own emotional well-being.
Why You’ll Love It
Fast combines personal experience with practical techniques, making this book a must-read for anyone in a relationship with someone coping with bipolar disorder.
Fun Fact
Julie A. Fast has written multiple books on mental health, and she lives with bipolar disorder herself, making her insights deeply personal and informed.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
5. You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health―With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real Families
Author: Christine M. Crawford
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5 stars (1,600 ratings)
Christine M. Crawford, in collaboration with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), offers this guide to parents and caregivers navigating the complex world of child and adolescent mental health. It’s a valuable resource for families coping with bipolar disorder and other mental health challenges.
Why You’ll Love It
This book provides both expert advice and real-life stories, creating a balanced approach that is both informative and relatable.
Fun Fact
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S., providing support and advocacy for millions.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
4. An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
Author: Kay Redfield Jamison
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5 stars (6,810 ratings)
Kay Redfield Jamison, a clinical psychologist with bipolar disorder, provides a deeply personal account of living with the condition in An Unquiet Mind. Her writing offers both scientific insight and personal reflections, making this a must-read for anyone affected by bipolar disorder.
Why You’ll Love It
This memoir is both educational and emotional, giving readers an intimate look at bipolar disorder from the inside.
Fun Fact
Jamison is one of the foremost experts on bipolar disorder and has spent her career researching the illness while living with it herself.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
3. Self-Directed DBT Skills: A 3-Month DBT Workbook to Regulate Intense Emotions and Create Lasting Change with Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Author: Kiki Fehling PhD
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5 stars (227 ratings)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy for managing intense emotions, which can be particularly helpful for those with bipolar disorder. This workbook by Dr. Kiki Fehling offers a step-by-step guide to developing DBT skills independently over a three-month period.
Why You’ll Love It
The structured nature of the workbook allows for gradual, manageable progress, making it perfect for individuals looking for a self-directed approach to coping with bipolar disorder.
Fun Fact
DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder but has been adapted for other conditions, including bipolar disorder.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
2. The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know
Author: David J. Miklowitz
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5 stars (1,600 ratings)
Dr. David J. Miklowitz offers an essential guide for individuals and families coping with bipolar disorder. This book is grounded in the latest research and provides practical advice on managing symptoms, improving communication, and building a healthy support system.
Why You’ll Love It
Miklowitz’s extensive research and clinical experience make this book a trusted source for understanding and managing bipolar disorder.
Fun Fact
Dr. Miklowitz is a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his work has shaped modern treatments for bipolar disorder.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder
1. Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder
Author: Paul T. T. Mason MS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5 stars (3,218 ratings)
Although this book focuses on borderline personality disorder, many of the strategies can be applied to coping with bipolar disorder, especially in relationships. Paul T. T. Mason provides a clear and actionable guide for anyone struggling to maintain a relationship with someone dealing with mental health challenges.
Why You’ll Love It
The book offers practical advice and strategies for navigating complex relationships, particularly for those dealing with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder.
Fun Fact
This book has been in print for over two decades and continues to be a bestseller in mental health categories.
Category: Coping with Bipolar Disorder