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Because I KNOW your loved one CAN get better if they have a STRATEGY in place!

Ok, let’s look at me.

People told me it would be impossible for e to have a successful company if I were to employ people who had mental illnesses.

They said I would fail for sure.

But I had a STRATEGY!

And now look at me.

I have a successful company BECAUSE of those people with mental illness – I find them to be some of the most intelligent and creative people I have ever known.

They are stable and hard-working, and they are helping to make my company successful.

Even though all those people said it was impossible.

I just had to have a STRATEGY to make it work!

So you need to have a STRATEGY as well.

Prove those people wrong like I did.

Help your loved one get better in spite of what they said, that it’s impossible, because it’s not impossible – not with a STRATEGY.

Believe that your loved one can become high-functioning in spite of their bipolar disorder, because they can, even though people said it’s impossible, because it’s not impossible – not with a STRATEGY!

And if you get discouraged, just remember my story.

Even though people said it was impossible for me to be successful employing people with mental illnesses, I have anyway, because I had a STRATEGY!

And remember our new president.

Even though people said it was impossible, that he would never become president, he didn’t give up, because he had a STRATEGY!

So put your systems in place, don’t give up hope, and use your STRATEGY, and there’s no reason to believe that the impossible CAN be possible!

I remember way back in the day. I was faced with MASSIVE problems all at the same time.

You know the story, you’ve read it.

Debt, Taxes, No doctors, medications not working, no help, no health insurance, no job for my mom, on and on and on and on and on.

My dad tried to be supportive. He said, “we let’s just do what we can do. Don’t worry if we can’t fix all this.”

My brother said things like, “don’t waste your time, there’s no hope, nothing you do will work we’ve tried it all.”

I on the other hand believed that I could fix

everything. I really did. What helped me was

calling a friend of mine named Pascale. You’ve probably heard about her before. Anyway, when I told her all that was happening and how I felt that I could come up with a plan and a strategy to turn it all around she said, “of course you can.”

That statement encouraged me to move forward against all odds.

I invented strategies. I came up with solutions. Virtually EVERYONE told me I was crazy and there was no hope.

Even my mom’s sister said to me (and she was very supportive to me), “David, if you can’t help her don’t feel like you failed.”

She wanted to prepare me if there was no hope or solutions. She wasn’t being mean she just was unsure if there was a way out of all my mom’s problems.

If you have been on my list for a few years, you remember that I talked about how I got angry about how bipolar disorder was ruining my mom.

I went to the library for some quiet time. I took a pad (the one I always use, yellow legal) and began to brainstorm a new approach. A new strategy. A new system that NOBODY had ever thought of.

From that day, I launched my strategy in my war against bipolar disorder. I was determined to beat it.

If you have gotten any of my material from www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com you’ll see that many of the things I recommend are very unorthodox but they work.

Based on the election of Barack, I highly encourage you not to sit and argue about politics and whether he should have won or not but sit and say to yourself, “What strategy can I come up with that is different to get to where I want to get to.”

You can do it, it’s possible.

No matter what your circumstance with bipolar disorder, whether you are a supporter or survivors you can turn it all around no matter what.

NO MATTER WHAT THE ODDS ARE

You just need the right strategy.

Do you agree or disagree?

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David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.

Bipolar? Lesson from a Teddy Bear

David Oliver November 4, 2008 | March 14, 2009 Daily Bipolar Disorder Message 23 Comments

Hi,

I hope you’re having a great day!

Hey if you are in the United States don’t forget to vote.

Hey, if you are somewhere else besides the US and you are suppose to vote, don’t forget.

We have so many people from all around the world I don’t know what is going on everywhere. So everyone vote if you are suppose to be voting.

This is your reminder : )

Well I got back way late from my trip to New York.

I went to this conference and was showed around by a person who has bipolar disorder that is by far one of the most successful people I know with bipolar disorder. She is actually featured in my Bipolar Mastery System.

She introduced me to lots of people that can help me further grow this organization. It was great.

I am going to be doing another interview with her soon. I’ll keep you posted. She owns a VERY successful company and has been able to be a single parent, manger her bipolar disorder, run her business and handle it in an industry that has MASSIVE change. She is amazing and modest. She is SUPER smart.

So anyway, today I also have a sore throat probably because I have been getting virtually no sleep and the weather keeps changing like 30 degrees in the day.

Okay, so when I was coming back I saw a Teddy Bear in a store. I said, “Hey Anna would like that.” (she is my God daughter).

Anna really likes Teddy Bears.

Just the other day (Halloween), she was holding onto her teddy bear as if it was the most important thing in the world, and it made me think of something.

So what does this have to do with bipolar disorder?

Well, I’ll tell you.

Anna made me think of bipolar disorder the other day because her holding onto her teddy bear that way made me think of how some supporters coddle, or enable their loved ones.

Enabling is when you do things for them that they can do for themselves.

Enabling is one of the things that I teach about in my courses/systems below:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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Anyway, I was talking about enabling.

So let me give you an example. Say… medications, ok?

Your loved one is perfectly capable of taking their own medications. But you also want to be sure that they take them, because if they don’t, ell, that’s a BIG trigger to a bipolar episode, isn’t it?

So here’s what one couple I know does:

She (the wife, she’s the supporter) bought her husband a pill box – they’re real cheap, you can buy them at pretty much any pharmacy.

Once a week, her and her husband sit down with his medications and she watches him fill up his pill box for the whole week.

Now, here’s a system he has, which I think is cool.

In order not to get confused (because he is on several medications), once he has filled up each day with one medication, he turns that bottle upside down, so he knows he’s used it. He does that for each medication in order. Then when they’re all turned upside down, he knows he’s done. The important thing is, she doesn’t do this for him, that he does it for himself, or else she would be enabling him. She would be coddling him, just like Anna does with her teddy bear. I guess I should say Teddy Bears because she has a bunch. And you don’t want to do that. However, this is the other part of their system.

And this is the part you CAN be involved in, because you want to be sure your loved one does take their medication so they don’t go into an episode.

In other words, you still want to be a good supporter, while not being an enabler, and not coddling your loved one.

Ok, this is what this man’s wife does, how she makes sure he takes his medication:

They keep his pill box in an open place in the kitchen by the sink.

He takes his pills at the same time every day, so usually she sees him take them. But there are times when, for whatever reason, she doesn’t.

At those times, it is easy enough for her to check if he’s taken them, because all she has to do is open that day’s compartment, and if the pills are gone he’s taken them, and if they’re still there he hasn’t, and she just gently reminds him to take them.

This is a good system that goes to show how you can be a good supporter and help your loved one while not coddling them or being over-protective, and definitely NOT being an enabler (doing things for them that they can do for themselves).

I’m not saying you have to use this system or anything – you can develop one of your own, and not just for medications. I just used this as an example.

The important thing is that you not be an enabler.

If you have other ideas, or systems that have worked for you and your loved one, please share them here, so you can help other supporters.

Has anyone enabled and found it to be a huge problem? Please post some comments.

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David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.

The Violent Person With Bipolar Disorder

David Oliver November 3, 2008 | March 14, 2009 Daily Bipolar Disorder Message 39 Comments

Hi,

I hope you’re having a good day.

I have to take off really quick because I have to go to a conference in New York and there’s probably going to be a ton of traffic. Not to mention it’s raining too. First I want to say something. Soooooooo many people say to me, “I am not like your mom.”

Or they say, “My loved one is not like your mom.”

Listen, my mom was never that bad most of my life. I mean, she was bad sometimes but not that bad before the last major episode.

With bipolar disorder, without a system it can get worse.

The person who never did anything wrong can sometimes turn violent. They are not in their right mind.

Look at this:

Hello David,

Hi my name is Michael, my wife (name omitted) has been speaking to you for a couple years now. I have a question for you, when my son goes crazy and I have to restrain him from hurting others or himself, He will say just kill me and get it over with

it. Have you ever had to deal with that, if so how do you respond, I know my self I go from complete anger to complete sympathy, without him knowing. What would you do in that situation, how do I deal with that statement?

Thanks Mike
————————————————————

First let me say that I am NOT a doctor, therapist, lawyer, financial advisor, law enforcement official, etc.

I am NOT offering any medical, legal, financial or professional advice. But I will tell you this, because it is a fact:

Your loved one CAN become violent, even if they have never been violent before.

Especially if they go off their medication, because, as I said, they are not in their right mind.

You know Michele, who works for me.

Well, her sister had bipolar disorder, went off her medication, threw herself through a plate glass door, called the police and claimed spousal abuse and had her husband arrested!

Another day she told her husband that she had hidden a box cutter in the house and that he better not go to sleep that night, because she was going to slit his throat if he did!

I know this sounds horrible, but it’s true.

Your loved one CAN turn violent, even if they’ve never been violent before.

I said in the beginning that without a system it can get worse. In my courses/systems below, I talk about how you have to have a system:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

Visit:

SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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What you do is, between episodes, when your loved one is calm and receptive to good communication, the two of you sit down and work out what you would do if your loved one did become violent.

You have to have a system in place, just in case.

I know one couple who did this.

Here’s what they worked out.

They decided that if he goes into an episode and becomes violent, that the first thing she should do is call 911 and the police, so he doesn’t hurt her.

As long as she calls right away, chances are he won’t hurt her, so she can stay to tell the police that he has bipolar disorder, so they won’t take him to jail, they’ll just restrain him and take him to the hospital.

During that time, she is to call her husband’s psychiatrist, to let him know what’s happening, so he can be in touch with the hospital, in case they need his help with medications, etc., or his advice on where to send her husband (what facility, etc.).

Then she is to take all his medications and follow them to the hospital.

See? They have a very comprehensive system that they worked out in advance, when her husband was not in an episode that protects both of them should he become violent.

Mostly, they acknowledged the fact that, even though they didn’t want to think about that fact, and didn’t want to think that it might happen, they still worked out a system in case it should.

Another point, too. They also have a signed Medical Release and Power of Attorney signed by him (when he was not in an episode) that she has a copy of that she would take with her to the hospital in case she ould need to admit him.

This is a very important point, because during an episode, especially when your loved one is violent, you will NOT be able to get his/her signature on one of these forms, and you will be restricted from having access to them and/or their records and/or their care.

There also might be personal things you might need to do, like have access to your bank accounts, that a Power of Attorney will enable you to do. I know it’s probably hard to believe right now that your loved one could turn violent, but with bipolar disorder it’s always a possibility.

Just make sure you have a system in place.

Does this make sense or do you totally disagree?

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http://www.survivebipolar.net/bipolarsecretsspecialoffer/

David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.

The Truth About The 7 Secrets To Living With Bipolar Disorder

David Oliver November 2, 2008 | March 14, 2009 Special Offer Leave a Comment

Hi,

I just got back from hiking today and I saw a bunch of people who were bipolar supporters asking one main question about my 7 Secrets to Living with Bipolar Disorder FREE trial I have going on at:

Basically bipolar supporters were asking if it was good for them to get this as well even though they did not
have bipolar disorder.

My answer is yes and let me tell you why. There are like two parts of the bipolar equation. There is the supporter and there is the survivor. I believe to be a good supporter you need to know how a person with bipolar disorder needs
to live in order to be successful.

Many bipolar supporters don’t seem to get that part. They figure, “I’ll just learn how to be a good supporter and that’s all I need to know. I don’t need to know how to live with bipolar disorder because I don’t have it.”

That’s not the best way to look at it. If you know how to live with bipolar disorder, you then can better help guide your loved one when they are off track.

This has been essential for me supporting my mom and the people that work for me with bipolar disorder (
there’s like 12 now).

So again my answer is yes.

For more information on 7 Secrets to Living with Bipolar Disorder,
please visit:

http://www.survivebipolar.net/bipolarsecretsspecialoffer/

David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.

Bipolar Disorder? Change Your Clock, Change Yourself

David Oliver November 2, 2008 | March 14, 2009 Daily Bipolar Disorder Message 12 Comments

Hi,

How’s your day going?

I hope it’s going good.

Yesterday I was hanging out with a friend and he was like, “hey dude the clocks change tonight.” I was like, “really?”

He was like, “Yea we are going to get less sleep.”

I said, “no fall back it goes the other way.”

He was like, “no dude, it goes the other way.”

So after like 10 minutes of going around in circles I just agreed with him. He will figure it out when he is not on time for work : ) He was totally convinced he has to move the clock forward?

Again for a reminder….it’s that time of year again – time to change our clocks back (“Spring forward, fall back,” right?).

I know it may sound silly, but it did make me think of today’s topic:

CHANGE.

Change is inevitable.

Change is a part of life.

Change is a part of our world.

Change is necessary.

And change is a crucial part of managing bipolar disorder.

Do you remember when your loved one was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

You probably had to make a lot of changes then.

Your loved one had to change – they couldn’t stay the same, keep doing things the way they were before they were diagnosed.

You had to change – you had to become a bipolar supporter.

And your lives together definitely changed, didn’t they?

See? Change is inevitable.

More importantly, though, you have to keep changing. Things have to keep changing.

For example, your loved one probably isn’t on the same medication they started on when they were diagnosed. Or if they are, they probably had to change dosages.

They most certainly had to change their lifestyle.

They (and probably you) had to begin eating right, exercising, and sleeping well.

They also had to develop a good support system, probably joined a support group (and you did, too, most likely).

And you both had to get educated about bipolar disorder.

These are all things I teach about in my courses/systems below:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

Visit:

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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In the beginning, that meant a lot of changes, didn’t it?

But then you got used to things. And they’ve probably been the same way for quite a while now.

And now here I come along and tell you that you and your loved one have to change again. And you probably don’t want to hear that. Because people get comfortable, and they resist change.

But if you look around you, you’ll see that things are constantly changing.

Your family changes – your children grow older, begin having their own children.

Look at the seasons – they’re always changing.

Look at the weather – it’s always changing.

Look at life – it’s constantly changing.

The one thing you can always count on is change.

And if you don’t change, you stagnate.

Think about a body of water that stagnates.

The water becomes murky, filled with all kinds of junk, it isn’t fresh any more, and it even begins to stink.

If your loved one doesn’t change, they can stagnate. If they stagnate, they can become bored, and even go into a bipolar episode, because boredom is one of the triggers to an episode.

So, see why change is so important? Agree or disagree?

Not just for clocks, but for people, too.

Hey I have to run. I am going hiking today and now I have less daylight so I have to leave earlier or go on shorter trips. Today I am only going 6 miles.

I will talk to you later on. Have a great day.

FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME

David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.

Bipolar Lesson from Halloween Story

David Oliver November 1, 2008 | March 14, 2009 Daily Bipolar Disorder Message 28 Comments

Hi,

How are you doing today?

I have to tell you what happened on Halloween –it’s just too funny!

I had to take my 11-month-old goddaughter trick-or-treating.

Of course I did, because how do you say no to an 11-month-old, right?

Well, she decided to dress up as a sunflower. really cute, right?

But that’s not the point. Oh, no, the point is that she wanted me to dress up as something that went along with her sunflower costume!

Now, you tell me – what on earth goes along with a sunflower???

So I decided to be a green pea.

I actually asked someone who has bipolar disorder who to make the costume. This person is super smart and creative and had a complete plan but said it would take a week to get all the stuff to me : )

That didn’t work.

Then I decided to be the Jolly Green Giant.

I don’t know why I thought about this. I think probably because I was eating green beans and on the package was the “green giant” the logo for the green bean company.

I couldn’t find a costume big enough to fit a man over 6 foot tall! I guess they figure only kids trick-or-treat these days, I don’t know.

(ok, I can hear you snickering now)

All right, so I had to do something in desperation.

I finally decided to go as a cowboy.

At least I could put on a denim shirt and wear jeans and find a cowboy hat somewhere, right?

I actually have a cowboy hat. I think they are really cool but I wouldn’t wear them around because I would look odd.

Ok, ok, so it’s not the traditional Halloween costume.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with a sunflower.

And now I can totally hear you laughing trying to picture this big tall cowboy taking this tiny little sunflower around trick-or-treating.

Well before I left I had to drive around and get some stuff. People were laughing at me : )

Then when I got there and I was all ready to go, Anna decided she didn’t want to go because she got scared from all the people with costumes I guess.

It was good because I didn’t feel like walking around anyway with my “costume.” lol BUT I would have gone if she wanted to go.

And now I’ll tell you what this Halloween story has to do with bipolar disorder.

It has to do with sacrifices.

See, again, there was no way I wanted to go trick-or-treating.

There were a million other things I would’ve rather been doing.

Actually, there was anything else I would’ve rather been doing than dressing up like a cowboy and being laughed at in a strange area I have never been (we actually went where Anna’s father grew up).

But I love my goddaughter.

And I wanted to see her happy.

So I put my feelings and my own needs aside and made sacrifices for her.

And it was worth it.

As a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, you have to make sacrifices as well.

In my courses/systems, I talk about what makes a good supporter, and I think the difference between being a good supporter and being a super-supporter is putting your own needs aside to help your loved one with theirs.

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11

SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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http://www.bipolarparenting.com

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?

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http://www.survivebipolar.net

I’m not saying that your feelings and your needs don’t count, because they do.

But your loved one needs you.

And once your own needs are met, it doesn’t take much to sacrifice your time to help them, does it?

If you’re doing ok, it doesn’t take much to sacrifice on your part to make sure they’re ok too, does it?

If you see that you’re loved one is struggling, wouldn’t you be willing to make some sacrifices to help them?

Of course you would.

Because you love them as much as I love my goddaughter.

We all have to make sacrifices at some point.

Look at the sacrifices our young men in the service are making for our country.

Look at the sacrifices that parents make for their children every day.

Look at the sacrifices that adults make for their aging parents all the time.

Look at the sacrifices that couples make for each other that don’t have bipolar disorder to deal with (they still have other problems to face, though).

They all do it out of love.

Everybody makes sacrifices for the people they love.

As a good supporter, you sometimes have to make sacrifices for your loved one as well.

And it’s worth it.

Because I know your loved one appreciates it.

Because I know your loved one would make the same

sacrifices for you.

Agree or disagree?

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