Hi,

How’s it going?

You know, anyone can easily get caught up in the hustle of the holiday season and become obsessed with finding each person on their list the perfect gift.

But what about the person with bipolar disorder who has had problems with manic spending sprees in the past?

What can you, as a supporter, do to stay in control of the shopping this season? Here are some suggestions for both of you:

· Keep your perspective. Don’t get so caught up with finding the perfect gift for everyone that you become obsessive. It isn’t worth the anxiety or the checkbook balance.

· Spread out your shopping. Shopping ahead will minimize your holiday anxiety. Starting after Thanksgiving is a good idea. Take advantage of pre-holiday sales.

· Pick a budget and stick to it. If you have had a problem with manic overspending in the past, come up with a specific budget well before the holidays, and stick to it. This way you can spread out your finances.

· Shop together. Especially if you have had problems with overspending in the past – by shopping together, you can sort of “police” each other, watching your spending so that it is easier to stick to your budget and avoid impulse buying.

· Shop online. For people who have access to the Internet, online shopping has become a holiday favorite way to shop. It is less stressful and will help you to avoid the hassles of the mall. Just make sure that the supporter knows what the survivor is buying, and that it is still within your budget, so there is no overspending, because there is a threat of impulse buying when using the Internet.

· Use gift cards or gift certificates. Almost everyone loves getting a gift card or gift certificate. And these days, gift cards and gift certificates have become more personal and specific to the person – their own needs and likes. You can easily choose one that fits the person and where they shop, eat, etc.

· Make home-made coupon books This is a great idea, especially if you are on a limited budget. It’s also something that the two of you can work on together. Think of that single mom, who would love to have some free babysitting. Or that older couple who would love their driveway shoveled for them for free. These coupon books are even great gifts to make for each other!

In my courses/systems, I talk about how important it is to avoid stressful experiences, whether at holiday time or any time:

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You don’t have to have a stressful shopping experience this holiday season.

Remember that holiday gifts are just a way to show the person that you care about them.

The gifts don’t have to be expensive.

They don’t have to be elaborate.

And remember to keep the other person in mind when you are shopping for them, and don’t stress yourself out looking for that “perfect” gift – they will appreciate any gift you give them.

The above are just some ideas.

I’m sure you can come up with more on your own.

Or if you have used some successfully in the past, I’d love to hear them.

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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.

Hi,

I hope you’re having a great holiday season.

If you celebrate Christmas all done shopping?

Shockingly, I haven’t even started. I have been working so hard on so many things, I haven’t had time. I am going tomorrow.

Nothing like waiting until the last second, huh : )

I want to ask you a question:

What do you think is the greatest Christmas gift you could get for your loved one with bipolar disorder this year?

Take a guess, then scroll down for the answer.
Scroll down …

Keep scrolling…

No cheating!!!

Think you know what it is?
Keep scrolling to find out…
Ok, I’ll give you a hint.

The greatest Christmas gift you could get for your loved one this year is not something you can buy in a store.

Think you know now?

Then scroll down one more time…

Ok, I’ll tell you.

The greatest Christmas gift you could get for your loved one this year is the gift of being a good supporter to them.

It’s the gift of your love and understanding.

See? That’s something that, as the commercial says, is “priceless.”

Only you can do that for them.

And that means being a good supporter.

How can you do that?

If you’re a good supporter, you help your loved one manage their disorder.

You don’t let them skip their medication just because they’re “sick of taking it.”

You don’t let them stop seeing their doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist just because they “don’t feel like going.”

You don’t enable them when they can do those things perfect fine all by themselves. In other words, you are not their caretaker, mother, or babysitter, and you’re not afraid to tell them so.

You set boundaries, and you’re not afraid to stick to them.

You make them pay consequences to their actions from what they do when they’re in a bipolar episode.

And even though all these things sound so harsh and like negative things, they are all very important.

I go over all these things in my courses/systems, because they are all things that make up a good supporter.

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.bipolarparenting.com

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
You do all these things because you ARE a good supporter.

You do all these things because you know they are important to your loved one’s stability.

You do all these things because you want to help your loved one manage their bipolar disorder.

You do all these things because you LOVE your loved one.

Because you UNDERSTAND them. And that is your gift to them.

The gift of love and understanding.

A gift that no money could buy.

A gift that no one else could give them.

So remember that this Christmas.

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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.

Hi,

How’s it going?

I wanted to bring up something today that I think you need to be prepared for in advance, and that is holiday let down in your loved one with bipolar disorder.

I don’t want to ruin your Christmas, and I do hope you have a really good one, but the more prepared for this you are, the better you will be able to cope with this when it happens after the holidays are over.

With all the festivities associated with the holiday season going on right now, your loved one might be acting pretty excited right now (but, hopefully, not manic).

And this will build up to Christmas and, if you’re lucky, even to New Year’s Day.

However, after the holidays are over, your loved one (and you) are bound to face holiday let down.

I just want you to be prepared in advance.

One of the things I talk about in my courses/systems is that sometimes something seems negative, but it really is a positive.

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
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So don’t think this is a negative message. I just want you to be realistic, and I want you to be prepared.

After all the excitement of the holidays, with all the parties and gatherings, the presents… and after all the Christmas decorations are taken down and put away…

Your loved one may feel a sense of loss.

Any sense of loss to a person with bipolar disorder is a trigger to stress, which can lead to a mini-episode, or even a full-blown episode, if you don’t watch it.

That’s what I want you to be prepared for.

Think about all the other times your loved one has exhibited symptoms of their bipolar disorder after a relatively “normal” period of time, and don’t be caught by surprise at this time.

How did they act last year after the holidays were over?

Did they act let down?

Did they start sleeping more?

Did they mope around the house?

Did they start withdrawing from friends and family?

Did they lose interest in things that they used to take pleasure in?

What other “out of the ordinary” behaviors did they exhibit last year at this time?

Because these are all signs and symptoms of a bipolar depression.

And you might expect these behaviors to happen again.

Let me ask you this:

What have you tried in the past that has helped you cope and deal with your loved one’s holiday let down behavior?

It might work again.

If it has worked for you, please share it with us, so we can share it with others, as it might work for them, too.

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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.

Hi,

How’s it going?

Hey I have to get going because I have to get all the snow off my car. It snowed like 10 inches or something.

Okay, so….

For most people, the holidays are a happy and exciting time.

They enjoy all the shopping, presents, decorating, visiting friends and family, gatherings and parties, and all the festivities that go along with the holidays around this time of year.

Even for some people who have bipolar disorder, it’s a happy and exciting time.

But for other people with bipolar disorder, it can be a very stressful time.

It can be anxious and overwhelming to them.

Like to my mom, for example.

This is the worst time of year for her.

This is the time when she traditionally goes into bipolar episodes.

But we know this, so we just watch her more closely. And she goes to more sessions with her doctor and therapist.

That way, we can avoid the episodes.

In my courses/systems, I go over the triggers of bipolar disorder, and these are things you should know  about your loved one:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
If you noticed that last year around this time, for example, that your loved one became very stressful and anxious during the holidays, then this year you might want to watch them more closely now.

If going to gatherings and parties, even if they were with family, were a trigger for our loved one, then you might want to avoid these events, or at least only stay a short period of time.

If you notice other behavior out of the ordinary in your loved one, too, like that they are more irritable or short-tempered, then that might indicate that they are feeling more stress around the holidays.

If you notice that their sleeping habits have changed during this time of the year, then that could be another indication that they are feeling anxious or stressed.

If they are isolating, and don’t seem to want to go out at all, or don’t want to go Christmas shopping with you, then they might be feeling overwhelmed, another indication of holiday stress.

If you see any of these things happening in your loved one, then they might be indications that your loved one is feeling stressed about the holidays, instead of happy and excited.

If this is the case, then you should do what we do with my mom –

Just watch them closer for any signs or symptoms of depression, in case they might be going into a bipolar episode.

You might want to approach them about some extra sessions with their doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist as well, if you think it is serious enough.

Getting through the holidays is harder for some than others. If you see that it is harder for your loved one, think about what I’ve said above.

The main thing is keeping your loved one stable through the holidays.
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Hi,

I hope you’re doing well today.

I had trouble sleep so I figured that I would write the daily email super early. It’s 3:15am now.

Christmas is coming soon, and I wanted to tell you this story about a couple I know:

I know of a couple who let bipolar disorder actually steal their Christmas last year!

It’s true!

They are married, and both of them have bipolar disorder.

And the holidays were so overwhelming to them, the shopping, the crowded roads and stores, the “crazy” people…

(You know how everyone gets a little “crazy” around Christmas time)

Well, they were so overwhelmed that it made them anxious and stressful…

Which made them both very depressed.

So they just cancelled Christmas!

They didn’t put up a Christmas tree.

They didn’t put up any Christmas decorations, no stockings, no carols sung by a fire, no candles, no lights up outside, no anything.

And no presents.

They didn’t even go to the traditional Christmas dinner at their family’s house.

They just sat home and watched TV on Christmas.

Like it was just another day.

They were so depressed that they both almost went into bipolar depressive episodes!

They told me it was one of the most miserable times of their lives.

In fact, they know I write these emails, and they wanted me to warn you:

DON’T LET BIPOLAR DISORDER STEAL YOUR CHRISTMAS

Like it stole theirs last year.

In my courses/systems I talk about how certain situations can be more stressful than others:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net

But this year, for this couple, you wouldn’t believe the difference!

They told me that they weren’t going to ever let bipolar disorder steal their Christmas ever again.

This year, Christmas is back, with ALL the trimmings!

They said their house looks like a Christmas wonderland, even though it’s only for the two of them (their kids are all grown).

And they made plans for the “overwhelming” part of Christmas in advance this year – they did their Christmas shopping early, sent money instead of presents to their children and nieces and nephews, and bought presents for only each other!

As far as the stress of visiting relatives for Christmas dinner, they are ready for it.

They have decided to only stay for as short a time as possible, and everyone else will have to understand.

They are not going to be pressured into being a part of all the festivities just because everyone else expects them to – not if it means that it affects their bipolar disorder.

What about you?

Has this happened to you?

You’re not going to let your bipolar disorder steal your Christmas this year, are you?

I remember many a Christmas was stolen through the years for me. You have to work hard to make sure this doesn’t happen. Start TODAY.

I actually think I am going to try to go back to sleep. But, before I go, I wanted to ask if you have any stories of BP stealing your Christmas OR you making sure it didn’t.

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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.

Hi,

How’s your day going?

Hey, I have to get going really quick because I have to take all the ice and snow off my car.

Okay so there are things in life that you absolutely HAVE to do, you know that, right?

Where you have no choice in the matter.

Like…

You HAVE to breathe.

You HAVE to wake up.

You HAVE to sleep.

You HAVE to eat food.

You HAVE to drink water.

These are just basic things you absolutely HAVE to do to survive.

No choice. Or else you’ll die.

But if you have bipolar disorder, there are other things you do have a choice over…

But if you don’t do them you may die as well.

Like…

You HAVE to take your medications!

Now, that’s an absolute MUST for someone with bipolar disorder.

People who don’t take their medications run a 20% risk of dying.

It’s your choice, but if you want to have a healthy life…

If you want to get better…

If you want to defeat bipolar disorder…

If you want to be stable and successful…

Then you HAVE to take your medication.

You HAVE to see your doctor or psychiatrist… or else you WON’T have that medication.

You HAVE to get the right amount of sleep each night, or you WILL go into a manic episode. In my courses/systems, I talk about other things you SHOULD do:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11

SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net

Now, you don’t HAVE to do these things, but if you want to be stable, you really SHOULD do them:

You SHOULD see a therapist on a regular basis.

You SHOULD eat a healthy diet.

You SHOULD exercise.

You SHOULD be productive.

You SHOULD have a strong support system.

You SHOULD do things that you enjoy.

You SHOULD communicate with your supporter.

You SHOULD have a social life.

You SHOULD attend a support group. Now, you don’t HAVE to do these things, but they will help you manage your bipolar disorder a whole lot better if you do them.

Does this make sense?

Like right now, I should go and take the snow off my car.

Seriously, do you know what I mean by this message today?

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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.