Hi,

How are you today? I hope you’re doing fine.

Let me ask you a question: What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?

I asked this question to a woman one time, and she said, “To give birth to twins, before they

gave you anesthetic!” LOL I certainly didn’t expect that answer!

I asked a man one time, and he told me it was to build his home with his bare hands. I thought that was admirable.

I’ve gotten answers such as:

• To watch my mother die slowly of breast cancer.

• To raise 3 children all by myself.

• To go back to college at age 35.

• To get divorced after 30 years of marriage.

• To forgive my husband for having an affair.

• To start my own business and make a success of it.

• To start over after having been homeless for 2 years.

Wow. Some pretty serious answers, don’t you think? But some pretty great success stories, too!

Some people have accomplished some pretty hard things!

And so I asked you: What is the hardest thing you have ever had to do?

Now, compare it to this.

This may not seem like much to you, but for someone with bipolar disorder…

Did you know that, in a bipolar depressive episode, the hardest thing for them to do sometimes

is just to get out of bed? It can be.

If you are a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder, you may have had to deal with this very situation. And it may have been hard for you to relate to. Because for you, getting out of bed may be no big deal. But when a person with the disorder is in a depressive episode, they can

feel so overwhelmed, that just the simple act of getting out of bed can be something that they just cannot face.

I know a woman who was in a bipolar depressive episode so severe one time that she spent an entire week in bed, so overcome with sadness and despair that she couldn’t even get out of that bed, no matter how much she knew that she should.

That’s how much an episode can take control of them. It can be very frustrating and disconcerting for a supporter to watch, when their loved one gets that bad. It can be very hard to understand as well, but it is part of the disorder.

Obviously, it is imperative that your loved one get out of bed, or they will just get worse. But how? Either they or you need to contact their doctor for help. If you can’t get them to see their doctor, you need to at least get hold of them on the phone and tell them what’s going on.

The doctor may be able to prescribe something over the phone or increase their medication so that they are able to improve and get out of bed. Bipolar depressive episodes, as bad as they can be, can pass, but not without help.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

How’s it going? I hope you’re doing well today.

I read a lot, mostly business magazines. And I read an article in one of them the other day about an entrepreneur who is very wealthy, a self-made millionaire.

Granted, self-made implies that he did it himself, but even self-made people have to have had some help along the way, wouldn’t you think? Nobody does it all by themselves.

But this guy was going on and on about how he did everything all by himself, that no one ever showed him even one little thing, nobody ever taught him anything, nobody ever helped him in any way, he did it ALL himself, etc., etc. And I was actually offended at all the pride that was just oozing out of this guy. He just took all the credit!

Didn’t even give his parents any credit for raising him or anything! I mean, usually even self-made millionaires give credit to their parents at least, you know? But he was just so full of himself!

I mean, I’ve worked all of my life, always had my own businesses, and I would say that I’m a self-made man too (but FAR from being a millionaire LOL). But I don’t go around bragging about how I’ve never gotten any help from a single sole, nobody’s ever done anything for me, etc., everything I’ve gotten I’ve gotten all by myself, etc.

I’m pretty honest about giving credit where credit is due and about how I’ve gotten good advice from other people, etc. I’ve had some pretty good role models, and that has helped as well.

I don’t think anyone can make it in this world all by themselves. Especially people who have bipolar disorder. In fact, some of the worst cases of bipolar disorder I’ve ever seen were people who tried to make it by themselves, without any kind of a support system.

I’ve had bipolar supporters talk to me about their loved ones and how they kind of shut them out of helping them and it’s not so much that it hurts them personally (the supporter) as much as it hurts them to see their loved one struggle when they don’t have to, because they have a supporter right there who is willing and wanting to help them.

It’s hard to watch your loved one wanting so much to make it on their own, knowing that it doesn’t have to be that way. And that they’re probably going to fail, because, like I said, some of the worst cases of bipolar disorder I’ve seen were people with the disorder who tried to make it on their own.

On the other hand, one of the most successful cases I know of is a couple where both of them

have bipolar disorder, and they are each other’s supporter. They are married, so they are around each other pretty much 24/7. They know each other so well, and each other’s signs and symptoms, so they can tell when the other one is “off” in any way, so there’s no telling how many episodes they’ve been able to avoid just by being vigilant.

They help each other. They talk to each other. But most importantly, they listen to each other.

If one tells the other that they’ve noticed a few signs or symptoms that might indicate that they

could be going into an episode and that they should go to the doctor, they listen, and they go.

They’ve learned from experience that a supporter can be invaluable in preventing bipolar episodes. They both remember how, before they got married, they didn’t have supporters, or a good support system, and went into many episodes, having to be hospitalized several times trying to make it on their own.

A good, strong support system is just invaluable when you’re trying to manage bipolar disorder.

If your loved one is giving you a hard time about helping them to manage their bipolar,

show them this blog. Show them the difference that having a good support system vs. trying to do it alone can make. They need to know that they cannot make it on their own.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

How’s it going? I hope you’re doing well today.

I read a lot, mostly business magazines. And I read an article in one of them the other day about an entrepreneur who is very wealthy, a self-made millionaire.

Granted, self-made implies that he did it himself, but even self-made people have to have had some help along the way, wouldn’t you think? Nobody does it all by themselves.

But this guy was going on and on about how he did everything all by himself, that no one ever showed him even one little thing, nobody ever taught him anything, nobody ever helped him in any way, he did it ALL himself, etc., etc. And I was actually offended at all the pride that was just oozing out of this guy. He just took all the credit!

Didn’t even give his parents any credit for raising him or anything! I mean, usually even self-made millionaires give credit to their parents at least, you know? But he was just so full of himself!

I mean, I’ve worked all of my life, always had my own businesses, and I would say that I’m a self-made man too (but FAR from being a millionaire LOL). But I don’t go around bragging about how I’ve never gotten any help from a single sole, nobody’s ever done anything for me, etc., everything I’ve gotten I’ve gotten all by myself, etc.

I’m pretty honest about giving credit where credit is due and about how I’ve gotten good advice from other people, etc. I’ve had some pretty good role models, and that has helped as well.

I don’t think anyone can make it in this world all by themselves. Especially people who have bipolar disorder. In fact, some of the worst cases of bipolar disorder I’ve ever seen were people who tried to make it by themselves, without any kind of a support system.

I’ve had bipolar supporters talk to me about their loved ones and how they kind of shut them out of helping them and it’s not so much that it hurts them personally (the supporter) as much as it hurts them to see their loved one struggle when they don’t have to, because they have a supporter right there who is willing and wanting to help them.

It’s hard to watch your loved one wanting so much to make it on their own, knowing that it doesn’t have to be that way. And that they’re probably going to fail, because, like I said, some of the worst cases of bipolar disorder I’ve seen were people with the disorder who tried to make it on their own.

On the other hand, one of the most successful cases I know of is a couple where both of them

have bipolar disorder, and they are each other’s supporter. They are married, so they are around each other pretty much 24/7. They know each other so well, and each other’s signs and symptoms, so they can tell when the other one is “off” in any way, so there’s no telling how many episodes they’ve been able to avoid just by being vigilant.

They help each other. They talk to each other. But most importantly, they listen to each other.

If one tells the other that they’ve noticed a few signs or symptoms that might indicate that they

could be going into an episode and that they should go to the doctor, they listen, and they go.

They’ve learned from experience that a supporter can be invaluable in preventing bipolar episodes. They both remember how, before they got married, they didn’t have supporters, or a good support system, and went into many episodes, having to be hospitalized several times trying to make it on their own.

A good, strong support system is just invaluable when you’re trying to manage bipolar disorder.

If your loved one is giving you a hard time about helping them to manage their bipolar,

show them this blog. Show them the difference that having a good support system vs. trying to do it alone can make. They need to know that they cannot make it on their own.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

If you need helping explaining bipolar disorder to others, please visit:

http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/specialoffer/explainingbipolar

Dave

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews482/

Here are the news headlines:

Norfolk Woman’s Battle against Stigma of Bipolar Disorder
DO> VERY inspiring article

Winners of CAMH awards Provide Profiles in Courage
DO> Another inspiring article

Five Myths About a Bipolar Diagnosis
DO> Great article, take a look.

Trio conquers North Pole for Bipolar
DO> What do you think of this?

Bipolar Irritability: Often Overlooked and Underestimated
DO> I totally agree, do you?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews482/

==>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==

Check out all my resources, programs and information for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
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Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

How are you doing today? I hope your day is going well.

Let me ask you a few things:

If you don’t pay your power bill, can you just assume that your electricity will stay on?

If you don’t pay your water bill, can you just assume that when you turn on your tap that water will magically come out of the spout?

If you don’t make your car payment, can you just assume that they’ll let you keep driving that car indefinitely?

If you don’t make needed repairs on your home as they come up, can you just assume that your house will still be standing ten years from now?

If you don’t pay your bills, can you just assume that somehow they’ll get paid?

No.

If you don’t take care of these things, they just won’t get done, will they?

You can’t just assume when it comes to important things. You have responsibilities, and you have to take care of things, or no one else will.

Well, it’s the same with bipolar disorder. You are a bipolar supporter, and there are some things you just can’t assume. Just like with your bills, assuming that if you don’t pay them, that somehow they’ll magically be paid… You can’t assume that without your help that your loved one will magically get better. Your loved one needs your help.

Take, for example, their medication. You can’t just assume that they’re taking it all the time, as prescribed. You may not like this, but it might be a good idea to check up on them.

I know a man who just assumed his mom was taking her medications because he saw her pill bottles at her bedside, so he thought she had a system. Again, he just assumed. Until he looked closer. And he noticed that one of the bottles had too many pills in it for the date on the bottle.

It turns out that she had just been “forgetting” to take that medication.

Upon closer inspection of all her medications, the son found out that she had no system at all, so they worked one out.

You also can’t just assume that your loved one is going to all their doctor, psychiatrist and

therapist appointments, even if you see them marked on a calendar. You may want to call these people and follow-up to see if these appointments have been kept. You may even need to attend some of these sessions with them to make sure they are going.

You also need to keep a close watch on your loved one’s signs and symptoms. You can’t just assume that because they are “quiet” one day that nothing is really wrong. Check with them.

Talk to them. Do a feelings check to make sure that they are not feeling depressed.

If you do this when they first show signs of it, you may be able to avoid them going into a full-blown bipolar depressive episode.

Or if you notice that they seem to be “talkative,” or showing more energy than usual, it’s the same thing. Talk to them about it. It may be the early signs of a bipolar manic episode.

Keep tabs on their spending habits as well, as this can be another sign of a manic episode.

It can’t hurt to take a look at the credit card statements and the checking account register too. Just to be sure.

Remember that when it comes to bipolar disorder, just like with your bills, you can’t just assume.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

How are you today? I hope you’re doing well.

I saw a cartoon the other day and the last frame of it showed two dogs looking up at a scarecrow with a bird on top of it that was saying: “All our fears are made of straw.” I thought (especially for a comic) that was pretty profound when I thought about it.

So many people are paralyzed by their fears. In fact, there are whole mental disorders based on fear, like phobias and anxiety disorders. And for people who have them, they can be paralyzing, and awful to have to live with. They even have to alter their lives and their plans to work around their fears. I’m not just talking about fear of spiders or snakes. I’m talking about fear of going out of the house, or fear of being around people, or something called Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder. These people live with anxiety and panic every day, in situations that you and I live with normally.

Well, people with bipolar disorder live with fear as well. Like the fear that comes with stigma.

That’s the fear of being different, or “less than,” or “not good enough.” Many people with mental illness feel that way.

But people with bipolar disorder have distinctive fears.

Such as:

• Fear of being someplace and going into an episode

This is a very real fear for many people with bipolar disorder. In fact, many will not even make any plans because of it. Even if they’ve been stable for awhile, they are still afraid that they might be someplace and lose control, going into an episode.

• Fear of medication

Some people have heard scare stories from others about how bad medication was for them, and they listen to them, fearing that the same thing will happen to them. Mostly, they fear the side effects, which can sometimes be pretty bad, but in reality can usually be controlled. Still, they are afraid.

• Fear of losing control

Some people, even if they are stable, are still afraid of losing control. They may have been stable in the past and then been in a situation where they were triggered and lost control, so now they are afraid of it. For example, they may have been triggered and started talking fast and a lot in a social situation and got very embarrassed, and now they are afraid that it will happen again.

• Fear of being hospitalized

I know a woman who was so afraid of being hospitalized that she wouldn’t even go to the doctor. She was afraid that if they “locked her up,” she would “never get out again.” She ended up going into a terrible episode and had to be involuntarily hospitalized by her husband.

• Fear of other people finding out that they have bipolar disorder

Some people are so afraid of the stigma against mental illness in general and bipolar disorder in specific, that they are afraid of anyone finding out that they have the disorder. They go to great lengths to keep their disorder hidden from other people, even if they are experiencing signs and symptoms of an impending episode. For example, they will use sick days from work to hide them.

Some of these fears may not seem so bad to you, but to the people that have them, they are very

real, and very frightening. Even though you and I know that “bipolar fears are made of straw” and cannot hurt them, people with bipolar disorder hold onto their fears. The only way they can get rid of their fears is by support and counseling (therapy). The more stable they get, the more they will see that their fears are unfounded.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

How’s it going for you today? I hope it’s a good day.

I have to tell you, I am not a car mechanic (no big surprise, huh? LOL) But I do practice good car preventative maintenance. I get my oil changed regularly. I flush the gas lines. I rotate the tires. I keep up the fluids. Now, do I like doing these things? Not especially. But do I like the alternative? Definitely not.

I’d hate to have my car overheat on the side of the highway on a really hot day just because I ran out of fluid. So I do it for good car preventative maintenance. It’s the right thing to do.

Well, it’s the same with bipolar disorder. You have to practice good preventative maintenance with bipolar disorder too, in order to stay stable.

So let’s talk about one of the types of preventative maintenance of bipolar disorder: Medication.

You don’t take medication in the middle of a crisis, right in the middle of a bipolar episode, and expect it to instantly stop the episode. You take it regularly, on a daily basis, to prevent the episode in the first place. That way it keeps you stable, on an even keel.

Just like a diabetic takes insulin on a daily basis to keep their sugar regulated, and doesn’t wait until they’re in the middle of a crisis to do it.

Another part of preventative maintenance for bipolar disorder is: A Psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist helps you control your disorder through management of your medications and the side effects from them, if necessary. This they do on a regular basis, so things don’t get out of hand – again, you wouldn’t go to see them in the middle of a crisis. You see them for regular appointments, when they can do the most good.

They can adjust medication dosages, change or add or delete medications, etc. They can watch and see how medications are affecting you.

Another part of bipolar preventative maintenance is: A Therapist.

The therapist works with you on a regular weekly or bi-weekly basis to help you deal with the issues surrounding having bipolar disorder. This helps you, for instance, to manage the stress and anxiety that you might have to face on a daily basis with your disorder.

You can learn skills, like anger management, stress management, and time management, among others.

Another part of bipolar preventative maintenance is: A Doctor (Family Physician).

A Doctor helps you by attending to your physical body and any other illnesses besides your bipolar disorder, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. They will also do routine blood work for your bipolar medications, check liver function, etc.

Another part of bipolar preventative maintenance is: Bipolar Support Group.

Going to a bipolar support group helps you get feedback from other people as to how you are doing with your disorder. It’s great for both supporters and survivors.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

I have some good news. I have been talking to many people about the current economic times as related to bipolar disorder.

I know people are having some trouble related to bills and debt from bipolar disorder.

I decided to start publishing totally FREE articles on all aspects of debt and bipolar disorder.

Here are the first set of the new articles. I am working on 80 more. They will be up next month.

Please take a look by visiting the site below:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/articles/categories/Medical-and-Other-Debt-Information/

Dave

Hi,

How are you today? I hope you’re doing well.

Today’s message is going to be for both bipolar supporters and bipolar survivors.

I heard a saying the other day which I thought was really neat: “NO is a complete sentence.”

Too many people do not even have the word “No” in their vocabulary, so they get over-committed, stressed out, and overwhelmed. For someone with bipolar disorder, this can even lead to a bipolar episode.

It’s hard to get your priorities right if you don’t know how to say no to people. It can lead to so many commitments that you just can’t do everything. Then you have to let someone down and you can even feel guilty.

For many people, there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done that they want to accomplish. These people are just TOO busy! Being too busy can lead to too much stress in their lives. For someone with bipolar disorder, too much stress can lead to a bipolar episode. It’s very important to keep their stress levels down.

As a supporter, it’s just as important to keep your stress levels down, so you can be the best help you can be for your loved one, and so that you don’t face supporter burnout.

Ok, so as far as setting priorities, goes… The most important priority is yourself.

Supporter, if you don’t take care of yourself first, you will not be able to take care of your loved one. That means that if your life is too full of “stuff,” you need to get rid of some things. You may have too many obligations. If that’s true, consider getting rid of some of them, and keeping only those that matter the most.

There may be too many constraints on your time, and you may be rushing around all the time, trying to get everything done, which could be stressing you out. If so, you may need to consider some time management skill training. You may be wasting a lot of precious time just running around needlessly.

For the bipolar survivor, if you are feeling stressed, consider that it may be because you have too many obligations in your life. If you are still working a full-time job outside the home, you may have to consider leaving it. It may be too hard for you to handle, considering your bipolar disorder. It is more important for you to have less stress in your life.

You also, like your supporter, need to prioritize your obligations and responsibilities. Keep those that are most important and consider getting rid of some of the others.

Remember that “No” is a complete sentence. Say “No” to new commitments. Don’t take on more than you can handle. The stress just isn’t worth it. Keep in mind that stability with your

bipolar disorder is the most important thing for you.

And remember, both of you, to make sure to leave time for each other.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave