Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.

I was talking to a friend of mine today. She was talking about this horrible fear that she has. She is extremely afraid of trains. She is completely convinced that they are as likely to derail as not. She was telling me that a penny on the tracks can derail a train.

Well, I don’t think she’s right about that part. Maybe back in older times with older technology that might be true. But now days, trains are made much more sophisticated than that. They aren’t nearly as likely to derail as my friend thinks they are.

Unfortunately, dealing with bipolar disorder is a little different. Someone with bipolar disorder is much more likely to ‘derail,’ so to speak, than a train is. As their supporters, it is our job to do everything in our power to keep that from happening.

But how much can we really do? I mean, honestly? Well, the (honest) answer to that is: A LOT.

We can help them make a treatment plan, which is basically like the rails that a train rides on to begin with. Then we can help them to stick to that treatment plan. This is like making sure that they don’t derail.

Helping them stick to their treatment plan is not always easy, but it is doable. You can start by making sure that they make it to their appointments for their doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists. Take away any excuses they have to not go. For example, if their excuse is that no one will watch their children while they are at the appointment, then make sure that they have a babysitter that is reliable and trustworthy.

The next step is making sure that they take their medications as prescribed. This isn’t always easy. Sometimes they really don’t feel like it for one reason or another. But keep reminding them of their goal of recovery, and of how much better their life will be once they are stable.

Remind them of how much worse they do when they are off the medications, and help them to realize how much better they will be if they stay on them. Be prepared to remind them every time it is time for them to take their medications, and there may even be a struggle to get them to want to every time.

This is especially true if they are depressed, because they may not want to get out of bed to take the medications. Take away every excuse, once again. Bring their medications to them, if you need to, along with a glass of something to drink with them.

The next step to keep them from ‘derailing,’ so to speak, is to give them feedback on how they are doing. If they are talking too fast, or if they are sleeping all day, or if they are spending all their money on frivolous things, then let them know. It’s possible that they didn’t even realize that they were doing it.

There are many other steps you can take to keep them following their treatment plan, and you can use them all as tools. The real question is, are you prepared to do whatever it takes to help them stick to their treatment plan?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.

I was just talking to a friend of mine. They had an unusual experience getting to the train station the other day. First they got given bad directions, so they missed the last train of the night. Then, the next morning, they looked up online where the train station actually was, and discovered it was five miles away from where they were at.

Here’s the catch: by the time they got done paying for the difference between yesterday’s ticket and today’s, they didn’t have any money left for bus fare to get to the station! So they decided they would walk.

Five miles! Can you imagine? And, to make matters worse, it was through country roads in 90 degree weather. So they made sure they had plenty of water with them, and headed off to catch their train.

Throughout their trip, they kept having to step off the road when a car passed by. They were stepping off into grassy areas filled with tall weeds. Then they came across a piece of road kill that unnerved them. It was a snake! All this time they had been stepping off into tall grass when there were snakes present!

But still they kept going. They had to catch a train, after all.

By the time the five miles was up, they were so dehydrated they had a headache and their eyes were aching. They had been sweating so badly, they had to smell by that point. And their legs hurt, to say the least.

But they made their train, and they got home safely. 14 hours of sleep later, they were fine. And now they’ve got one heck of a story to tell!

The point of all this is, they didn’t let anything stand in their way. They kept persevering despite everything that kept going wrong. This is a hard thing to do, but I think it’s worth it in the long run.

There is a phrase: The end justifies the means. Basically what that means is that the rewards you get from persevering make whatever you persevered through worth it.

As bipolar supporters, or people who have bipolar, we have to persevere through a lot of things. It can be easy to just give up. But here’s something to remember: If my friend had just given up halfway through the journey, they would have either have had to walk all the way back, or they would have been stranded.

It is the same for us. We’ve already come this far, why would we want to waste our progress. Besides, there isn’t really anywhere to go but forward. Going back isn’t a good option. Staying in the place you’re in right now doesn’t make any sense at all.

But if you keep moving forward, eventually it will be worth it. Keep the end in mind as you keep going. Remember that your goal is recovery, and when that goal is reached, a better life will follow.

Doesn’t that make it worth everything? I think it does. And I think that you’ll find it does, if you persevere until you get there. What ways can you persevere in your struggle with bipolar disorder?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

If you are supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder and he/she won’t take their medication, then I have some great news.

I have a great resource for you.

It reveals how to actually get someone to take his/her medications.

Take a look at it:

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

Talk to you soon.

Dave

Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.

I was talking to a friend of mine today. She was talking about this horrible fear that she has. She is extremely afraid of trains. She is completely convinced that they are as likely to derail as not. She was telling me that a penny on the tracks can derail a train.

Well, I don’t think she’s right about that part. Maybe back in older times with older technology that might be true. But now days, trains are made much more sophisticated than that. They aren’t nearly as likely to derail as my friend thinks they are.

Unfortunately, dealing with bipolar disorder is a little different. Someone with bipolar disorder is much more likely to ‘derail,’ so to speak, than a train is. As their supporters, it is our job to do everything in our power to keep that from happening.

But how much can we really do? I mean, honestly? Well, the (honest) answer to that is: A LOT.

We can help them make a treatment plan, which is basically like the rails that a train rides on to begin with. Then we can help them to stick to that treatment plan. This is like making sure that they don’t derail.

Helping them stick to their treatment plan is not always easy, but it is doable. You can start by making sure that they make it to their appointments for their doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists. Take away any excuses they have to not go. For example, if their excuse is that no one will watch their children while they are at the appointment, then make sure that they have a babysitter that is reliable and trustworthy.

The next step is making sure that they take their medications as prescribed. This isn’t always easy. Sometimes they really don’t feel like it for one reason or another. But keep reminding them of their goal of recovery, and of how much better their life will be once they are stable.

Remind them of how much worse they do when they are off the medications, and help them to realize how much better they will be if they stay on them. Be prepared to remind them every time it is time for them to take their medications, and there may even be a struggle to get them to want to every time.

This is especially true if they are depressed, because they may not want to get out of bed to take the medications. Take away every excuse, once again. Bring their medications to them, if you need to, along with a glass of something to drink with them.

The next step to keep them from ‘derailing,’ so to speak, is to give them feedback on how they are doing. If they are talking too fast, or if they are sleeping all day, or if they are spending all their money on frivolous things, then let them know. It’s possible that they didn’t even realize that they were doing it.

There are many other steps you can take to keep them following their treatment plan, and you can use them all as tools. The real question is, are you prepared to do whatever it takes to help them stick to their treatment plan?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews486/

Here are the news headlines:

Breakthrough in treating Alzheimer’s and Bipolar Disorder
DO> Wow, what do you think of this?

Inflammation May Play Role in Bipolar Disorder
DO> Very interesting article, take a look.

Can a Person ‘discourage’ Bipolar Disorder?
DO> Hmm. What do you think of this?

Seasonal Affective Disorder: It’s Not Just for Winter Anymore
DO> This is so true…

Bipolar Recovery More Likely in Those Married, Better Educated
DO> Does this make sense to you?

Lithium Therapy Improvement By Reduction Of Its Toxicity
DO> Very interesting article, take a look

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews486/

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

Check out all my resources, programs and information for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.

I knew of a person who had bipolar once who made a big mistake. And this was a common mistake, too. She took out a short-term loan, because she felt that she couldn’t wait until she got paid next. But then she wasn’t able to repay it.

Next thing you know, the company is trying to take it out of her bank account (which has no money in it.) That throws her into the negative with her bank account, but they still bounce it back and she still owes this company.

Then they threaten to sue her for the money. Can you see how it could get really ugly at this point? She should have never taken out the loan in the first place, because she wasn’t sure she’d be able to repay it.

But how many times do people who have bipolar disorder do this? They get in a problem financially because of their manic spending, and then they need a quick fix. Well, that quick fix isn’t so much of a fix if you aren’t able to pay it back.

Have you ever found yourself in that situation before? Maybe you have. Or maybe you’re considering taking out a loan in the future. If you are, make absolutely sure you will be able to pay it back. Otherwise, it could end up coming back to haunt you.

There are other things you can do to both prevent yourself from getting into one of those tight situations, and to handle it if you do. Preventing the situation is best.

This can be done by learning to control your manic spending, and by doing everything in your power to prevent future spending sprees. Sometimes this means taking drastic measures, like letting someone else have control of your money temporarily. Other times it just takes coping techniques.

Another thing you can do to prevent yourself from getting into those situations is to prioritize where your money needs to go. Obviously, important bills come first. Less important bills and food come second. Fun things come last.

I know, it sucks being an adult, doesn’t it? But prioritizing is a necessary part of life.

Here’s a trick I’ve learned that works for many people who have bipolar disorder to help them with finances: Pay the important things as soon as you get the money to do so. Don’t wait until it burns a hole in your pocket and you go out and spend it. This is called responsibility.

Now, if you haven’t followed this advice, and you find yourself in a tight situation, then there is a whole different set of things you should do.

To start off with, see if someone can help you without the requirement of you paying them back. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t pay them back, but at least if they are not expecting it then you won’t get penalized if it takes you a while to do so.

Another thing you can do that is at least a little better than going to a loan company is to take a loan out from a friend or family member. But if you do this, then once again, make sure you can pay them back, and in the time you agreed upon! In some ways this is even more important, because your relationship with that person might just depend on whether you pay them back.

I would suggest avoiding loans altogether if at all possible. What are your thoughts on this?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.

I heard a true story about a ridiculous situation this week. Apparently, there was this grandmother who was taking care of her grandson full-time. Her spouse had a long history of drug abuse, and even of drug dealing.

The grandmother was tired one morning and didn’t want to bother to take her grandson to school, so she asked her husband to do it for her. Well, the husband took their grandson to school, and then didn’t come back. She had to go on the bus to pick her grandson up from school later that day.

That night, the husband still didn’t show up. Two mornings later, at 4 o’clock in the morning, he calls her saying the car had been stolen. It almost makes me wonder if he didn’t sell it for drugs. Especially since he called her but didn’t bother to call the police about it.

But regardless of if he sold it or if he left it in a way that was irresponsible, I’m completely convinced that it was his fault that the car got stolen.

Now, the grandmother is left without a car, and still has to get her grandson to and from school, not to mention other errands. She should have never let him use the car in the first place – she should have known better with his history. But she wasn’t thinking very clearly at the time, and now she is paying the price for it.

How often do you do that same sort of thing? That is, how often do you put your future into someone else’s hands?

Did you know that no one else will care about your future as much as you do? It’s not their future to worry about. Some people, especially those close to you, will care to some extent, but it still won’t be as much as you do.

Plus, they are still human and have plenty of potential for failure. So they could end up messing up your whole life if you put your future into their hands. Yet people who have bipolar disorder do this all the time. They let their supporters do all of the work for them when it comes to their recovery.

They depend on their supporters for financial resources, because they have spent all of their own money. They focus too much on their desires of the moment to even worry about their future.

Are you like this? I hope not. But if you are, now is the time to change. You need to take charge of your own future, and do everything you can to secure it.

You will still need your supporters, after all, you can’t do everything. Even people who don’t have bipolar still need friends and family for this reason. But if you take charge of your own future, then you won’t be using them as a crutch any longer.

I know, it’s easy enough to use bipolar disorder as a reason to say you can’t. But the truth is, you can. If you are following your treatment plan and working towards recovery, then you can decide how you want your future to look and base your current actions on that.

But you have to be following your treatment plan first. So there’s your first step, and an idea of how to go about it after that. How can you implement a plan that will help secure your future to be the way you want it to be?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

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

My friend told me this story the other day.

She was at this seminar for mental health in middle Tennessee. Well, you know they just had all that flooding there and everything. Well, this man had just lost his house to the flooding.

So he was up there at the front of the room and speaking to the crowd, and he was saying that he’s lost everything he’s owned before, but this is the first time it wasn’t to a woman!

Well, everyone laughed at that… But then, someone from the audience yelled, “No, it still was –

it was to Mother Nature!” So everyone laughed even more, even the speaker!

But here’s the point. Here was a man (who incidentally has bipolar disorder) who lost everything in the floods, and he was laughing about it! So this shows me that he also has found a way to survive his bipolar disorder and still laugh as well.

I encourage that. I think more people should laugh at their bipolar disorder. Or at least laugh with it. Laughing at bipolar disorder? I can hear you now. Some of you are probably pretty mad at me. You think I’m making fun of you. Or of the disorder. Not taking it seriously enough. Or not taking your situation seriously enough. I know, I’ve gotten hate mail over this before.

Some people say that I don’t take bipolar seriously enough, or give it enough credit. But that’s just not true. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that bipolar disorder can bring upon a family.

That’s why I started www.bipolarcentral.com. That’s why I’ve written the courses and materials that I have, to help supporters help their loved ones with bipolar disorder to get stable. That’s why I’m so passionate about this cause. Because I DO know how serious it is!

But I also know that if you take it TOO seriously, ALL the time, it can lead to supporter burnout… And then where will you be?

I’m not saying NOT to take bipolar disorder seriously. Yes, take the disorder seriously – It IS a serious disorder. But not so seriously that it takes away your sense of humor. Having a sense of humor can be as important as taking your medication or attending support group meetings. It’s a tool. An important tool.

Even the Bible talks about it. It says that “Laughter doeth good like a medicine.” Laughter makes you feel better. Doesn’t it? When was the last time you felt down… And someone told you a good joke… And it made you laugh… Didn’t it make you feel better?

Laughter is a great stress reliever as well, just ask any therapist! All I’m saying is that if we can look at things a little less seriously, it can help.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

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

I know you probably think I’m crazy because of today’s title: Bipolar Disorder and Purple Elephants. But I’m not. Just hear me out. There is a lesson to be learned from purple elephants, really there is. Ok, here goes.

This guy comes up to me at the gym the other day and we start talking. Now, he has his own business and he’s pretty successful, so I have a tendency to listen to what he has to say, figuring he knows what he’s talking about when he talks about business. But he tells me he wants to teach me a life lesson.

Yep. That was my first thought. Uh-oh. Yeah, right. This guy is my age, right? What is he going to teach me about life?

So he says, “Don’t think about purple elephants.”

I thought, “What???”

He says, “No matter what I say or do, don’t think about purple elephants.”

He goes on, “Don’t think about purple elephants running through this gym, don’t think about purple elephants jumping over your head, don’t think about purple elephants crawling on the floor… just do NOT think about purple elephants at all!”

I’m thinking at this point that this guy is out of his mind, you know? But guess what I’m thinking about? You got it! Purple elephants!

And he’s just standing there staring at me. Doesn’t say a word, just stands there and stares at me.

Like, a whole minute goes by… And he’s staring at me… And I can’t stop thinking about purple

elephants.

So finally I give up. And I ask him to tell me what the thing is about purple elephants (and to wipe that smile off his face, by the way!)

He says that our subconscious mind has no filter on it. It lets everything in it, whether it is real or not. I told you NOT to think about purple elephants and no matter how much you tried not to think about them, you thought about them anyway!

Now, here’s the bipolar lesson I want you to take away from this.

In the purple elephant story, it seemed like I didn’t have any choice in how I reacted to the thoughts he “put in my mind” at all, though, did it?

Ah, but here’s the thing: I DID have a choice! I did NOT have to thing about purple elephants at all, did I? I could have made a CHOICE to think about something else. But it was like a trick was played on me, wasn’t it? Like I wasn’t expecting what he was doing to me. So my mind didn’t know how to react.

But if you know what’s coming, you can make a CHOICE in how you’re going to react. You can make good choices. I could have chosen to think about something else.

And the next time something negative comes against you, you can choose to think about something else, too – something positive!

It’s your choice.

Just do NOT think about purple elephants! LOL

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews485/

Here are the news headlines:

Greater Clinical Risk Following Rapid Antidepressant Withdrawal
DO> Great article, take a look.

The Recession’s Psychological Toll Hurts Workers, Companies
DO> Another very interesting article.

Meds and Mental Illness Discussed
DO> Hmm. What do you think of this?

Tracking the American Epidemic of Mental Illness – Part I
DO> Wow this is amazing.

Bipolar Disorder Misdiagnosed as Depression
DO> Great article and this is so true.

Pharma Influence on the American Psychiatric Association
DO> Do you agree or disagree?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews485/

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

Check out all my resources, programs and information for all aspects of  bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com

Your Friend,

Dave