Hi,

Let me ask you something: Do you like to read? Especially…Do you like to read mysteries? Well…This question would work for romances, too, I guess. So I’ll go ahead and ask it: Are you guilty of this? Do you skip ahead to the ending of the book to see what happens? AHA!

Well…If you do, you’re not alone. Many other people do as well. I don’t, but just because I like to keep guessing at how the story will turn out. But some people want to know. They don’t like to guess.

Like with bipolar disorder…It’s hard for some supporters trying to deal with the day in and day out of coping with a loved one with bipolar disorder when they don’t know how the “story” is going to turn out. Oh, of course, they want a happy ending to their story, everyone does. But sometimes it’s hard to see that, what with the daily discouragements that sometimes come with

the disorder. Sometimes your loved one can be going along fine…Even for a long period of time…And you even can become complacent…You start taking their recovery for granted…

Then…BOOM! They’re in another bipolar episode that seems to have come out of nowhere!

And you wonder how that could have possibly happened. That’s why I say that you always have to stay vigilant, you can never take things for granted. You always have to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode. I even know of a case where a woman was stable

for 12 years but then had another bipolar episode! 12 YEARS! Talk about coming out of nowhere! It definitely took both her and her husband by surprise. Especially because they had stopped being vigilant – they had long stopped watching for signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode. They had taken her stability for granted. They had even thought that she would never have another bipolar episode. But that’s dangerous thinking.

You must always be on the lookout for the next episode. You must always be prepared. But at the same time…You must never lose hope. You must always hope that your loved one will get better. Yes, there will be good days and bad days. But look…You don’t have bipolar disorder…

And you have good days and bad days. And just because you have bad days…Or even get depressed here and there…Doesn’t mean that you’re having a bipolar depressive episode, does it? So your loved one can, too. You can be prepared while still believing for a happy ending for both you and your loved one. Their bipolar disorder CAN be managed!

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave