Current Bipolar News

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews601/

Pregnancy relieves symptoms of bipolar disorder: Study
DO> Wow, this is interesting?

Managing Mental Health at Work
DO> Take a look, great article

NAMI Bangor announces free Family Education Program
DO> This sounds great

Former congresswoman understands Jackson’s plight
DO> Did you know about this?

Of Two Minds Movie Review
DO> Will you see this?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews601/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: Are You Hiding?

Hi,

I had a disturbing conversation the other day that I wanted to tell you about. I was at a support group meeting (you know I volunteer at a lot of them in different places), and a girl came up to me after the meeting and we started talking. She said that she’s afraid to make any plans or do anything or go anywhere. I asked her why. She said that she was afraid of having an episode. I told her that most people with bipolar disorder only have only one or two episodes a year. She said, “Yes, but I never know when that episode is going to happen.” I tried to tell her that hiding out, not doing anything or making any plans wasn’t going to help her or her disorder. She seemed to get defensive, and I didn’t want her to get mad at me, but I still thought she should know more.

I said, “You need to learn more about bipolar disorder. It might help you.” I guess she got mad at me anyway, because she just walked away. But I didn’t think I did anything wrong. I think she just didn’t know enough about bipolar disorder to understand that staying home hiding from the rest of the world can actually HURT you and can make your disorder worse! To say nothing about how frustrating it can be to your supporter and your relationship with them.

You just can’t live in fear of when the next episode is going to strike. If you’re managing your

disorder right, then you should have no fear. I really didn’t mean to offend this girl, but maybe she just didn’t understand what I was trying to say, or maybe I just said it the wrong way. If so, I’m sorry. But I really don’t want people with bipolar disorder to be misinformed. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I started bipolarcentral.com and started doing things like this blog. want people to have the best information possible.

Hiding out at home, not doing things outside the home, not going anywhere, not doing anything enjoyable, and living with the fear of when the next episode is going to strike is like living in a

bipolar prison. It’s like waiting to die! And bipolar disorder is NOT a life sentence! So many people are living quite normal lives even though they have bipolar disorder. That’s what I really wanted to tell this girl. Figure it this way: Say you or your loved one didn’t have bipolar disorder. But you know that flu season comes around every year, right? So you probably do the smart thing and get your yearly flu shot, like most people. But do you live the rest of the year in fear of getting the flu? Does it keep you hiding inside, afraid to go outside? Does it keep you from having a normal social life? Does it keep you from seeing friends and family? Does it keep you from doing the things you enjoy? Does it keep you from making plans? Does it keep you bound up in fear? That’s the main question.

No one ever said that you or your loved one won’t have another episode. You/they probably

will, in fact. But if you’re doing the things you need to do to manage the disorder, there’s no reason that you should not expect to live a normal, healthy, successful, productive life despite the fact that you or they have bipolar disorder. Many, many people do. They don’t live in fear of the disorder, and they don’t let it control their lives. They don’t hide from the disorder, but they don’t let it make them hide from the rest of the world, either. If they did, they would isolate at home, and isolation is a trigger to depression, and depression to a bipolar depressive episode. And you don’t want that, do you?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Bipolar: It’s Your Choice

Hi,

You know, lately I’ve been thinking a lot about choices. It’s because I’ve been helping a friend of mine. She’s a single mom. And she had her daughter when she was a teenager. She doesn’t regret having her daughter, because she loves her very much. But she does regret having had sex at such a young age. She does feel that was a bad choice that she made, and that she should have made a better one. See…You could kind of look at it like that we’re made up of the choices that we make. Because every choice we make affects our future. And even as we can enjoy the results of good choices that we make, we have to pay consequences for bad choices that we make as well. What about you? Do you have any regrets? Have you made any bad choices in your past? I think we all have. Like when we’re young and impulsive. That’s when we make a lot of our bad choices. Like my friend who became a single mom as a teenager. Or like many young people who drive recklessly and get into car accidents. Or who abuse drugs and alcohol.

That’s like the impulsiveness of a person with bipolar disorder who is in a manic episode. So if you were ever impulsive when you were young and made bad decisions, you might be able to better understand how your loved one gets impulsive during a manic episode and makes bad decisions, too. It’s not because they mean to do it. It’s because when they’re in a manic episode…The bipolar kind of “takes over” and impulsivity is one of the results. Then they lose control. And they make bad choices because of it. Like: excessive spending, reckless driving, compulsive gambling, impulsive behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual impropriety, financial mismanagement, foolish business ventures, etc. These are all bad choices, but they make them because they’re in a manic episode.

But just because you understand WHY they make the choices that they make, doesn’t mean that you should just excuse what they do during that episode. As I said earlier, there are still consequences that we have to pay for bad choices that we make. Everyone has to, and just because your loved one was in a manic episode when they made their bad choice is no excuse to get out of the consequences. For example, if they become impulsive and drive recklessly and get in trouble with the law, the police aren’t going to let them get out of that ticket just because they’re in a manic episode. So you should make them pay consequences for their other bad choices that affect you as well.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

 

Current Bipolar News

 

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews600/

Creativity And Bipolar Disorder Are Linked, But Not By Some Mad Genius
DO> VERY interesting, did you know this?

Several Strategies Fight Insomnia In Mood-Disorder Patients
DO> Great article, take a look.

Police Are Learning To Deal With The Mentally Ill
DO> It’s about time, isn’t it?

Specific Episode Triggers In Young Adults With BD Identified
DO> Great article, take a look.

How I Turned My Life Into A Memoir
DO> What do you think of this?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews600/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

 

Bipolar: You CAN Overcome These

Hi,

 

I recently read a very interesting quote: “The truth is that our finest moments are likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start earching

for different ways or truer answers.” – Unknown. That quote really stirred me, because to me it talks of overcoming obstacles. And I think, when it comes to bipolar disorder, sometimes it feels like that’s all you do. Overcome obstacles. Because there are so many obstacles when you’re

trying to cope and deal with a loved one with bipolar disorder.

 

There’s obstacles like:

 

• Mood swings

• Unpredictability

• Episodes

• Risk-taking behavior

• Impulsivity

• Anger/rage

• Fighting

• Lying

• Manipulation

• Excessive spending

• Treatment issues

• Financial issues

• Sexual issues

• Relationship issues

• Family issues

• Job issues

 

And other obstacles that come up, too. Other problems that arise as a result of your loved one

having bipolar disorder. Like you may have medication issues, and I didn’t even list that, because not everyone has that. But you may have a problem with getting your loved one to take their medication. Or they may go on and off their medication at will. That can be a big obstacle.

Because it can mean that they go in and out of episodes. And that they are unpredictable and unstable. Another obstacle (their instability).

 

There are simply plain life obstacles in general that need to be overcome every day. There is a daily stress that comes just from living. Things that pop up. Even things that aren’t necessarily related to bipolar disorder, but just to life in general. But they are still stressful. And they are issues and obstacles to overcome.

 

We all face difficult and tough challenges in life. Especially those of us who have to deal with bipolar disorder. But those challenges, or obstacles, CAN be overcome. You don’t have to just “roll over and play dead” because they seem so difficult. To overcome challenges you will have to have a “never quit” attitude about you. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to overcome those challenges.

 

The first thing you have to do is to acknowledge the obstacle. It won’t do you any good to ignore it, hoping it will go away, or to pretend that it doesn’t exist. You need to meet the challenge head-on.

 

Then you need to motivate yourself by believing, “I CAN do this!” Keep repeating it to yourself like a mantra, and it will keep you going. Stay calm and cool-headed. Don’t panic. This will help

you to keep a positive and good perspective on the obstacle you’re facing. Don’t be afraid to fail. Just keep trying. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, as long as you keep getting up. If something you try doesn’t work, just try something else. Eventually you will be successful.

 

Simplify the problem or obstacle that you’re facing. Break it down into smaller steps or goals, and try to defeat it that way. If you do these things, before you know it, you will have overcome those obstacles!

 

Well, I have to go!

 

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Bipolar: Taking Care of Number One

Hi,

One of the most popular seminars in Fortune 500 companies is Setting Priorities. That’s because if your priorities are off, your whole life can be off. That can be true when it comes to your role as a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder as well. Let me ask you something: Are you taking care of Number One? And I don’t mean that Number One is your loved one. I mean that Number One is YOU. If you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to take care

of your loved one. You have to have your priorities right, just like they teach in those fancy business seminars. But I’m going to teach you the concepts today.

First of all, let me give you a warning. If you DON’T get your priorities in order, you can suffer.

You can suffer physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Don’t underestimate the power of stress. Stress can be fatal. It is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks. Stress can lead to depression, which will affect you emotionally. It can also cloud your thinking and your judgment, so it affects you mentally. And it affects your peace of mind, so it affects you spiritually as well. Your life can be in a great deal of turmoil just because of stress if you don’t watch out. And if you don’t get your priorities in order. Have I scared you yet? GOOD. I meant to. I want you to heed my warning, because I want you to be able to be the best supporter you can be. Your loved one is counting on you. Your family is probably counting on you too. But most importantly, YOU are counting on you. You have to be stress-free for YOU. To be the best YOU you can be. That way you can also be the best supporter you can be to your loved one. But only if you take care of Number One first. And that’s YOU.

So the first priority is to take care of yourself physically. That means that you get yourself to the doctor not only when you don’t feel well or when something is wrong with you, but also for regular exams and routine tests to make sure that you’re physically healthy and that everything

stays ok. It also means that you eat a healthy, nutritious diet, low in carbohydrates, fats, and sugars, and that you avoid caffeine and alcohol. You should stick to a good sleep schedule just like your loved one is doing, so that you can be well-rested every day. That means that you go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, and that you sleep for 8-9 hours every night. Loss of sleep isn’t just bad for your loved one, it’s bad for you as well – it keeps you from having the energy you need. And you should exercise at least 3 times a week, even if it’s just walking.

You should also balance your life with things that take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Remember…If you don’t take care of Number One (yourself), you won’t be able to take care of your loved one.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Current Bipolar News

 

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews599/

‘Perfect Chaos’: Mom And Daughter’s Bipolar Battle
DO> Wow, what do you think of this?

Family’s Fight Against Bipolar Disorder Leads To Shock Therapy Success
DO> Have you heard of this treatment?

A third of depression patients convert to bipolar disorder
DO> This is kind of old news, right?

Study: Pot May Improve Cognitive Functioning in Bipolar Disorder
DO> If this is true, would you use it?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews599/

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

 

Your Friend,

 

Dave

Bipolar: Is Love Enough?

Hi,

You know, we read all the time about people who get into trouble with the law, who even do really serious crimes like murder. And we wonder about their background…We wonder what made them that way. What was their life like growing up? Was it terrible for them? Were they abused? And it’s very surprising when we sometimes find out that they came from a home where their mother loved them very much. So you come to ask yourself: “Is love enough?”

Sometimes you get to the point where you ask yourself “Is love enough?” when it comes to dealing with a loved one with bipolar disorder, too. Like you may wonder after you read the following email that I got recently:

“At this point, i have to say I’m at the very end of the rope now, and I’m losing my grip now. Few days ago, my man was at his worst, he wanted to leave me, I didn’t stop him this time as i was so emotionally and physically exhausted. Then he left the country and planning to die alone in a strange land. Last night, I almost lost him. I tried every possible effort i could to hold him back by threatening him with my life. Finally I managed to hold him back for one more day, but I don’t know what’s going to happen the next day. And I don’t know how much longer can I hold on to this end of the rope on one hand and holding him on the other. I feel like I’m losing my grips on both hands now. I love this man very much and i know he loves me deeply too. But at this point, I don’t know what else can i say or do to help him get out of this darkness,

especially when he’s now in such a faraway land.”

———————————————————————————————————————

It certainly does sound like this woman is at the end of her rope, doesn’t it? I can just imagine all the things she’s already been through with this man before she’s gotten to this point. And now you can just hear the desperation coming through in her email. Like when she says at the very beginning of her email: “At this point, i have to say I’m at the very end of the rope now, and I’m losing my grip now” And again later when she says: “I feel like I’m losing my grips on both hands now.”

Things can get so bad that you may feel as this woman does: “I didn’t stop him this time as i was so emotionally and physically exhausted.” If you do, know that it is common for a supporter to feel that way.

Then, she says, he left the country to die in a strange land. She doesn’t say whether he was planning to kill himself, but we can assume that. That’s because 1 in 5 people with bipolar disorder will kill themselves. So he could very well be one of the statistics. Bipolar disorder could have driven him to that point of desperation. But look at what point of desperation trying to deal with it drove this woman to: She says: “I tried every possible effort i could to hold him

back by threatening him with my life.” That’s pretty desperate, too. And sometimes, as a supporter, you can get to feeling that desperate as well. Like when you’ve “tried every possible effort,” as she had.

She says she loves him very much, as I’m sure you love your loved one very much, but is love enough? This woman needs to get this man into treatment as soon as possible, if there is to be any hope for recovery for him. That’s the best hope for your loved one as well. Because love is just not enough when it comes to bipolar disorder.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Bipolar: A Dream Book

Hi,

There’s this movie with Queen Latifah in it where her character is diagnosed with a fatal tumor and told she is going to die. She’s told she doesn’t have much time left, just months. Well…She has this book. It’s like a scrapbook. A sort of “Dream Book.” In it she put all the things she would like to do someday. You know, like visit Europe, learn to be a great chef, get a nice car, fall in love, etc. So when she found out she was dying, she took all her money and decided to go to Europe to visit this great chef (at least two of the things in her Dream Book). She had a great time!

Well…I’m not going to tell you how the movie ends, because I don’t want to spoil it for you. But I was thinking about this Dream Book idea in relation to bipolar disorder (I know, I know, I think of everything in relation to bipolar disorder). But so many people let bipolar disorder stop them from pursuing their dreams. That’s one of the reasons why I tell people not to let bipolar disorder overwhelm you or take over your life. There has to be more to your life than bipolar disorder. But if you’re not careful, it CAN take over your life, and it can easily overwhelm you. Sometimes to the point where you can’t see beyond it. Some people get so taken over by it that they no longer make any plans for fear of the bipolar interfering with them. So they just stay home. And that’s no answer either.

Even though with bipolar disorder does come the possibility of bipolar episodes, there also exists the possibility of stable periods. Periods that are fairly normal. That’s when you should take advantage of the situation. Do the things that you’ve been planning to do. Do the things that you’ve put off doing. Do the things that the bipolar has kept you from doing.

Here’s my idea: I think you should make up a Dream Book like Queen Latifah’s character did in the movie. Get together with your loved one when they’re stable. Cut out pictures from magazines about things you’d like to do when they stay stable and are in a normal period for X amount of time. Do you want to take a cruise? Cut out a picture of a cruise ship. Do you want to visit the beach? Cut out a picture of the beach. Do you want to visit family? Cut out a picture of a happy family. Do you want to visit the mountains? Cut out a picture of the mountains. Do you want to fly to Alaska? Cut out a picture of a plane.

Do you see what I mean? Let your imaginations soar! Just think of all the things that you’d like to do! Have fun with it! Just remember that bipolar disorder doesn’t have to stop you from doing the things that you’d like to do during normal periods.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Bipolar: An Interesting Email

Hi,

 

What is success to you? A mother told her son that for him to be a success it was not in how much money he made, but in how honest a man he was, and how good a husband and father he was. Many people define success in many different ways. Webster’s dictionary defines success as: “favorable or desired outcome.”

 

Some synonyms for success are: achievement, accomplishment, victory, triumph, feat, realization, and attainment. Today I want to talk about success with bipolar disorder. I know, you probably haven’t even thought of the concept before. But it’s one of the things I talk about to people, and it’s something that is possible with bipolar disorder, as it relates to those synonyms.

 

Now, I didn’t say that success with bipolar disorder would be easy. Don’t get me wrong. I just said that it is possible. Although there is still no cure for bipolar disorder at this point, there is treatment for it. And because there is treatment for it, there is the possibility for stability. And stability can bring with it the remission of symptoms. And although the remission of symptoms isn’t a cure, it’s the next best thing. It’s like being in remission with cancer. The disease never really goes away, but you don’t have the symptoms of it any more. To me, that is success. As much success as you can have with bipolar disorder at this point, anyway.

 

Ok…So let’s talk about how you can get success with bipolar disorder, or get to the point where you no longer have the symptoms of it. First of all…Your best bet is going to be medication. I know you don’t want to think of taking medication every day for the rest of your life, but if it means having no symptoms, will that make it easier for you to take it? Medication keeps the symptoms of bipolar disorder at bay. It balances out the mood swings, and for those people who suffer from hallucinations and delusions, antipsychotic medication helps allay those symptoms as well. But the important thing is that you take your medication every day religiously. That is your greatest chance for success with your bipolar disorder.

 

Another thing that will help you to achieve success with bipolar disorder is to see your doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, and other professionals on a regular basis as scheduled. Don’t miss appointments, as that can easily derail your treatment success.

 

Another point toward your success efforts would be the establishment of a good, strong support system. The people in your support system will help you as you try to manage your disorder, and will help you in your goals toward getting better and finding success.

 

There is the possibility of getting better, getting stable, and finding success with your bipolar disorder. And there are some things you can do to achieve that success, like I’ve talked about.

 

Well, I have to go!

 

Your Friend,

 

Dave