Hi,

I wanted to share an email that I got recently with you:

“I have been diagnosed wirh Bipolar for 14 years, had the same job for 14 years, people meet me who meet and some who know me have no idea that I have bipolar, I also been in thearpy for it too for 14 years .. I am blessed that I have been able to afford my med, If you can’t afford meds you can contact the company who make them and you can get it free or what you can afford. Yes you can say that I am blessed, I know what I have and I know how to treat it. Before I knew that I had bipolar, I was a basket case, rages, up and down moods. I knew something was wrng. You can say that I am blessed. Iam not ashamed to say that I have bipolar. I am been stable for 14 years.”

——————————————————————————————————————–

You have no idea how much this email lifted my spirits! I get so many emails that are just the opposite. I get emails that are just horror stories. You wouldn’t believe some of the emails I get.

And I feel so sorry for these people. All I can do is keep writing these blog posts like I do and hopefully help some people. At least in some small way. Sometimes people tell me it helps in a big way, and that makes me feel good. But to get an email from a bipolar success story like

This, well, it really did lift my spirits. I wanted to share it with you because I know being a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder you can get discouraged sometimes. I know, because I did with my mom. Sometimes you can even feel like there’s no hope for your loved one. But I wanted you to see by this email that there IS hope! This person has been stable for 14 YEARS! Can you imagine that? WOW! 14 YEARS! That’s incredible!

But what I liked about their email is that they told about some of the things they do to stay stable.

The essential things, of course. Like taking medication. They even talked about how you could get your medication if you can’t afford it. And that’s true – Many drug companies now have Patience Assistance Programs. You can either get their phone number from your pharmacist or off the Internet. Then you can just call them directly and ask how to get help with your medication. You’ll be able to get it for little or sometimes even no money! I know some people have even been able to get help this way even though they had insurance but the insurance wouldn’t cover their bipolar medication. It’s worth a try.

The other main thing this person talked about that’s kept them stable for 14 years is the fact that they’ve been in therapy that whole time. Your loved one doesn’t have to be in therapy for their bipolar disorder. It’s not like having to take medication or anything. There’s no “rule” that says they have to. But I’ll tell you this – I’ve talked to a LOT of bipolar success stories, and in virtually EVERY case they were in therapy for their bipolar disorder. It just goes without saying that it’s a tool that can help your loved one deal with their bipolar disorder better. That’s because the therapist works with the issues that surround your loved one’s bipolar disorder.

Think there isn’t hope for your loved one? Just remember this person who’s been stable for 14 years!

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

What if the war were up to you? I’m sure you would choose peace instead. What if your financial situation were up to you? I’m sure you’d choose financial stability. What if your problems were up to you? I’m sure you’d choose not to have any. What if your loved one’s bipolar disorder were up to you? I’m sure you would choose for them not to have it. Unfortunately, in this life there are some things we have control over, and others that we don’t have control over. Some things we have to trust. You have to trust that our President is doing the right thing to win the war. You have to trust that, even though you’d rather not have them, that your problems have solutions to them. You have to trust that if you work hard enough and are watchful over your finances, that you will have financial stability.

Only there’s something you deal with on a daily basis that you don’t have control over. You do NOT have control over the fact that your loved one has bipolar disorder. But you DO have control over how you deal with it.

If it were up to you, what would your life be like? I’m sure you’d choose that your loved one would never have another bipolar episode. I’m sure you’d choose that you wouldn’t have any problems. And I’m sure you’d choose that your life would be a happy one. But a happy life does NOT mean the absence of problems. It means that you cope and deal with the problems that face you, and you succeed IN SPITE OF them. That’s how it is with bipolar disorder, too.

You and your loved one can still have a happy life in spite of the fact that they have their bipolar

disorder. When the disorder is under control, like when the bipolar symptoms are successfully being managed by medication, for instance, you and your loved one can enjoy long periods of stability. You don’t have to let bipolar disorder steal your happiness. Happiness is a choice. That IN SPITE OF what comes against you, you will still be happy.

Nobody is without problems. Everybody has them. But there is a satisfaction that comes from having solved a problem. And each one makes you stronger. You can choose the same thing with bipolar disorder. You can choose to wallow in self-pity and wish your life were different…OR…

You can choose to be happy IN SPITE OF it. It’s your choice. You can choose to be overwhelmed by all the problems you have facing you right now…OR…You can choose to solve those problems in a systematic way. It’s your choice.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

 

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ Bipolar Disorder: Actress Talks Mental Health
DO> Interesting interview from a person who is a star

Mayo: Congressman Jackson leaves clinic, continues medical treatment for …
DO> Do you think he should still try to work?

‘In the House’ Star Maia Campbell Opens Up About Bipolar Disorder (VIDEO)
DO> Has good video with it.

Detroit Public Television Undertakes Groundbreaking New Documentary on …
DO> Do you think this sounds interesting?

Exclusive: Former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Actress Glenn Close and …
DO> Take a look at this when you have time.

9 Stars Balancing Bipolar Disorder and Fame
DO> Did you know all these people listed had bipolar?

Forney ’89 Writes Graphic Novel on Bipolar Disorder
DO> Are you going to get this?

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

 

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

Did you know that there are two types of pride? There is a good kind…And a bad kind. And the bad kind of pride can wipe you out! Webster’s dictionary gives one definition as: “a reasonable or justifiable self-respect; delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship (to congratulate oneself because of something one is, has, or has done or achieved).” That’s the good kind of pride. The other kind is described by Webster’s dictionary under prideful, and means: “full of pride; disdainful, haughty.” That’s the bad kind of pride.

Both have to do with EGO as well. And Webster’s defines ego as: “the self, especially as contrasted with another self or the world.” So, on the one hand, we can be talking about positive self-esteem, which is very good for someone with bipolar disorder and/or their supporter. BUT…

We could also be talking about self-esteem as in too much of it, or thinking you’re better than someone else. That’s where the disdainful and haughty attitude comes in. And that can cost you.

That’s what happens a lot of times to someone when they’re in a bipolar manic episode. They have grandiose ideas and think they’re better than they are. What if your loved one was prideful and thought that they no longer needed their therapist? That can truly interfere with their treatment and recovery from bipolar disorder. Or what about a supporter attitude of “You’re sick, but I’m not,” acting superior to their loved one? Think how awful that would be to your loved one.

In the past I have gone over goal-setting, and that you can take pride in yourself when you achieve your goals. Especially the goal of stability with bipolar disorder. Again, this is the good kind of pride. You should have goals – both short-term and long-term, and you CAN take pride in meeting those goals, or in a job well done, and especially in achieving stability with bipolar disorder. But you have to watch out for the bad kind of pride.

I’ve seen this illustrated in person in some of the support groups I attend: Say, Mary, thinks she is a better supporter than say, Joan, because her loved one is more stable. Now, that’s not right. It’s a very negative thing. Because then Joan’s self-esteem might suffer, thinking she is not a good supporter just because her loved one is struggling more than Mary’s loved one. So pride and ego have to be juggled, kept in balance, and you have to have the right attitude.

Here is the key: You need to be HUMBLE. Webster’s defines humble as: “not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive.” Arrogant is being full of pride and ego. So the point of all this is to encourage you to have good self-esteem (take pride in what you accomplish), while avoiding the bad kind of pride that makes you think you’re better than someone else. In other words, don’t compare yourself or your loved one to anyone else.

Just do the best you can and strive toward stability. Don’t let the bad pride wipe you out. Because it can if you let it.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

Ok, today I’m going to play magician for you, and teach you three MAGIC WORDS when it comes to bipolar disorder! Only kidding! Naw, only kidding about the “magic” part. Because you and I both know that there is nothing magic about bipolar disorder. No magic pill to cure it.

No magic wand to make it go away. No magic words to make your loved one better.

But there are THREE words that can help you and your loved one to manage their bipolar disorder better:

1. CONSISTENCY

2. PERSISTENCE

3. BALANCE

CONSISTENCY: Just like the story of the tortoise and the hare, and the lesson that you learned about “slow and steady wins the race,” you must then follow it with consistency. In the thesaurus, consistency has other synonyms for it, like: symmetry, clearness, uniformity, agreement, connection, tenacity, and conformity. Your loved one MUST be consistent in their routine and treatment program in order to become stable with bipolar disorder.

If your loved one has bipolar disorder, being consistent in their routine, with their sleep schedule, healthy diet and exercise, gives them a greater chance of stability with their disorder. They also need to be consistent with their medication and with their treatment. These things are CRUCIAL for your loved one to achieve stability. Remember the “slow and steady wins the race” idea.

Consistency will eventually pay off for your loved one in the long run. Supporters have to be consistent as well, in their love, support and understanding, as their loved one becomes more consistent.

PERSISTENCE: If someone is consistent, it is much easier for them to follow that with persistence. Persistence is when you set your goals and you go after those goals, not letting anything stand in your way. Someone famous said, “If you believe it, you can achieve it.” But I’m telling you, you cannot achieve it by sitting at home just thinking about it. Productivity is SO important for someone with bipolar disorder. Without it, it is too easy to become idle, lazy, bored, and…Depressed. Which can very easily trigger someone into a bipolar depressive episode.

Setting goals and achieving them (being productive) is one of the best ways not only to avoid a bipolar episode, but also to be productive. Being productive leads to a better lifestyle, and eventually to stability. IF you are PERSISTENT enough to get there!

BALANCE: You also must maintain a balance physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

It’s like a table with four legs. If one leg is out of balance, the other 3 might be able to keep you balanced, but not by much (depending on how strong the other 3 are). But if 2 are out of balance, your life will definitely be out of balance. And when someone with bipolar disorder is out of balance, they will go into an episode. So balance is an absolute necessity in your loved one’s life. You can be a big help here. The more balanced you are, first of all, the easier it will be for you to handle your loved one’s “bipolar world.” Second of all, you will be a good example to your loved one of what it’s like when someone has balance in their life, and want it for themselves.

So when you have CONSISTENCY, PERSISTENCE, and BALANCE all working together, your loved one has a VERY good chance for stability!

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/bipolarnews612

Lark Voorhies, Bipolar Disorder: ‘Saved By The Bell’ Actress Denies Mental …
DO> Interesting video of her interview. Check it out.

Carrie Fisher honored for sharing struggles with bipolar disorder
DO> Includes a slideshow of pictures of the actress, pretty interesting

Pregnant Women With Bipolar Disorder May Have Higher Risk of Premature Birth
DO> Shows that you need to be cautious if you are pregnant with bipolar.

Bipolar Dx in Mom Makes Pregnancy Risky
DO> Interesting and detailed study results.

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, New Edition
DO> Tells what the new edition includes – a good preview.

5 Persistent Myths About Bipolar Disorder
DO> Goes over 5 of the biggest myths about bipolar disorder and gives the facts.

Treatment Issues for Bipolar Disorder in Women
DO> Looks at issues that affect only women who have bipolar disorder.

Judge in court to face charges hours after re-election
DO> One woman’s battle with bipolar disorder – interesting story.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews612

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

Your Friend,

 

Dave

Hi,

Have you ever known a real complainer? The type of person who has nothing good to say about anyone or anything? Who couldn’t get along with anyone? (or at least not for very long, before they became critical of them). Who would say things like, “Life isn’t fair.” Or that someone else wasn’t fair to them, or they were in an unfair situation. Someone who always blamed everyone else or everything else for what was going on with them. Who had a lot of unsolved problems?

Did it seem to you that they might be their own biggest problem?

I know of someone like that. Someone told me about this girl. Now, I’m not a doctor, and I can’t diagnose anyone, but in my opinion, this girl showed every sign of having bipolar disorder. She had terrible mood swings, for one thing, and that was obvious, even to someone who didn’t know anything about bipolar disorder. She called her sister once to complain about her boyfriend. At first she talked like she really loved him, but the next minute she was blaming him for all her problems. Not just that, but she keeps getting into trouble in all aspects of her life –

Her family, friends, co-workers, etc. – she has conflicts with them all. They think there is something wrong with her, but she denies it, blaming everything on them.

But think about it. Do you think everyone else is wrong and that she is the only one who is right?

It usually doesn’t work like that. If that’s the case, if everyone else is saying the same thing, she should stop and listen to them. They can’t all be wrong. Maybe they don’t know if she has bipolar disorder or not, but they do know that something is wrong with her. Otherwise she wouldn’t have all the problems that she has. But she is in denial, for sure, and playing the Blame Game.

You may have faced this with your loved one, at least in the beginning. Many people with bipolar disorder will be in denial when they’re first diagnosed. They would rather blame someone or something else instead of accepting their diagnosis. Like they would say it’s just stress from work that’s making them act this way. Or, if it weren’t for [whoever], I wouldn’t act this way. That’s blaming, and it NEVER helps someone with bipolar disorder to get better. In order to get better, you have to stop blaming other people and other things for your own problems.

If you are having conflicts with most of the other people in your life, you have to consider that the problem is YOU, and not them. You can’t change anyone else, but you can change yourself.

If you or your loved one are already on medication, but you’re still having too many problems, you may need a medication adjustment. If you suspect this is the case, then you need to contact

your or your loved one’s doctor. You may not have even been noticing these things about yourself, but other people have been pointing them out to you. If so, you probably need help, because they can’t all be wrong and you be right. Just something to consider.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

Let me ask you a question: Have you ever had someone tell you not to complain because it could just be nothing but a waste of time for you? I bet you have. Well I don’t think that it is sometimes. I think that complaining about bipolar disorder, for example, whether you are a supporter or a survivor is good sometimes. Why? Because it allows you to vent or release some of your tension. It’s good therapy, in my opinion. When you are not allowed to complain, you can sometimes feel like you’re going to explode, and that is not good. Too much complaining is bad, however. No one likes to listen to a complainer, especially if that’s all they do. I think it’s good to let loose and complain every now and then, though. IF you’re doing something about it.

There’s a positive way to complain and a negative way to complain. If you complain and don’t do anything about your situation, that’s complaining in a negative way. Like, I’ve been to support groups and, week after week, the same people, all they do is complain, and they come back week after week, and they’re still complaining. And every week they complain about the same thing. The same people, complaining about the same thing! Till it gets to the point that nobody wants to hear it any more. Do you know why? Because they’re not doing anything about their situation.

But here’s an example about a good way to complain. Say your loved one is having problems with their bipolar medication. It’s giving them all kinds of side effects, and it’s really bothering them. And they complain and complain and complain to you about it. Well, that’s bad complaining, because YOU can’t do anything about it. But if they call their doctor and complain to HIM about it, it’s good complaining. Why? Because the doctor CAN do something about it.

That kind of complaining is positive, because now your loved one can get something done about the bad side effects of their medication. See the difference? That’s what I’m talking about.

Not like the complaining like the people in the support groups who complain to the point where nobody wants to hear it any more. Or those types of people (everyone knows someone like this) who complain about this or that or whatever every time you see them. Or hypochondriacs who are always complaining about things that are wrong with them. And who knows if these things really are wrong with them or not? But they complain about them anyway.

Here’s another example: Say you see a charge on your credit card and you know you didn’t make that charge. If you don’t complain about it, you’re going to have to pay that money. So, in this case, you better complain, right? So there are times when complaining is the right thing to do.

There are times when complaining gets things changed. Like your loved one and their bipolar medication. Or a bogus charge on your charge card. So my point to all this is that sometimes complaining is negative, but sometimes it can be positive, too.

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/bipolarnews611/

Sunovion advances drug for bipolar disorder
DO> Info on new possible treatment for bipolar.

Permanent housing offers stability for those with mental illness
DO> Interesting success story about a homeless person with bipolar.

Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.’s treatment will “take time:” wife
DO> Do you think this is odd?

University of Texas psychiatrist wins prize for research on pediatric …
DO> This is the largest prize in psychiatry.

Reader Says Bipolar Is a Myth
DO> Interesting viewpoint contrary to popular belief.

What do you think?

 

Lark Voorhies Responds to Bipolar Disorder Claims

DO> Do you think there are too many articles about her?

 

For these stories and more, please visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews611/

 

Check out all my resources, programs and information for all

aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:

http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com

 

Your Friend,

 

Dave

Hi,

I’ve been thinking about something lately, and I just wanted to share my thoughts with you. It’s about what happens when you try to accomplish too much too fast. Think about it. When you try to accomplish too much too fast, you are just setting yourself up for failure, because you’ll never be able to do it. It can also get very frustrating and discouraging for you. Also, if you don’t know how long something should take, you can start to think it’s taking too long.

For example, after an episode. It could take up to a year to fully “fix” the after-effects of an episode. Like the financial ruin – you can’t fix a bankruptcy in just two weeks! But if you were to hear some people tell it, you’d think you can just do it overnight! We don’t rush the stroke victim or even the cancer victim, so why do we rush the victim of bipolar disorder? Thinking that they should be over an episode after just a week or two is just plain having unrealistic expectations sometimes. Would we have that same expectation if they were getting over a physical illness? Then why are we expecting it from them when it comes to a bipolar episode?

In my research, I have interviewed people who are success stories. And they talk about how long it took them sometimes to fully recover from some of their episodes. Some of them say it took a whole year, and some of them say it took even longer!

There are certain things in life that take a certain amount of time to happen. It’s just the way it has to be. Like getting through school, for example. It’s not something that can be rushed. You just have to go through it. Think about things in nature. Like the butterfly – It starts off as a caterpillar…Then it goes into a cocoon… And only after a certain period of time does it change into that beautiful butterfly! It just doesn’t happen overnight. And if you interrupt it at any point in the chain of events, the whole thing would be ruined! Some things just can’t be rushed. Other things just have to take place in a certain order. And still other things have to take place at a certain time.

Wanting your loved one who has bipolar disorder to get over their episode overnight is like wanting them to be that beautiful butterfly without going through the cocoon phase! Some things are just worth waiting for. You just have to be more patient sometimes. And I know that isn’t easy, because it wasn’t easy for me. Sometimes it takes time for your loved one and their doctor to find the right medications for them to be on. It definitely takes time for your loved one to make the changes they learn about in therapy. But as long as they are making strides toward stability, you can be encouraged that someday they will reach it. Yes, it will take patience on your part. But it will be worth it in the end. You’ll see…Your loved one’s stability will turn out to be one of those things in life that will have been worth waiting for.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave