Hi,

Do you remember when the idea of $4 generic prescriptions first started? It started off with just one company, and now every pharmacy offers it. Do you know why? Because it was a successful campaign. And people need it. Have you ever seen an advertisement that says, “We beat all competitor’s prices”? It’s the same thing. Why do they do it? Because it’s an effective strategy.

More realistic, however, is the “We will meet all competitor’s prices.” You can actually go by that. If you have a sale paper that shows something you want is at a certain price, you can take that ad into another store and get the same product for the same price. Why do they do this?

Because they want your loyalty. They want your business.

Some people pride themselves on comparison shopping, and in this economy that’s a good way to be. You should comparison shop to get the best price for the things that you and your family need. You especially hear about comparison shopping when it comes to buying a car. That’s because it’s such a big decision, and can have such a big impact on your finances.

Well, guess what? There is no comparison when it comes to bipolar disorder. Each person who has it is different. Some of the symptoms may be the same, but everyone’s different. You might hear from another supporter that such-and-such medication worked so well for their loved one.

Then you might think that your loved one should be on that medication, too, so they can do as good as this person is saying that their loved one is doing. But you have to remember, there is no comparison when it comes to bipolar disorder. If you go to a support group meeting (I know, because I go to several of them every month), you’ll find people who will tell you what to do for your loved one. It seems like everyone has their own opinion. And they will offer them to you, whether you want it or not. That doesn’t make them right. They are not doctors. They are not psychiatrists. They are not therapists. They are not researchers. They are not any kind of a professional, so you don’t have to listen to them.

One of the problems with these kinds of people is that they believe that what works for their loved one is going to work for everyone who has bipolar disorder. Just remember that there is no comparison when it comes to bipolar disorder. Your loved one is who they are. They should be on the right medication for THEM. They should be doing the things that make THEM stable. And you should be the best supporter you can be for THEM. Not according to what anyone else says. Like I said, everyone has their own opinion. That doesn’t mean you have to listen to it or do what they say. Just do what you know is right for you and your loved one.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

Remember when we were little and we were taught how to cross the street? We were told to:

STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN. Stop at the curb. Look both ways for traffic. Listen for a car that may be turning. Stop, look, and listen. It’s useful advice for the supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, too. Think of it as a warning system. Like we have smoke detectors in our houses to alert us to a fire. We have security systems in our homes, businesses, and on our cars to thwart a robbery attempt. Some people think that’s just being paranoid, but I believe it is smarter to take precautions wherever you can. Like the Stop, Look, and Listen idea is a precaution.

Bipolar disorder is an incurable disorder. Your loved one could have a bipolar episode no matter how long they’ve been stable. I know of a woman who was stable for 12 years…But then she had another episode. So it can happen. Now, I’m not talking about riding herd over your loved one or being too compulsive about watching them for symptoms of the disorder or anything. But I am saying that you DO have to keep a watch for symptoms and triggers. You can’t trust bipolar disorder. It will rear its head when you least expect it (like when your loved one has been stable for a length of time). You just can’t let down your guard.

Your loved one needs to do the same thing. They know themselves. They know when they feel “normal” and when they don’t. They may just “feel funny.” But they need to tell you when something feels “wrong.” They may start some acting-out behavior that you can catch right away if you: STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN. For example, they may start losing sleep. Now, in and of itself, sleep loss is not a danger. But if you are watching it carefully and you pick up that it’s been going on for a week, it could be a symptom of your loved one going into a manic episode. The same thing if you note that they are starting to talk a lot, really fast, and changing from subject to subject. If you are listening carefully, you might determine that they are going into a manic episode. What if they start sleeping more and more? That could mean they are going into a depressive episode, so you need to watch for it.

Also, you know your loved one’s triggers (at least you should), so for example, if stress is a trigger for them, and they are in a stressful situation, watch them carefully. They could go into an episode. Knowing the symptoms of bipolar disorder and your loved one’s triggers can work as an early warning system for you. If you do think your loved one is going into an episode, you can call their doctor right away and they can adjust your loved one’s medication rather than put them in the hospital. Or the two of you might decide that your loved one does need to be hospitalized.

But at least you’d have caught it early.

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/bipolarnews626/

Young and Poor: The Costs of Bipolar Disorder
DO> Do you have problems with this?

Working with Bipolar Disorder
DO> Great thing to know if you’re working with bipolar.

Adolescent bipolar disorder ‘does not conform to checklist’
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Lake helps to beat bipolar disorder
DO> Do you support his efforts?

Cognitive impairments in bipolar disorder ‘stable’
DO> Think this study was a waste of money?

Bipolar disorder documentary joins TV shows in realistic, sympathetic characters
DO> Do you agree with this woman?

Passion Pit, Silver Linings Playbook: Bipolar Singer Says Movie Exploits …
DO> You may not agree with him if you liked the movie.

Richard Dreyfus on Bipolar Disorder: “I’m in Love With My Romantic Inner Life.”
DO> Good description of mania.

Murder-suicide: Grandmother was bipolar
DO> Frightening news story.

Bipolar disorder documentary Of Two Minds inspires reflection: Salem
DO> You’ll find this man’s story interesting.

Calcium channel risk allele linked to executive function in bipolar disorder
DO> An interesting point of note.

Autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia share common …
DO> This is the biggest study of its kind.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews626/

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

 

Your Friend,

 

Dave