Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews632/

Medicine Used to Treat Disorder
DO> Did you know this about bipolar disorder?

Autism, Depression Genetically Linked
DO> Did you know that this is the largest-ever genetic study of psychiatric illness?

Actress Carrie Fisher briefly hospitalized after bipolar episode
DO> Do you want the update on her episode?

Scans reveal key difference in mental disorders
DO> Unusual study, don’t you think?

Telling her story — Stigma of mental illness comes out of the darkness
DO> You’ll find this woman’s story interesting.

Turning Point brings bipolar documentary to Skokie
DO> Good approach to heading off stigma.

New centre to tackle mental-health issues
DO> Do you think they’ll really help people with bipolar?

Stereotypes soil reality of mental illness
DO> Do you believe these statistics?

Federal judge says Illinois man charged in Oklahoma bomb plot incompetent to …
DO> You’ll find this man’s story frightening.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews632/

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 got to tell you about the funniest thing that happened. You know how we’re taught to follow directions from the time that we’re a child, right? But you also know that it’s typical for men not to follow directions. I mean, women complain about that all the time about men. Not me – I follow directions (I learned the hard way). But my friend? He’s a typical macho type man – no following directions for him. He went to put this toy together for his kid. I thought it looked really complicated and, like I said, I would’ve followed the directions (all 3 pages of them!).

So he’s putting together this toy, which had like a gazillion pieces to it. So I said, “Are you sure you don’t want to follow the directions?” And he said, “Dude. I know what I’m doing.” An hour later, sweating and swearing…I asked him, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” He just grunted at me. Another hour and a half…Still sweating but no longer swearing, my friend pronounced the project done. I looked at all the leftover pieces doubtfully, but didn’t dare say a word. You’ll never guess what happened (well, maybe you will). The minute his son touched the toy, the whole thing fell apart! LOL It was hilarious (at least to me)!

This time I couldn’t resist saying something, so I said, “Dude. Maybe you should have followed the directions.” It was funny to me, but it sure wasn’t funny to my friend. But he brought it on himself by not following the directions.

There are times when it is crucial that you follow the directions. With your loved one’s medications, for example. Sometimes they can be very confusing. The directions might say to take it four times a day, or every four hours. So you might wonder when to take it, or question if you have to take it at night. But you can (and should) ask the doctor or pharmacist to clarify the directions for you, because it’s imperative that your loved one take their medications right. You have to follow directions, or you may not have a positive outcome, like my friend.

Your loved one needs to do what their doctor and other professionals tell them to do. They’re looking out for their best interests, and they know from experience what works best for people who have bipolar disorder. That’s why they give them directions, and they need to follow them if they want to get better. There are pieces to stability, just like there were pieces to my friend’s project. And they need to follow the directions to get the pieces all put together right.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

So, let me ask you: Now that things are back to “normal,” how are you doing? I mean, how are you really doing? Too many people, when asked that question, will simply answer, “Fine,” when that isn’t the truth. It could be because they are a private person…Or they don’t want to be honest for whatever reason…Or they are afraid of the other person’s response…Or they just tell people what they think they want to hear…Or they want to believe it themselves…Or they just don’t want to go into it…Or they don’t think it’s anybody else’s business…Or they are trying to believe it themselves.

There are many reasons for an inaccurate or incomplete answer to the question, “How are you?”

Supporters have told me that it’s just easier to answer “Fine,” instead of telling the truth if things aren’t fine, because of one of the previously stated answers. Survivors as well. If you ask your loved one how they are really doing and they answer, “Fine,” yet you’ve noticed some symptoms in them and know that they are actually not fine, you may have to press them for an honest answer. They could be in denial that anything is really wrong, or be in denial of symptomatic behavior.

Your loved one, if they are still thinking rationally, might not want you to know that they’re struggling because they don’t want to make a big deal out of it. If they have crossed over into irrationality, say, into a manic episode, they may actually believe that they are “Fine.” Then it’s up to you to tell if they really are or not. The key is to have good communication with your loved one, paying attention not only to what they say, but also to what they don’t say. How are they behaving? Is it their normal behavior? Or is it bipolar behavior? You know them better than anybody else, and you should be able to tell the difference. Even if they try to hide something, like the fact that they’re depressed, you might still be able to tell by their mannerisms, or just the fact that they are quieter than usual, or sleeping more.

You need to be as familiar with the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder as you are with your loved one. This way you can tell the difference between when they are in an episode and when they are not. Be very vigilant, never letting down your guard, or before you know it…You’ve stopped watching for signs and symptoms of a bipolar episode…And your loved one could be in one, which could have been avoided if you had noticed their off-behavior earlier. I’m not saying to overprotect them or to smother them, I’m just saying to stay vigilant, or you might miss something.

If you ask your loved one how they are really doing, and they answer, “Fine,” yet you know they aren’t, try to get them to agree to see one of their professionals. This way they might not have to go into the hospital if the episode becomes worse.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave