Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews640/

Study: Genes may boost woman’s risk of postpartum depression
DO> These findings could help in developing a blood test, don’t you think?

Mental illness manual no ‘bible’: Column
DO> Do you agree with this man’s opinion?

Women with manic depression more vulnerable to alcohol problems
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Are we close to understanding bipolar disorder?
DO> Interesting approach to the terms, don’t you agree?

Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Treated With Ketamine
DO> What do you think about the use of this drug?

Experts look to bipolar disorder part of homelessness equation
DO> Isn’t it interesting how the two are linked?

OCEAN BEACH WOMAN FINALLY HAS A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND
DO> This woman’s story will move you.

Faster Antidepressant Discontinuation, Faster Recurrence of Symptoms
DO> This information is good for you to know.

Bipolar disorder: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment
DO> Important information that you need to know.

Man who disrupted flight says he has bipolar disorder
DO> You’ll find this man’s story frightening.

Woman gets 17 months for $130000 theft at Muncie church
DO> Do you understand why this woman did what she did?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews640/

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 been to the circus? Or a local fair? Maybe even just a kid’s birthday party. I’m sure you have. If you have, you’ve seen a clown. And you’ve seen those great big shoes they wear. Haven’t you ever wondered how they can ever walk in them? I mean, they’re HUGE!

But that’s just part of their thing. They’re used to it. But can you imagine if you or I tried to walk in them? We’d probably fall flat on our faces, wouldn’t we? Well, that’s the way I see trying to negotiate bipolar disorder without a plan. Yep. Trying to manage bipolar disorder without a plan is like walking in big clown shoes. Can you get the picture? It’s like I tell people all the time – you have to have a plan.

Without a plan, you have no sense of direction. It’s like a ship without a rudder. A cake without a recipe. A college degree without its coursework. Without a plan…How will you know what to do when your loved one goes into a bipolar episode? You have to have a plan. There’s just no two ways about it. Having a plan just makes sense. And it will make your life so much easier. It is hard enough trying to cope and deal with a loved one with bipolar disorder. Things are confusing and frustrating enough as it is. But with a plan…It can take away some of that confusion and frustration for you. There isn’t a whole lot that you have control over when it comes to bipolar disorder. And sometimes you can feel really helpless. It can get really overwhelming sometimes, too. But having a plan can give you that sense of power back. This is one thing over which you can have control.

There is a saying: “Life is 1% what happens to you…And 99% your reaction to it.” Having a good, strong plan in place will help you to control your reaction to what happens when your loved one does go into that inevitable bipolar episode. And what comes afterward. First of all…

Let’s deal with the beforehand. You need to be on guard. I’m not saying that you can never relax. I’m just saying that when it comes to bipolar disorder, you can never let down your guard and trust it. You always have to be on watch for any triggers, signs, and symptoms of a bipolar episode in your loved one. When you see one happening, you need to have a plan of action as to what to do: Call the psychiatrist first, increase in medication, hospitalization if necessary, etc.

Then afterwards, you need to sit down with your loved one and do what I call a Post-Episode Analysis, so you know better for the next time what to do and can improve your plan.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

I was just reading on a blog about a person with Bipolar disorder who claims to be “just fine” without their meds. To tell you the truth, I find that hard to believe. I believe it’s the medication that makes you feel “just fine” when you have bipolar disorder. But I was also bothered by some of the responses to this person as well. They got some actual support for stopping their medications! That is so dangerous! I would never tell someone who is truly diagnosed with bipolar disorder (and not misdiagnosed) to go off their medications. Like I said, it’s the medications that make you feel better, but if you stop them, you’ll go back to the way you felt before! I hope this person doesn’t listen to the people advising him to go off his medications, because that can be very dangerous for him.

Does your loved one do this? Are you struggling with keeping them on their medications? Are they reading blogs like this one that tells you it’s ok to go off your medications without a doctor’s advice? First of all, find out why they want to stop taking their meds. Are they experiencing side effects from their medication? Tell them that the usual side effects from bipolar drugs can be dealt with.

For example, for dry mouth, just suck on some ice cubes or hard, sugarless candy. For nausea, eat something when you take your medications, and/or drink something carbonated. For lightheadedness (dizziness), stand up or sit down slowly, and it will usually pass. For drowsiness from medications that you’re taking during the day, you need to tell your doctor, as they may have you take them at night (bedtime) instead, and this will resolve the side effect.

If you have any side effects that are really bothering you, you do need to check with your doctor.

The answer is probably easier than you think. But most often, the answer will NOT be to go off your medication. Your doctor can help you get through the side effects, but you have to tell him/her about them. It may be that just a dosage change is all that is required to make you feel better. It could be that an additional drug can help stop the side effects. It could be that just changing when you take the medication will solve the problem. But it is never the right answer to just go off your medication without working with your doctor on it. NEVER. It could be life-threatening if you do. If you stop your medications without a doctor’s advice or tapering, it could cause you to go into a bipolar episode, and you might commit suicide. So you really need to report all side effects to your doctor, and let him/her help you work things out, rather than going off your medications on your own.

Most of the time, the solution is an easy one for the doctor to work out for you. But he/she isn’t a mindreader. They can’t know what’s going on with you if you don’t tell them. And if you try to do things by yourself, you could too easily complicate matters and make them worse. You really do need to leave things to the professionals in this case.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

I read this quote the other day: “Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.” –M.F. Fernandez. The reason it caught my eye is because I always used to call my mom’s episodes “the storm.” Of course you know she is very stable now, because, for one thing, she takes her medications faithfully. For another thing, she goes to see her doctor and her therapist. She also follows a good treatment plan, and does all the things you need to do to manage your bipolar disorder well.

But back in “the storm” days…She was in a bad episode, and I really just tried to get her to the hospital because I said, “You need to go to the doctor.” At that point, she would just scream and yell three or four times a day for hours. My dad left and I’m inside and she is screaming and yelling, barging through my door almost breaking it down. So, imagine you’re like me, sitting trying to type, peaceful, and then all of a sudden a hurricane comes in or a storm. That person is screaming and hollering and yelling at you for hours at a time and then there is a pause and just as you start to feel better it starts again. Like I said, it’s like a storm. A bipolar storm.

Well, as you know, eventually we got my mom the help she needed for that episode. I did all my research into bipolar disorder, developed my systems, taught them to my mom, and today she is very stable. But now you can understand why I called her behavior the storm,” right?

So here’s the thing, and why I like that quote so much. It gives you so much hope! You can actually RISE ABOVE THE BIPOLAR STORM! I did, when I got my mom the help she needed, when I developed my systems and taught them to her, and she got stable. Here’s the good news: You can rise above the “bipolar storm,” too! You simply do the opposite of what your loved one is doing! Maintain your controlled behavior to deal with your loved one’s out-of-control behavior (their “bipolar storm”) when it happens.

Here’s what I mean. You’ll notice that in my whole story of telling you about my mom’s “storm,” and she was doing all that yelling and screaming at me, I never yelled and screamed back at her.

In other words, I stayed in control, even though she was out of control. This concept, even though it’s a simple one, is very important for you to learn. It will really help you to deal with your own loved one’s “bipolar storm” and keep you from losing your own control. Whatever they do, you do the opposite. For example, if they aren’t holding their composure, you hold onto yours. If they are yelling, you stay quiet. If they are weak, you be strong. If they aren’t rational, you stay rational. If they are out of control, you stay in control. See how the concept works?

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/bipolarnews639/

Shooting victim’s mom to Hickenlooper: Execute Nathan Dunlap
DO> What do you think the governor will do?

Mental illness ’caused by chemistry’
DO> This video will interest you.

More guns used in suicides than homicides
DO> You will be moved by this video.

Antipsychotic drugs recalled
DO> Important information that you need to know.

Glenn Close’s family sheds light on mental illness stigma – USA Today
DO> Don’t you think they are doing a good thing?

Psychiatric diagnoses of mental illness ‘lack scientific evidence’
DO> Do you agree with their opinion?

Patrick Kiefer: Wellness and Bipolar Disorder – Winona Daily News
DO> Some good information you want to know.

First Person: Living Optimistically with Bipolar Disorder
DO> This woman’s story will move you.

Studying a Link Between Stress and Bipolar Disorder
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Controversial Update in Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Children
DO> Important information about children, don’t you think?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews639/

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

Your Friend,

 

Dave

Hi,

You know, you hear a lot about the word WILLPOWER. But what happens if you don’t have willpower? Or that lack of willpower is one of your problems? It can certainly interfere with what you want to accomplish. For example, your loved one wants to take their medication regularly, but they keep forgetting to take it, then say that they just don’t have the willpower.

I want you to consider that lack of willpower is actually a cop-out. What if willpower is something that can be developed? What if you CAN do something about the problem? When I talk to people, I don’t recommend using willpower to do what you need to do to get stable –

I recommend using a system, or several systems instead.

People in 12-Step Programs have abandoned the use of the term “willpower” and instead talk about “powerlessness.” In other words, your loved one would say, “I am powerless over my bipolar disorder.” Which may be true, and may help them to think of it that way, as long as they don’t use it in terms of their bipolar disorder, in turn, having power over them. That is the exact opposite of what they want. There are some things you and your loved one do have power over, and some things you don’t. Your loved one, for example, is powerless over the fact that they have bipolar disorder, that is true. But they are not powerless over the disorder itself – they can fight it for control, they can learn how to manage it (instead of the other way around).

The way to fight lack of willpower is with consistent, conscious decisions and actions that follow. For example, many people, survivors and supporters alike, want to lose weight. Say they even made it a New Year’s resolution. But now they’re struggling, and saying that they just don’t have the necessary willpower to stick to a diet. Well, I would say that if you just change the wording, it might help. Again, I think lack of willpower is a cop-out. The reason many people can’t stick to a diet is because they aren’t committed. They believe they have to start eating different foods (foods they don’t like), or it’s too hard. I think those are the 3 biggest reasons.

But you CAN have control, in spite of having willpower issues.

You control what goes into your body. If you are trying to lose weight, it is your responsibility what foods you eat. You can vary your menu and eat foods that you like and that will help you to take the weight off, rather than focusing on what you cannot eat. If you don’t do that, you will probably find yourself craving those things that you have decided you can’t eat.

Does that make sense? So with bipolar disorder, you don’t think about the things you CAN’T do, you concentrate on the things you CAN do. For example, you may not be able to work out in a gym for an hour a day, but you find that you can walk for a block or two. Whether it’s dieting, exercise, or taking your bipolar medication, remember that it’s NOT about willpower. It’s about making good decisions, and then following through on them. If your loved one is struggling in this area, they should some of my suggestions and see what happens.

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/bipolarnews638/

With schizoaffective disorder, he cycled in and out of hospitals and jail
DO> This man’s story will move you.

Understanding bipolar
DO> You’ll enjoy this informative video.

Chuck E. Cheese killer should not be executed because he had undiagnosed …
DO> Do you think this is just an excuse?

Pa. man gets 25 to 50 years in murder of parents
DO> Do you think this sentence is fair?

Bipolar Writer Comments on Debate Over “Crisis in Psychiatry”
DO> Do you agree with this woman’s opinion?

New trust to treat bipolar
DO> Don’t you wish there were more projects like this around?

Why Psychiatry’s Seismic Shift Will Happen Slowly
DO> Do you think this man’s opinion has strong enough backing?

Trudeau speaks about personal struggles with bipolar disorder to packed …
DO> Her story will move you.

Bipolar disorder, depression the focus of innovative research – Vancouver Sun
DO> Don’t you think these other things are important, too?

Bipolar confusion worries medical experts
DO> Does this worry you as well?

How Will the Affordable Care Act Affect Me?
DO> Is this act confusing to you? This blog should help you understand.

Scientists Close to Identification of Mechanisms that Lead to Bipolar Disorder
DO> Important study, don’t you agree?

Community leaders gather in Helena to battle state’s suicide epidemic
DO> Did you know this about suicide?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews638/

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

Your Friend,

 

Dave

Hi,

You know, many people look at my mom’s story and ask, “What’s the secret? How did she do it?” After thinking about this question for many months, I have identified the key to her success with bipolar disorder. It was the fact that she accepted that she had bipolar disorder and she took the diagnosis very seriously. I think that’s the first step to success with bipolar disorder. You can’t do anything else until you first do what my mom did. If you look at most people who DON’T manage their bipolar disorder successfully, you find they do not accept that they have this disorder. You also find they do not take their bipolar disorder seriously at all. These individuals continually pretend they do not have bipolar disorder. They almost never learn anything about bipolar disorder and how it is successfully treated. This is a HUGE mistake!

From the tens of thousands of people on my mailing list all over the world, from speaking with the individuals that work for me who have bipolar disorder, and from talking to many people that I meet at all the places where I do volunteer work for those that are supporting people with a mental illness, I have come to the conclusion that you absolutely must come to terms with bipolar disorder. You must realize that you do, in fact, have the disorder and that it is not going to simply go away. This is the only way you are going to be able to successfully manage this disorder and your life.

But you can lead a completely productive life if you want to. But not until you take the first step.

The choice is your loved one’s if they have bipolar disorder. They can choose to accept the fact they have bipolar disorder or not. Once they accept that they have the disorder, it paves the way for the next steps toward stability. They can choose to learn more about it. They can choose to follow a treatment plan prescribed by their doctor and/or therapist. The choices are theirs, remember.

They can keep following the steps to stability. They can keep learning – not just educate themselves, but educate others. Keep taking their medication (without fail, no matter what), and seeing their doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist whenever they have those appointments.

Following the steps means doing everything they have to do to stay stable. Keep a good sleep schedule. Exercise. Eat a healthy diet. Stay productive. Keep a mood chart or write in a journal.

Have a good social life, and do things that they enjoy. Spend time with family and friends.

Don’t isolate, because that can lead to a bipolar episode. You know the steps they have to take.

These steps keep them healthy. These steps keep them stable. Unfortunately, if they choose not to follow this path, they will probably end up as one of the sad stories of people who wind up doing something really bad to someone or something or wind up killing themselves.

Someone once said that the longest journey begins with one small step. The first step to stability begins with accepting that they have bipolar disorder. Then they can take the other steps.

If they already have, they should never stop doing them. It can mean the difference between stability and instability.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

Everyone has values, things they believe in that, no matter what anyone says or does, they can’t be shaken from these beliefs. Some people’s are religious beliefs, and no matter what, you couldn’t sway them from their religious beliefs (not that I’m saying you should ever try – I’m not saying that at all, so don’t get me wrong). Other people have political views that, no matter what, you couldn’t get them to believe anything else other than what they believe, right or wrong. That’s how strong they are in their beliefs.

But then there are other things, like personal opinions, that aren’t like these other things I mentioned. They’re not like facts, that can be proven right or wrong. They’re just opinions, so they can be swayed. Then there are people who are what some people call “wishy-washy.” They don’t seem to have any opinions or beliefs of their own. They just go along with what everyone else thinks or believes. These people just want to “fit in with the crowd.”

There are some things you can compromise on. Like you might want to go out and do something, but if your loved one isn’t feeling up to it, then you can compromise and stay home. If you are helping your loved one keep a To-Do List and they don’t get to all the things on their list, that’s ok. You can compromise on that, and assure them that it’s ok, that they can get to the other things tomorrow. If you make a decision that your loved one doesn’t agree with, then the two of you can talk about it, and there will probably be a compromise in there somewhere. Sometimes you even have to put some of your own needs aside because of your loved one’s bipolar disorder, and that involves compromise.

BUT…If your loved one asks you to do something that could damage them and their bipolar disorder in some way, on that you should NEVER compromise!

For example: If they say they’re tired of taking their medication, and ask you to stop getting it filled at the drugstore. That’s something you cannot compromise on. They need their medication to maintain their stability. Or if they want to start skipping their appointments with their doctor, psychiatrist and/or therapist, and tell you they don’t need you to drive them anymore, that they can get there by themselves, if they feel the need to go, whenever. That’s something you can’t compromise on, because that, too, could jeopardize their stability.

What if they start wanting to sleep all the time, and tell you to just leave them alone and let them sleep as much as they want, or if they start isolating in the house, not wanting to go anywhere, when you usually encourage them to be productive and get out of bed and do things? That’s an area where you can’t compromise, either, because if you do, you know that too much sleep and isolation can lead to a bipolar episode.

What if you see other signs or symptoms of an impending episode, like triggers happening, like your loved one stops taking care of themselves, or stops caring about you and your relationship?

You can’t just not say anything. On this you can’t compromise. You have to say something to them about it. What if your loved one becomes manic, starts spending excessively, starts making rash decisions, or becomes angry at you and expressing it in ways that are intolerable to you?

That, especially is something on which you cannot compromise. You have to take some action.

Just like the person whose values cannot be swayed no matter what, as a good supporter, you cannot let certain things slide. If you believe that your loved one is starting to show the signs of going into a bipolar episode, you cannot compromise. You have to take action. If your loved one won’t listen to you, then at least try to get a message to their doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist.

Your loved one should have a signed Medical Release Form on file in their offices allowing you to talk to them. But let someone know what is happening. Don’t compromise on this.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave

 

Hi,

You know, when parents raise their children, they always tell them to do their best. It’s a value that we receive and hopefully pass on to our own children and we try live by it ourselves. When I used to have a lawn service, it didn’t matter whether it was the lowest paying customer or the highest paying customer. I always did my best. I couldn’t do it with my mom, though, because I didn’t have the right “tools” (like I did for my lawn care business). Still, knowing my mother’s story and mine, you might be thinking that I did the best I could with what I had to work with.

And that’s kind of you. But still I wish things had been different than they were back then.

People who have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder struggle with the idea of doing your best, unfortunately. They can be such a perfectionist that it interferes with their lives. Or their work.

Or their relationships. I know, because I’ve done research on this, and talked to people who have the disorder. So you actually have an advantage. You don’t have a mental illness, so you don’t have to try to be a perfectionist in everything you do. Especially when it comes to dealing with your loved one. No one expects perfection from you, so don’t expect it from yourself. You can only do the best you can do with bipolar disorder. Otherwise, you will stress yourself out. And that’s something that you really don’t need.

You know how to be a good supporter. You have information that I didn’t have. Just from these blog posts you should be learning information that will help you. But if you’re doing your best to be the best supporter you can be, but your loved one goes into an episode anyway, just remember that it’s not your fault. It’s not your fault that they have bipolar disorder, and it’s not your fault when that disorder exhibits itself in your loved one. Some supporters beat themselves up over it.

Don’t be one of those people. Just do your best. That’s all that is expected of you. You are not perfect, and you can’t expect to be, especially when it comes to bipolar disorder.

It’s not because of anything you do or don’t do that your loved one will go into an episode. You could be doing everything right…And they will still go into a bipolar episode. You might get confused and try to undo what you’ve done…Thinking that somehow you inadvertently caused your loved one to go into their bipolar episode. But that’s not what happened. They will go into an episode just because they have bipolar disorder. It’s just the nature of the disorder, and has nothing to do with you.

You know how to be a good supporter to your loved one. So just do the best that you can. Nobody expects any more from you than that. There is no such thing as perfect when it comes to bipolar disorder.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave