Current Bipolar News

 

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews666/

Bipolar disorder treatment nonadherence ‘needs more attention’
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Researchers identify new genetic risk factor for psychiatric disorders …
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Cognition and illness course predict bipolar employment
DO> This just makes sense, doesn’t it?

Prison term for lighting fires
DO> You’ll find this man’s story very sad.

Conversion from psychotic depression to bipolar disorder explored
DO> Important information for you to know.

Childhood trauma link to bipolar symptoms strengthened
DO> Did you know this about bipolar?

Son of Stabbed State Senator Treated for Bipolar Disorder, Friends …
DO> This man’s story will move you.

Bipolarity caution in depressed MS patients
DO> Don’t you think this is an important study?

Support for personal recovery concept in bipolar disorder
DO> Do you agree with these results?

Lefties more likely to have psychotic disorders such as …
DO> Don’t you find this fact interesting?

Early natural history of bipolar disorder mapped
DO> Good information for you to know.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews666/

 

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: Would You Depend on This Person?

Hi,

This question might sound strange, but…If you were your loved one, would you be able to
depend on you? I told you it would sound strange! But I mean, put yourself in your loved one’s
shoes. They’re depending on you to be their supporter, so they have certain needs that they’re hoping you can meet.

For instance, they need you to be understanding. They need you to understand that they are not
always going to be themselves – In other words, they might swing from one mood to
the other (depressed to manic and back again)…And even they may not know why, so they may
need you to be understanding of that, too – so that you won’t expect them to give you a reason for their mood changes.

They need you to be understanding when they might not want to be around people – they might feel anxious or stressed when they do. This might even include family gatherings. This might even include plans that you’ve made, and it might happen at the last minute, so you have to be real understanding if it does happen.

Hopefully, you’ll have this much understanding in you to give. If, at times, you don’t, just put yourself in your loved one’s shoes and ask yourself, would you be able to depend on you?

Your loved one may also depend on you for help. They might need you to help remind them when they forget appointments with their doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist. They might need you to help remind them to take their medication. Or maybe to help them come up with ways for them to remember to take it.

They might need your help in explaining bipolar disorder to their family and/or friends, because they may be scared to do it by themselves. They may need your help in accepting their diagnosis.
They may need your help with small things. They may need your help with big things.

But somewhere, down the line or now, however it’s going to happen, your loved one is going to need your help. Are you going to be able to help them? If you were your loved one, would you be able to depend on you?

Your loved one may even need your forgiveness, and this may be the hardest part of all for you.
As you may have already experienced, when someone with bipolar disorder goes into a bipolar manic episode, they exhibit behaviors that are very unlike themselves. They do things they wouldn’t normally do – risky and impulsive behaviors, bizarre behaviors, even some that
might shock you! Behaviors like excessive spending of money, or even shoplifting. Draining out your bank accounts, maxing out your credit cards. Poor or foolish decision making, bad business
investments.

Causing you to re-mortgage your home or possibly lose it. Driving you to bankruptcy. Will your loved one be able to depend on you then? Or risky driving, gambling, or even substance abuse. Jail, high lawyer’s fees. They might exhibit risky sexual behavior, promiscuity – they might even have an affair, get pregnant, or make someone else pregnant. I’ve heard these stories too often not to accept the reality of them, and you may have to as well. Will you be forgiving? Will your loved one be able to depend on you then?

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/bipolarnews665/

White matter integrity supports heritability of bipolar disorder
DO> Important study, don’t you agree?

Men’s cognitive advantage maintained in early bipolar disorder
DO> Interesting study, don’t you think?

Gray matter changes reflect psychosis burden
DO> Do you see the value of doing this?

Postpartum psychiatric risk varies with birth order
DO> Good information for you to know, especially if you want to have children.

VCAT finds Manningham Council discriminated against disabled man
DO> Do you think this was fair?

Flamboyant fraudster who conned taxman out of £130000 is spared …
DO> Is this right, do you think?

Bipolar disorder treatment nonadherence ‘needs more attention’
DO> What do you think about this controversial topic?

Researchers identify new genetic risk factor for psychiatric disorders …
DO> Some interesting information for you to know.

Cognition and illness course predict bipolar employment
DO> This study makes sense, doesn’t it?

A Bipolar Dad Is Serving Life For Stealing Three WWII Rifles, Two …
DO> Isn’t this man’s story sad?

Mother: Lennord Whittle, Middletown man killed by police, suffered …
DO> What do you think about this controversial shooting?

Conversion from psychotic depression to bipolar disorder explored
DO> Good information for you to know.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews665/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: Actions Speak Louder

Hi,

I was reading about this philanthropist the other day. Now, if you don’t know what a philanthropist is, it’s someone with a great deal of money, who gives away lots of that money to charity. So it made me think of something. I think it’s not necessarily what you think that counts, but what you do that matters. Like, remember that old saying: “Actions speak louder than words.” I think it’s like that.

You know how I’m always urging you to be a positive thinker. Well, I’m not changing my stand on that or anything. But what I’m saying is that your actions will be a natural offshoot of what you think. If you think positively, your actions will reflect that, and they will be positive actions.
But what if you have negative thoughts? Do your actions have to necessarily be negative ones?

That’s what’s challenged my thinking. See, I don’t think it has to be that way. I know as a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, you experience some pretty negative feelings toward your loved one, their bipolar disorder, and sometimes even your life in general.

Having negative feelings is a natural part of having to deal with bipolar disorder. What’s important is the action you take on those feelings, though. And what I’m saying is that I don’t think your actions have to necessarily be negative ones as a response to your negative feelings.

Now, I’m not saying you have to stuff your feelings, either, as that wouldn’t be healthy for you.
But I’m saying that you can deal with your negative feelings in a healthy way and make a
decision to act in a positive manner toward your loved one IN SPITE OF your negative feelings toward them.

Here’s an example: Say you’re feeling angry at your loved one. First, you need to recognize and get to the root of WHY you’re angry at them in the first place. Because there can be a variety of reasons why you’re mad at them. You could even be angry at them simply because they have bipolar disorder, or because it’s caused a big change in your lives, and you resent that. But you can decide IN SPITE OF that anger, to not treat them in an angry manner, and to still be supportive of them and their attempts at recovery from their bipolar disorder.

Or…Say they’ve done something specific to make you angry. Say you’re even in an argument over something they’ve done. Here’s a good one (and a very common one for people dealing with bipolar disorder): Say you’ve caught your loved one spending money excessively, and now you’re in an argument about it. Are you angry? Yes. Is this a negative feeling? Yes. Do you want to fight about it? Yes. But can you CHOOSE to react in a positive manner IN SPITE OF your negative feeling? Yes. You can choose to walk away from the fight. You can choose to rise above your anger. You can choose to manage your money so that it doesn’t happen again.

Do you see how you can do positive things with a negative feeling?

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/bipolarnews664/

Richard Dreyfuss Opens Up About His Battle with Bipolar Disorder
DO> His story will interest you.

Journalist Michael Hastings ‘battled with bipolar disorder and drugs …
DO> This man’s tragic story will move you.

Obesity, bipolarity may have common mechanisms
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Emotional processing in bipolar disorder studied
DO> Don’t you find this surprising?

Psychotic disorders more likely in left-handed
DO> Good information for you to know.

“Mathematical deficits” in bipolar disorder
DO> This is important, especially if you have a teenager.

Pregnant Women Need Stronger Bipolar Drugs, Study Reports
DO> This can be dangerous if you’re pregnant.

First-episode type predicts morbidity, disease course in bipolar …
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Comorbid anxiety problematic for adolescents with bipolar disorder
DO> Good information for you if you have an adolescent.

Bipolar primary care prevalence varies by assessment method
DO> Don’t you find this interesting?

Gene Variants May Contribute to Bipolar Illness by Changing Brain
DO> Important information for you to know.

Two factors predict suicide in teens with bipolar disorder
DO> You need to know this information if you have a teen.

Mood disorder subtypes remain in the family
DO> Don’t you think this is an interesting study?

White matter integrity supports heritability of bipolar disorder
DO> Important study, don’t you agree?

Men’s cognitive advantage maintained in early bipolar disorder
DO> Some interesting information for you to know.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews664/

 

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

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/bipolarnews664/

Richard Dreyfuss Opens Up About His Battle with Bipolar Disorder
DO> His story will interest you.

Journalist Michael Hastings ‘battled with bipolar disorder and drugs …
DO> This man’s tragic story will move you.

Obesity, bipolarity may have common mechanisms
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Emotional processing in bipolar disorder studied
DO> Don’t you find this surprising?

Psychotic disorders more likely in left-handed
DO> Good information for you to know.

“Mathematical deficits” in bipolar disorder
DO> This is important, especially if you have a teenager.

Pregnant Women Need Stronger Bipolar Drugs, Study Reports
DO> This can be dangerous if you’re pregnant.

First-episode type predicts morbidity, disease course in bipolar …
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Comorbid anxiety problematic for adolescents with bipolar disorder
DO> Good information for you if you have an adolescent.

Bipolar primary care prevalence varies by assessment method
DO> Don’t you find this interesting?

Gene Variants May Contribute to Bipolar Illness by Changing Brain
DO> Important information for you to know.

Two factors predict suicide in teens with bipolar disorder
DO> You need to know this information if you have a teen.

Mood disorder subtypes remain in the family
DO> Don’t you think this is an interesting study?

White matter integrity supports heritability of bipolar disorder
DO> Important study, don’t you agree?

Men’s cognitive advantage maintained in early bipolar disorder
DO> Some interesting information for you to know.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews664/

 

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: When is Enough Not Enough?

Hi,

Let me ask you something: When is enough not enough? In other words, do you sometimes
feel like you’re giving all you can, but it’s still not enough? Do you sometimes feel like it’s
not fair? Let me tell you about Mark and his wife Dianne:

You see, Dianne has bipolar disorder, and Mark is her main supporter. Usually, Dianne is pretty good about taking her medication, going to see her doctor, and doing all the other things to
keep her bipolar in check. And usually, she treats Mark pretty good. But sometimes, she gets in these awful moods, and then she takes them out on him.

She doesn’t go into a full-blown episode or anything, but it’s like she just has a “bad day,” and just doesn’t act like herself. Then, no matter what he does, no matter how much compassion he shows her, it’s just not enough. She gets really angry, for example. Then she takes it out on him, and Mark gets on the defensive, and before you know it, they’re in a fight.

He usually doesn’t even know what they’re even fighting about, but there you have it – they certainly are fighting! And sometimes Mark can’t control his temper, so even though he knows he shouldn’t fight back, he does it anyway, which just makes matters worse, because Dianne just gets madder and the fight just goes on. But then Mark tries to end the fight, even admits he was wrong, and Dianne just keeps fighting.

No matter what Mark does, it’s not good enough for Dianne. She’s just in this bad mood, and she just keeps taking it out on him! This is just so frustrating for him. He tries to show love and compassion for her, but it’s like it’s not good enough when she gets like this. He just doesn’t know what to do when she gets like this.

Sometimes your loved one will just have a bad bipolar day. That’s just going to happen sometimes. It’s just really tough when they take it out on you. And, unfortunately, sometimes that will happen as well. Because when we’re not at our best, we tend to take it out on the person closest to us, and for someone with bipolar disorder, that’s their supporter.

If I were to give any advice to Mark, I would explain that it doesn’t mean that Dianne doesn’t
love him, or that she is even doing this on purpose, but that it’s part of her disorder. Sometimes, when someone with bipolar disorder has a “bad bipolar day,” they take it out on those around them. They just aren’t themselves. However, this can leave their supporter feeling like no matter how much they do, no matter how much compassion they show, that it’s just not enough.

I would tell Mark the same thing I’ll tell you: Don’t take it personally. It’s just a bad day. They happen. Try to keep your loved one separate from their disorder and remember what they’re like when they’re not manifesting symptoms of their disorder, and try to have more patience with them than usual.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Hi,

When you were younger and you didn’t feel like going to school…Your parents made you go anyway, didn’t they? Yep, mine made me go, too. Even when I didn’t feel like it. What about later? When you didn’t feel like going to work? You still had to go, didn’t you? Even when you didn’t feel like it. You can’t just call in sick just because you don’t “feel like” going to work that day. You have a responsibility to be there. And you have to meet that responsibility. Otherwise, other things will suffer. Like the bills not getting paid and other things.

Well, unfortunately, it’s the same with being a supporter. You can’t just “call in sick” because you don’t feel like “showing up” one day, can you? Even if you don’t “feel like” being there.
Just like back in school… or at work. You have responsibilities to your loved one just like you did at school and have at work. People depend on you at work, and your loved one depends on you at home. You have to “show up” and meet those responsibilities. Whether you feel like it or not.

And sometimes that can be frustrating, I know. Frustration is one of the biggest negative feelings you can have when you’re a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder. I know, because there were many times that I experienced frustration when I was trying to help my mom with her
bipolar disorder. I got so frustrated that time when she was in her worst episode that I wanted to turn around and walk out on her and never come back! (but of course I didn’t). The point is that many times, I sure didn’t “feel like” being her supporter!

There were many times that I just had to “show up,” like we all had to back in school on those days when we didn’t “feel like” going and our parents made us go anyway. On those days when you’re that frustrated, you just kind of tie a rope and hang on, it’s all you can do. And you hope that the next day will be better than today.

The thing is, that those days are going to happen. It’s just inevitable. Yes, there are going to be some days where your loved one seems to have improved in leaps and bounds. And that’s great!
But those days are few and far between. Mostly, their recovery will consist of long, dry days that seem to go on forever…Days where they don’t seem to have made any progress at all. Or, worse yet, days where they seem to have even gone backwards a little (or even a lot). Or they could have even had a relapse, or an episode, when they were doing great for a while, or even a long
time (or so you thought).

So that’s when you can get really frustrated. And so can your loved one. Then it’s really bad, when both of you are frustrated. It’s hard to keep a positive attitude then. But you still have to –
You still have to “show up,” even when you don’t feel like it. It’s how you get the best of this thing called bipolar disorder.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

 

Current Bipolar News

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

Here is the Bipolar News:

Lefties more likely to have psychotic disorders such as …
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Large, rare CNV burden reduced in bipolar disorder
DO> Informative study, don’t you think?

Keith O’Neil Winning Battle with Bipolar Disorder
DO> This man’s story will inspire you.

“Mathematical deficits” in bipolar disorder
DO> Good information for you to know, especially if you are dealing with a teenager.

Pregnant Women Need Stronger Bipolar Drugs, Study Reports
DO> Important information if you plan to have children.

Common biology shared in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
DO> Don’t you think this is an important study?

First-episode type predicts morbidity, disease course in bipolar …
DO> Did you know that knowing about the first episode was so important?

Comorbid anxiety problematic for adolescents with bipolar disorder
DO> Important information if you’re dealing with a child or adolescent.

Interferon-Free HCV Tx Benefits Mentally Ill
DO> Don’t you think this medication can be an important help?

Bipolar primary care prevalence varies by assessment method
DO> Don’t you find this to be an interesting study?

Gene Variants May Contribute to Bipolar Illness by Changing Brain
DO> Some interesting information for you to know.

Bipolar mania and depression independently inherited
DO> Did you know this about bipolar disorder?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews663/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Hi,

There’s an age old question that people ask: Why do bad things happen to good people? And that can definitely apply to people who have bipolar disorder and the supporters trying to help them.
I mean…Things could be going along just fine…In fact, things could be going along fine for a long time, maybe even years…And BOOM! The next thing you know, your loved one is in another bipolar episode. And you’re left asking, “Why?”

But here’s the thing: It’s unproductive to try to find a “why” behind why bad things happen. The “why” question generally lends itself to finding fault, someone to blame. Then you might want to blame your loved one for bringing the episode upon themselves. Like, maybe they’re not trying hard enough to get better. Maybe if they did this…Or maybe if they did that…Then they wouldn’t have gone into this episode.

Or you blame yourself. Maybe you’re not a good enough supporter to your loved one. Maybe if you’d tried this…Or maybe if you’d tried that… Then they wouldn’t have gone into this episode.
But guilt never helped a supporter help their loved one come out of a bipolar episode. Guilt is not a positive feeling and, in fact, is a very negative feeling, but is one that is very common among supporters of a loved one with bipolar disorder.

Like the “why” question, guilt is not very productive. It won’t help you to help your loved one at all. And it can make things worse, especially for you. It can lead to a lot of stress for you. So you need to address any guilt you may be feeling. The fact is…You are NOT responsible in ANY way for your loved one’s bipolar episode. Remember that they have a chemical imbalance in
their brain. Sometimes the chemicals just misfire, leading to an episode. It’s not because of anything you did or didn’t do. It’s not because of you AT ALL. So stop feeling that way.

And if you are blaming your loved one in any way, stop that too. It’s not their fault either.
What you should be doing instead is thinking about how to cope with the episode. You may feel angry at first. If you do, be sure that your anger is directed at the real cause (bipolar disorder) and not at your loved one. Anger, like guilt, is not going to be very productive in helping your loved one get through their episode, so you need to work through your anger as quickly as you can.

While your loved one is in their episode and you’re waiting for the medication or other treatment to work, try to keep your thoughts positive by remembering that they are not always this way.
Remember what they’re like when they’re NOT in an episode. One supporter does this by looking at photographs. Another one does it by looking through a scrapbook. Still another one watches videos. And one supporter has letters from their wife that she wrote when she was stable.

Do whatever you have to do to get you through the episode and be a good supporter to your loved one. Remember that it isn’t always like this. The bad times always pass.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave