Current Bipolar News

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews716/

Link Found Between Glutamate, Adolescent Bipolar Disorder
DO> These results make you think, don’t they?

Childhood affective features may guide adult psychiatric diagnosis
DO> This study has a striking finding.

Light Therapy May Work on Chronic Mood Disorders, Too
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Accused in Fatal Hammer Attack Found Not Guilty
DO> Do you agree with this decision?

Rise in anti-psychotic scripts for kids is a serious worry
DO> This study reveals some serious concerns.

Severe Mental Illness Linked to Increased Mortality Post-MI
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Perfectionism drives depression in bipolar/anxiety comorbidity
DO> This study reveals interesting results.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews716/

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/bipolarnews715/

Bipolar risk gene behavior revealed
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Metabolic syndrome screening in bipolar disorder warranted
DO> This study reveals some surprising results.

Bipolar mixed episodes increase significantly under DSM-5
DO> This study makes an important point.

Suicidal ideation link to suicide strong in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Can depression and guilt in preschool years change the brain?
DO> This study reveals something very interesting.

People treated with lithium drug are at risk of acute kidney damage
DO> This is some important research, especially if your loved one is on lithium.

Cops Slam Unarmed Ohio Woman On The Pavement, Killing Her In Front Of Family
DO> You will find this story shocking.

Childhood affective features may guide adult psychiatric diagnosis
DO> Good study, wouldn’t you say?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews715/

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/bipolarnews714/

Women with bipolar disorder at 50 percent greater risk of delivering preterm babies
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Medical illness common in bipolar disorder
DO> This study found some interesting results.

Mortality gap persists for elderly men with severe mental disorders
DO> This study makes an important point.

Medical illness common in bipolar disorder
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Low subjective social status linked to mental disorder risk
DO> These results make you think, don’t they?

Bipolar risk gene behavior revealed
DO> Good study, wouldn’t you say?

‘Darting’ mice may hold clues to ADHD, autism and bipolar disorder
DO> This study reveals something very interesting.

Progress in bipolar disorder
DO> This research is very exciting!

Metabolic syndrome screening in bipolar disorder warranted
DO> You’ll find this study very interesting.

Metabolic syndrome screening in bipolar disorder warranted
DO> This is an important study.

Bipolar mixed episodes increase significantly under DSM-5
DO> This study points out something very important.

Suicidal ideation link to suicide strong in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
DO> These results reveal some strong findings, don’t you agree?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews714/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Bipolar: Don’t Be Set in This

Hi,

There are many types of art: Among them being paintings and sculptures. Have you ever seen a beautiful sculpture? Perhaps even the famous sculpture of David? Have you ever seen a sculpture in stone? Then you know how permanent it can be.

What about Mount Rushmore? Have you ever seen it? Many people think it should be one of the 7 Wonders of the World because it is so grand! It, too, is made of stone. And it is as permanent as it can be.

We even have an expression: We say things are “set in stone.” That’s when we’re saying they are fixed, or immovable.

But when it comes to bipolar disorder, you can’t be fixed or immovable. You can’t be “set in stone.” You need to be flexible when you’re dealing with a loved one with bipolar disorder. If you are too fixed in stone, you really won’t get anywhere with your loved one.

They won’t do anything you say. They won’t respect you (or your wishes). They will probably just resent you. They may become belligerent. They may even become hostile toward you. They may fight with you. They may say things that hurt you.

What I’m saying is: If you are fixed in stone, it can be a very negative thing when you’re dealing
with a loved one with bipolar disorder. Again, you need to be flexible.

Their doctor or psychiatrist needs to be flexible as well. For example: Say your loved one is having a problem with their bipolar disorder. They may even be headed toward an episode.

But luckily, you are catching it in time (because you are a good supporter and you have noticed the signs and symptoms early). If they are set in stone about medications, they won’t consider changing them. Even if that’s exactly what is needed. They need to be flexible. Because in many cases, just a temporary increase in medication can help avoid a full-blown episode.

Or your loved one’s medication may need to be changed, or another medication added. So your loved one’s doctor or psychiatrist needs to be flexible about medications. And your loved one definitely needs to be flexible.

For example: They need to be flexible about having an open mind to new suggestions. Like for things that their therapist might suggest in a therapy session. They need to be flexible enough to try what the therapist says to do to help them with their bipolar disorder (or, say, their relationship with you).

They even need to be flexible about suggestions from me about things that will help them get stable with their bipolar disorder. Things like changing their sleep schedule or their diet.

But you do need to be flexible when you’re dealing with your loved one. Say you’re doing something with your loved one that just doesn’t seem to be working any more. You have to be willing to try something new.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Bipolar: Asking Yourself the Tough Questions

Hi,

I’m going to ask you a question. A hard question, but one you need to ask yourself. What about YOU? Have you ever asked yourself that? “What about ME?”

Sometimes bipolar disorder can take over your lives to such a degree that you really can get to the point that you ask yourself that question. If you have, you need to know that it is NORMAL! You’re not alone – many supporters ask themselves that question.

Do you sometimes feel as if you have a child instead of a partner? That’s a normal feeling, too. You may sometimes wonder why you are in the relationship at all if it only means taking care of someone who is ill more times than they are not. And this may be harder on you than you thought it would be.

Maybe the bipolar disorder cast you in a role you have no desire to play, but you see no way out because there is no one else to do it if you don’t.

Maybe you’re just plain burnt out. That happens sometimes. So what about you? If you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to take care of your loved one. Remember that.

You may be asking yourself, “What about me and what I want from life?” Well, what about you? What do you want and need?

Now that you have the tools to manage the disorder, it’s time for you to become clear about the role you want to play in your relationship. You may feel that the bipolar disorder has taken
the choice away from you. This, too, is a normal feeling.

When your loved one is in an episode, you may feel that you HAVE to play the role of the loving
supporter. That you have to hold things together. But you don’t. Everything you do is a choice.

Whether it’s going to the hospital when your loved one is in an episode, helping your loved one take their medication, or putting up with constant mood swings, there is a choice. It may not be an easy choice, or you may feel like you have no choice, but it is all a choice.

If you choose to stay in a relationship where your loved one is often sick (in an episode), it’s important that you at least know who you are and why you do what you do.

Many of the people who write to me who are married to a loved one with bipolar disorder say that if they knew ahead of time what they would be getting into, they wouldn’t have married that person. Is this you? Do you feel this way?

It’s ok if you do, because others do, but not if you let this feeling turn into a resentment against your loved one, or you stuff it and it bubbles up inside you and reflects how you feel about your loved one. You need to deal with it.

If it’s your choice to stay with your loved one, no matter what (and remember, you do have a choice), then feeling like that is something that you just have to get over, as it will get in the way of being a good supporter.

I know, because I am a supporter myself, that sometimes it’s just not good enough to know that you’re not alone in your struggle against bipolar disorder – that you’re not the only one who feels the way you do…that so much is expected of you, especially when your loved one goes into an episode, because even though you’re the one who does all the work, your loved one is probably the one who gets all the attention.

“In sickness and in health” can be hard to take when it seems sometimes that there just isn’t any “health”! Your role gets so complicated sometimes that you wonder who you really are any more: You often have to be a financial planner, a confidant, a therapist, a nurse, a parent, a provider, a supporter, and any number of roles that maybe you didn’t sign on for.

This is a lot to ask of you. And many times it is a thankless job. And, again, if you don’t take care of yourself first, you may burn out from it. Don’t despair if it’s wearing you out. It wears everyone out.

Again, ask yourself the tough questions: What about ME? Who am I? What do I want out of life? How much longer can I continue on like this? Can I continue on like this? Is this all worth it? Because you need to know the answers.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

 

Bipolar: Being a Positive Person

Hi,

Have you ever heard the expression: Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday.
I think it’s a kind of funny way to look at life. Especially if you’re a kind of negative person. Because I’m just the opposite – I’m a pretty positive person. I’m always looking at the best case scenario in every situation.

I kind of think you have to, although you still have to be realistic at the same time, especially
when you’re dealing with bipolar disorder. But you just can’t be one of those people who are always worrying from day to day. You know, like projecting from one day to the next what might happen, before you even know.

And especially if you tend to think on the negative side of things – that throws a bad slant to everything. You need to be a positive thinker if you’re dealing with bipolar disorder.

It just helps to look at things in a positive way when you’re dealing with bipolar disorder, because so much of it can be negative to begin with. But you don’t have to worry all the time, either. If you do, you’re just going to set yourself up for negative things to happen. Because you’re going to be looking for them.

Enough bad things are going to happen in life all by themselves, but you don’t have to help
them along. To fight them, you have to think and act positively.

For example, when your loved one picks a fight with you, which can be a normal occurrence when you’re dealing with the rage of a bipolar manic episode, you can either react in a negative or a positive manner, it’s your choice.

If you react in a negative manner, though, it’s just going to prolong the fight. But if you react in a positive manner, it might just de-escalate your loved one’s behavior.

So what I’m talking about are things that may be inevitable, but that you can do something about just by changing your attitude about them. In other words, if you go around expecting bad things
to happen, they will.

You’d be a sort of magnet that bad things will be attracted to. But it can work the opposite way, too.

Like with people. Have you ever noticed that negative people seem to attract other negative people? But that positive people tend to attract other positive people? It is like a magnet sort of thing.

Think of it this way: Your positive attitude can help change a negative situation. Like the example I used of fighting with your loved one.

When your loved one is negative, your being positive can have that positive kind of influence on them. After all, who wants to fight with someone who won’t fight back?

Now, I never said that having a positive attitude in the face of a negative situation would be easy.
It isn’t always that easy. But it sure gets you further, and with a whole lot less stress on you.

And, hopefully, eventually, it will turn things around for you as well. Hopefully, given time, your loved one will change, too. Hopefully, they will begin to be more like you. And hopefully, you will begin to experience more positive situations than negative ones.

And, like I said, a lot less stress as a by-product as well. Positive people just seem to be healthier, too. Probably because they have less stress, they are physically healthier.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave