Hi,

You know, one of the worst parts of dealing with bipolar disorder is going through the
depressive end of the mood swing. It’s especially hard on the supporter, because you feel so helpless to do anything about it but to watch your loved one suffer.

You can’t just tell them a joke and make them laugh and it’s all over. It’s just not as simple as that. Or watch a funny movie with them – even if it did bring them out of it, it would only be
temporary.

If your loved one had the flu, you could give them medicine to help them feel better. But there is no “cure” for their depression.

You can encourage them to do things, but they are fighting a real enemy. And their worst enemy is boredom. Boredom causes more bipolar depressions than anything else (notwithstanding the
chemical imbalance that causes the mood swing).

To-Do Lists are very helpful with keeping the enemy of boredom at bay. Some people are good at making To-Do Lists and keeping up with them. Larger projects can be broken down into smaller tasks. Everyday tasks can be big accomplishments for someone when they’re depressed.

What’s important is to keep busy, because boredom is the enemy of bipolar depression. Sitting in front of the television can deepen a bipolar depression. Even your trying to make conversation with them can make them more depressed.

One woman who was used to gardening as a way to feel productive (which helped her manage her bipolar disorder) found herself getting depressed during the colder months of the year, until she found some indoor plants that she could take care of year-round. This helped her with her
depression.

Another woman who struggled with bipolar depression had been an English teacher before
her disorder forced her to go on disability. Because she had been used to being so busy before,
boredom quickly set in, and she struggled with depression greatly. She began tutoring out of her home, which filled up her time, and her depression lifted.

A man who had formerly run a successful auto shop before his diagnosis of bipolar disorder was overcome by bipolar depression simply out of boredom. There just wasn’t enough for him to do around the house, and he felt useless.

Then one of his friends asked him to work on his car in his garage. One friend led to two, and now he is no longer bored nor depressed.

Another man became the head of his bipolar support group and not only plans the monthly meetings, but also plans outings for both those with the disorder and their supporters and families.

In his downtime, he spends his time researching the Internet for new information on bipolar disorder he can share with the group. No longer bored, his depression has decreased.

Another woman became a literacy volunteer. Yet another woman began volunteering as a school
nurse at her child’s elementary school.

And one woman, who struggled with bipolar depression for years, works for me now. She has become a contributing writer to this website and, although she has had a depressed day here or there, has not had a bipolar depressive episode in years.

Boredom is the enemy of bipolar depression. But if you think of your talents, you can think of ways to use them so you don’t have to be bored, so you don’t have to be depressed.

Read back over some of these examples. These people aren’t depressed any more. They are helping themselves, their supporters, their families, their communities, and other people.

Boredom doesn’t have to be your enemy if you don’t let it. Think along creative lines, about things that you are good at.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

 

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well. Here’s is the new link:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews747/

Harvard Law Graduate Matthew Muller Arrested In Kidnapping Cops Said Was Hoax
DO> What do you think of this hoax?

New study reveals a fascinating relationship between bipolar disorder and earnings
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Mother Sues Cop Who Killed Her Daughter
DO> Do you think the cop acted wrongly?

Tennessee gunman sought religious guidance on violence, wasbipolar – reports — RT USA
DO> Do you think bipolar made him do what he did?

Teen Bipolar Disorder and the Abnormal Brain: Making Sense of New Research
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Take a look at:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews747/

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 read an article about a businessman who went from almost bankruptcy to come back to be one of the top businesses in the country. You know what his secret was? Here’s what made the difference: PLANNING.

He had Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. I mean, he had plans for everything. He had a plan for if this went wrong or if that went wrong. He had a plan for finances, marketing, advertising, his employees, his products, just about everything he could think of.

He had a plan for everything to go right but he also had a plan for if everything went wrong. And if something went wrong, he had a plan to make it go right. That was the difference. And it made a big difference in his company and in his success.

It’s very important for you to plan as well. You need to make plans so you aren’t taken by
surprise. You also aren’t hurt by things as much, too.

For example: Your loved one goes into a manic episode and starts raging at you, and they say things that hurt you. Well, you can plan in advance how you’re going to handle this rage and what they say. You can plan how you’re going to react, and that you’re not going to overreact.

You can plan that you’re not going to fight back, that you’ll keep your voice low, and that you won’t do anything to escalate your loved one’s rage. What do you think will happen? Don’t you think this will help your situation? Do you think the rage will end earlier than it might have if you hadn’t planned for it?

And what about planning for bipolar episodes? The difference it has made in my mother is
amazing! If you remember, when she had her episode back in 2004, she was so disorganized that
when we needed it, she didn’t even have her doctor’s phone number, and we had to keep digging and looking around until we finally found his card.

Now she not only knows where his phone number is, but it is part of her Bipolar Emergency Plan that if she even feels “off” to call her psychiatrist and decide what to do.

The big difference is that by planning in advance, it could mean just an adjustment in her medication rather than the hospitalization it took in 2004 to help her out of her episode.

You can do the same thing with your loved one. You can plan for bipolar episodes. Sit down with them and discuss what they would want you to do should you notice that they are starting to show signs of a bipolar episode.

The first thing should be that you plan to call their psychiatrist, who may have you bring your
loved one in for an emergency visit.

Or they may have you take them to the Emergency Room at the hospital for evaluation, and possibly even a hospital stay. Or they may even just treat your loved one over the phone by upping the dosage of their medication temporarily to avoid an episode.

You also need to plan for what you’ll do if you need to hospitalize your loved one. You need to have a signed Medical Release Form in your loved one’s files at each of their medical and mental health professionals’ offices. You may even want a Power of Attorney form signed in advance as well.

These things take planning. But planning may be the best thing you can do to help your loved one (and yourself) in the long run.

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/bipolarnews745/

Antidepressants Worsen Rapid Cycling in Bipolar Depression
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Most antipsychotic drugs prescribed to teens without mental health diagnosis, study says
DO> This study brings up some shocking points.

Poor sleep has greater negative effect on women with bipolar disorder than men
DO> This study makes an important point.

Tyrelle Shaw, Who Attacked Asian Women, May Have HadBipolar Disorder
DO> You’ll find this man’s story shocking.

A Blood Test for Mental Illness in Women?
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Comorbid anxiety ‘a crucial target’ for treatment in bipolar disorder
DO> There’s an interesting finding in this study.

Many Bipolar Patients Likely to Develop Anxiety Disorders
DO> Important information for you to know for your loved one.

Book review – Autistic Blessings and Bipolar me by Emma Plows
DO> You might find this book very interesting.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews745/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

Because of what I do, I hear from many supporters of loved ones with bipolar disorder. And many times they share their feelings with me. Many times those feelings are negative feelings.

Living with a loved one with bipolar disorder is difficult at best, and I understand that, because I
lived with my mother when she was at her worst with her bipolar disorder, and it was very hard for me. I experienced some of those negative feelings, too.

Some of those negative feelings can include:

1. Anger

2. Bitterness

3. Resentment

4. Annoyance

5. Irritation

6. Agitation

7. Frustration

8. Impatience

9. Aggravation

10. Disappointment

11. Dissatisfaction

12. Stress

But then, feeling these negative feelings against someone I loved, I would ultimately feel guilt, shame, and remorse as well.

Do you feel guilty? Have you been experiencing some of these negative feelings toward your loved one? One thing that helps is talking with them and sharing your thoughts and feelings openly. Even though these are negative feelings, they are still your feelings, and you need to accept responsibility for them. If they go on too long without you doing anything about them, they will come out in negative ways.

For example: Your anger can turn to rage, and you may end up in a huge fight with your loved one over something that may be trivial otherwise. If you stuff your negative feelings, you might become overwhelmed by them. The stress will build up until you start to feel anxious all the time.

So you need to be open and communicate these feelings to your loved one. They should be aware of how you feel. You will probably find that just by sharing them, that some of them (if not most of them) will go away just by talking about them and the cause of them.

If your loved one and some specific behavior of theirs is responsible for your feelings, they may be able to stop the behavior, and then you won’t feel that way any more. The important thing is that they know how you feel.

If, for some reason, you don’t feel that you can share your thoughts and feelings with your loved one, you still need to get them out somehow, or they can still build up and cause you stress and harm.

You may want to seek out your own counselor or therapist with whom you can share these feelings and talk about what’s bothering you. If not, maybe keeping a journal would help you.
Write down your thoughts and feelings to at least get them out, so they don’t build up inside you.
This way the guilt won’t pile up and cause you stress that you don’t need and can’t handle.

Are you feeling guilty? Is it because of negative feelings you have against your loved one? Try one of the methods I’ve just talked about, so that the stress doesn’t build up in you.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave