Current Bipolar News

Hi,

What’s new? Hope you are doing well.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews776/

Psychiatric disorders genetically linked to diabetes
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Younger Smokers More Likely to Suffer Psychiatric Comorbidities
DO> This study makes an important point.

Child abuse produces damaging effects in bipolar patients
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

Bipolar disorder often undiagnosed among primary care patients prescribed antidepressants
DO> There is some important information in this research study.

Mother pleads guilty to attempted murder in giving poison to her daughters
DO> What this woman did will shock you.

Flu in pregnancy can increase risk of bipolar disorder in child
DO> This study reveals a very important statistic.

Mother woke up to find bipolar daughter dead in bed, inquest hears
DO> Do you think that this was accidental or not?

Cannabis does NOT raise risk to mental health
DO> These findings contradict earlier studies.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews776/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Problems vs. Challenges

Hi,

I read the most amazing quote the other day: “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge
to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending
that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait.
Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to
accept our destiny.”
― Paulo Coelho

Isn’t that cool? I like the part about testing our courage and willingness to change. I think they are both great concepts. But especially willingness to change. Because change is inevitable. But we don’t always think that we do have a part in it. Like that we can do it willingly.

But it is inevitable that you will face challenges when you have a loved one with bipolar disorder. That’s just the way it goes.

But that’s the attitude you have to take, by the way – as you approach anything new – that it is a challenge. If you think of it in terms of “problem” instead of “challenge,” you will be doing both you and your loved one a disservice, as that is a negative way to approach it.

Challenges are opportunities to provide solutions and growth. Think of the last challenge that you had. Ask yourself if you handled it in the best way that you could. If the answer is no, then it might be as simple as just changing your perspective.

One thing constantly preached to people with bipolar disorder is to keep a positive attitude. This will help them regulate their moods and become stable. Well, that advice is just as sound for a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder.

When anyone reviews their current circumstances in a negative way, they can become overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed out – maybe even depressed. This is true whether you have bipolar disorder or not.

One of the ways that I deal with it is to take only one thing at a time. Otherwise, yes, it can be too overwhelming for me, and that overwhelming feeling can lead to discouragement, and discouragement to a possible depression.

You (as well as your loved one) can adopt a positive attitude just as easily and, hopefully,
avoid stress for you and episodes for them.

One day at a time – that’s the key. Another key is to think positively. Some people who are spiritual find comfort in the expression, “Nothing happens in God’s world by mistake.”

Knowing that God is still in charge is a comfort to them, and they don’t feel alone in their attempts to get rid of their obstacles.

Still, an optimistic attitude can go far in keeping you positive and giving you the right attitude
to solve your problems (i.e., overcome your challenges).

First of all, you must believe that the challenge can be overcome. Then you need to believe that you CAN overcome it. Sometimes it’s just a matter of letting it “stew” for a while until a solution presents itself.

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/bipolarnews775/

Man who beheaded mom in 2003 gets transfer from Elgin mental hospital
DO> Do you think his bipolar was responsible for what he did?

Scientists discover molecular link between psychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes
DO> This study makes an important discovery.

NICE critique: a call for more research, not an excuse for less treatment
DO> This paper makes some important points.

Younger Smokers More Likely to Suffer Psychiatric Comorbidities
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

Treatment provides new options for inmates
DO> This could be a viable option for those coming through this system.

Demonstrators demand justice 1 year after death of Fairfax jail inmate
DO> Do you think the deputies acted lawfully?

Child abuse produces damaging effects in bipolar patients
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews775/

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/bipolarnews774/

Gene Linked To Autism Lays Foundations For Healthy Brain
DO> This study revealed some interesting insights.

Study Erred In Finding No Link Between Teen Pot Use And Psychosis
DO> This information makes things clearer.

Scientists discover genes change the way people respond to the bipolar drug lithium
DO> This research is important if your loved one is on this medication.

Changing relationships between smoking and psychiatric disorders across twentieth century birth …
DO> This study makes an important point.

Mental Disorders Increasing for Younger Smokers
DO> Interesting study, don’t you agree?

More young people developing undiagnosed bipolar disorder
DO> Important study, don’t you think?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews774/

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

Your Friend,

Dave

Gosh Darn It!

Hi,

A friend was telling me about her 2 year old granddaughter the other day. She told me about what happened the last time she visited her. It totally cracked me up! So I thought I’d share it with you. Maybe it’ll put a smile on your face.

She was watching her granddaughter playing, and her granddaughter tipped over a box of balls,
and says, “gosh darn it!” Then she started coloring (she can’t really color yet, but she does kind of draw circles). But she broke the crayon! Again, she said, “gosh darn it!”

So she started playing with something else. And she played for a while, but then she took a
break. And she went to take a drink of her juice that was on the table. But she accidentally knocked her cup off the table, spilling the juice. So what did she say? You guessed it! “Gosh darn it!”

My friend was telling me this, and I thought it was hilarious, because I could totally picture this,
coming out of a 2 year old’s mouth! I mean, she probably heard the phrase from her mom, but for a 2 year old to say it, how cute!

Well, accidents do happen. And people do make mistakes. But what do you do when your loved one makes mistakes? I’m sure a “gosh darn it” does NOT cut it in their case, does it?

When a person is in a bipolar episode, they can say and do things they are not totally aware of.
I know that idea can be hard to grasp, especially for you, the supporter.

But it can be hard to understand that it is not your loved one’s fault when they do things in a bipolar episode that really aren’t their fault.

For example: Say your loved one is in a bipolar manic episode. And they are approached for a business venture. Well, normally they would thoroughly check out the business venture to make sure it is a sound investment.

Unfortunately, one of the characteristics of a manic episode is impulsivity. So in a manic episode, your loved one wouldn’t necessarily take those precautions.

So he invests all your savings. All of it! And it turns out the investment is a poor one. And you lose ALL your savings!

It was a mistake. So is it your loved one’s fault? You might feel like it is. You might really want to blame him. But it is really the fault of the bipolar disorder. Because he was in a bipolar episode when he made the investment. So he wasn’t really thinking rationally.

So what do you do? The thing is, you need to forgive him. Yep. You need to forgive him.

Sometimes bipolar disorder gets the best of us. And it’s not your loved one’s fault if they do
something because they are in an episode.

Now, in this example, I’m saying you forgive, but I’m not saying that you forget, because you
need to remember and to make sure it cannot happen again by making sure he cannot get to the savings in the future.

You can forgive your loved one without forgiving the act. They are two separate things.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave

Always Have a Plan B

Hi,

Do you know what Murphy’s Law is? “If anything can go wrong, it will.” But I’ve also heard it said: “If anything can go wrong it will, and it will at the worst possible time.” LOL Isn’t that the truth?

It’s like when you have an important appointment and it’s crucial to be on time, but you get a flat tire on the way to the appointment. Or what about the bridegroom who partied so much the night before that he was late for his own wedding!

Or what about the Smiths, who had planned a 10th anniversary cruise for a year and got all the way to the cruise ship before realizing they forgot their tickets!

Or what about the single mom who took off work to take her young son to the beach, only to wake up to him covered with poison ivy from “exploring” in the woods the day before!

Or what about the family who planned a big Thanksgiving dinner get together, only to have to cancel it because of a HUGE snowstorm!

We’ve all made plans only to have to cancel them at the last minute because something comes up. But when you’re dealing with bipolar disorder, you should always have a Plan B. You need to be prepared for when things don’t go as planned.

Because when you’re dealing with a loved one with bipolar disorder, something can happen at the last minute.

You can make plans to go somewhere, but then your loved one has an anxiety attack, and you have to cancel your plans. So you should always have a Plan B.

Here’s what I mean: John and Linda were getting married. Linda has bipolar disorder, which they were watching closely because of all the excitement and stress of the wedding.

She held up pretty well all through the wedding and reception, but…When they got to the airport for their flight to the connecting city for their honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas and were turned away because they were FIVE minutes too late for boarding…

Well…Linda just lost it. She started crying hysterically. John didn’t know what to do, and he was afraid Linda was going to go into a bipolar episode.

But he thought about it, and came up with an idea. They could stay overnight in a motel, and drive down to the connecting city in the morning, so they could still make their cruise!

So that’s what they did, and they still had a wonderful,
spontaneous honeymoon.

—————————————————————————————————————-

You see how important a Plan B can be? It can sometimes mean the difference between an
episode and the avoidance of one.

If you’re planning to go to a gathering with your loved one, like to an event for your job, and your loved one is nervous about going, you can work out something in advance that will help
you with a Plan B.

Have a signal or a code word that you can do or say that will mean your loved one is asking to leave early, and then you can do something else instead, something just the two of you.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave