Hi,
How are you today?
You know, things are getting really bad all over.
You know I’m not a negative person.
In fact, I’m one of the most positive people I know.
But I also have to be realistic.
And realistically…
The economy is really bad.
We are in such a bad recession, and some people are still trying to pretend it isn’t there.
Others are being so devastated by it.
That’s the majority of people –
Those who are losing their homes and cars…
And the many, many people who are losing their jobs.
So many people really can blame their problems on the economy.
But if you have problems because of bipolar disorder, can you really blame those on the economy as well?
Well, let’s take a look at that.
Ok, if your loved one with bipolar disorder was working at a job and lost their job because of the recession, then maybe you could blame the economy for that.
Then your finances could suffer, and that would be related to the economy instead of the bipolar disorder.
However, if your loved one is suffering because they’re not taking their medication, that has nothing to do with the economy.
That has everything to do with your loved one and their choices.
The responsibility for good choices, especially when it comes to medications, belongs to
your loved one.
The responsibility isn’t even yours!
I know you want to be a good supporter, and you definitely want your loved one to take their medication, but you can’t make them do it if they don’t want to.
Have you ever heard the expression, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink”?
Well, I’ve heard it said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink…but you CAN make things salty so that they’ll WANT to drink!”
The way you can apply that to your situation is that your “salt” could be encouraging your loved one to take their medication, or offer suggestions, or even show them the statistics on what happens when people with bipolar disorder don’t take their medication, etc.
Then, hopefully, they will WANT to take their medication.
In my courses/systems, I offer suggestions on how you can get your loved one to take their medication, because so many supporters have told me that this is such a problem for them.
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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Let’s look at another bipolar problem that gets blamed on the economy.
Say that your loved one gets depressed.
Yes, some people are getting depressed because of the economy, I’ll grant you that.
And there are some things about today’s economy that are enough to be depressed over!
But because your loved one has bipolar disorder, they are prone to mood swings.
It’s just part of their illness.
And one of those mood swings is depression.
Maybe the recession is just a trigger to their depression.
But the economy (the recession) cannot be blamed for their bipolar disorder or, more pecifically, their bipolar depression.
Their depression is part of their disorder, not part of the economy.
See the difference?
Now, some people are angry about the state of our economy.
And people have a right to be. I get angry about it sometimes, too.
I wish things were better, as I’m sure you do, too.
But you don’t have to have bipolar disorder to be angry.
There are many people without the disorder who get angry about the economy.
If your loved one is angry about the economy, you can’t necessarily jump to conclusions and say
that is part of their bipolar disorder.
However, anger can be a symptom of bipolar disorder.
So if other symptoms of the disorder are present, your loved one may be in a bipolar episode,
and may need help.
But if it is anger by itself and part of their bipolar
disorder, you just can’t blame that on the economy.
Are you blaming your loved one’s disorder on the economy?
Are you blaming your problems on the economy?
What can you do to improve your situation in spite of the economy?
What have you done to improve it?
Post responses below
Dear Dave
Thanks for the articles that are very informative. You wont believe it I have been forwarding all your articles to my sis who has bipolar disorder and she now takes her medication regularly because she has realised her problem is shared by others elsewhere in the world. thumbs up for you Dave. I just wanted to ask you a question, I broke up with my boyfriend four years ago and at the time I had a baby who is now four years old. I delivered by ceaserian section and ever since the delivery which occured under general anesthesia, I have always had brief episodes of forgetfulness and depression episodes especially when I remember how my boyfriend abandoned me during pregnancy. Do you think this is part of bipolar disorder given a positive family history in my sister? I also get frequent epsiodes of headache esp when stressed yet i never used to get these headaches before this incident. Do you think the anesthetic drugs I was given could have triggered these problems?
I’m in the worst state I’ve been in for 7 years. Yes, it’s my STRESS about the ECONOMY that put me in a “mixed episode,” where I’m “high” one minute, and “down” the next, and my shrink has tweaked my meds to try and take care of the situation.
Have you heard the old slogan: “I owe, I owe – it’s off to work I go?” Well, not being ABLE to work, I rely ONLY on a fixed income, that doesn’t BEGIN to cover my bills. I AM proactive when it comes to calling my debtors and figuring out a solution. But it just seems that for 4 steps forward, 3 back. There’s NO way I can catch up.
Today, for instance, I stayed in bed until 4:30 this afternoon, then got up and hurled. I’m dizzier than I’ve been in 3 weeks, and nauseous as well. I have an appointment with an ENT DR tomorrow at 8:30AM, and I have to pull an all-nighter to be able to be UP at that time. I am NOT a morning person, so will just rest for the remainder of the day. Even typing this is difficult, as the white of the screen irritates my eyes and gives me a headache.
I agree you can’t blame your “bipolar reactions” on the economy, but be realistic; SOME of the problems with the economy CAN affect those of us with bipolar. My biggest trigger is – STRESS. And the more I have, the worse off I get. Only through the capitalist, free enterprise system, can our country get back on its’ feet. And – I don’t trust our President to go that route. So…it’s just “sit and wait” until this whole thing plays out.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Most people tend to blame their country’s government for the recession, but the recession is worldwide. It’s fairly bad here in Ireland, too, though my work is doing quite well and I can’t complain at the moment. However, if it’s not one thing it’s usually another that gives me stress. I blame what I can on the weather or my hormones (lol). My relationship has been on hold for over a month and that is mainly to blame on my boyfriend’s bipolar disorder. He has been in a depressive episode for about 5 weeks now. I seem to be the only person who understand him. When he is feeling down he wants to be left alone and I give him space. Nobody else has any consideration. They turn up at his door unanounced at all hours with Their problems. I believe they are prolonging his depression because they are stressing him. I need his help sometimes and don’t like to ask him. I want him to come to see me because he wants to spend time with me, not because I have a job for him to do and he feels obliged to do it. His so-called friends always just impose themselves on him. He is helping everyone else and has no time left for me and tells me to give him space. He doesn’t tell the others, as they would ignore it anyway. I’m the only one who respects it. The “therapist” stirred things up as well and is still trying it on, stressing him. His psych told him he doesn’t need a therapist who adds to his stress. My boyfriend told the therapist that. But she does everything by the book and waits for her employers (the health authority) to tell her. Meanwhile I am feeling neglected and unwanted. Sometimes he doesn’t contact me for days. Then I send him a simple text like “How are you?” And he tells me he loves me. People who love each other see each other, go out together, do things together. We haven’t in ages. My friends don’t understand him and his bipolar anyway. When I talk to them, I get more confused. I have no idea how to answer a question like: “Are you still going out with…?” I love this man so much and have been through so much with him. I’m not sure how much more I can take of being alone all the time. Sorry to use the blog to vent about my personal relationship problems. Maybe someone here has had similar experiences.
SUZANNE, I fully understand how you feel about mornings. I’m the same. I make all my appointments later in the day. For some reason so many people are obsessed with mornings and ignore your preferences. That was one of the main reasons why my boyfriend didn’t get on with the therapist, wanting him to do projects in the mornings. Aren’t therapists supposed to listen to their clients? I think the reason why my work is doing well is because I do it in my own time. I have seen a few lovely sunrises recently. At that time I’m relaxed enough to go to sleep. Not considered normal by the general public I know, but what’s “normal” anyway?
Dave as ALL know Bi-Polar, the Disorder is ALL to do with the “Medication.
Entirely Iatrogenic, due to polypharmacy.
Correction: print this entry:
It is not just those with mental health disorders who become depressed and not want to take their medication. A person very close to me has cancer. She will not take her medication and has refused further treatment. I don’t know how to make ‘it saltier’ to lead her to the water. She states that the quality of her life is much more important than the QUANTITY of her life. I have been suffering with depression and I feel much the same way she does. Although I have tried all the medications and the professionals, I still don’t feel any quality left in my life, either. Cancer is a fatal disease and so is depression. My depression won’t kill me but I am likely to kill myself. It has gotten to the point where my own therapist won’t return my calls. I think he figures there is no point to my existance, either. He’s definitely not wasting his time on me. Sorry, Suzanne, to hear of your financial problems. Don’t feel bad…I am employed full time. A couple weeks ago, a law firm took every single cent out of my checking account without notice. All of my checks bounced and I had over $600 in bank fees. In addition, the lawyers are now garnishing 25% of my wages. So, consider yourself luckier than me.