Bipolar? Are You Like the Hare?

Hi,

How’s it going?

Do you remember the old fable about the tortoise and the hare?

Some say that’s where we get the expression, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

But I was thinking about the hare in that story.

He started out of the gate real quick, but then he just didn’t follow through.

So I want to ask you:

Whatever you’re doing, can you do it long-term?

Because those people who are like the hare, can’t.

Or for whatever reason, they just don’t.

Maybe they get discouraged.

Maybe they feel like it’s too hard for them.

Maybe they can’t deal with the inevitable setbacks.

Maybe their negative feelings take over.

There could be many reasons why people with bipolar disorder don’t “slow and steady win the race.”

You start out at the gate with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Then you’re told you have to be on medication for it, and that you have to be on that medication for the rest of your life.

And that’s hard for some people to take.

But then they do take the medication, and it makes them feel better.

Unfortunately, some people, when they start to feel better, they “drop out of the race,” and don’t want to take their medication any more, not realizing that it’s the medication that is making

them feel so good.

And when someone with bipolar disorder goes off their medication, there is sure to be an episode as a result.

Then they’re right back to the beginning of the race.

Some people start an exercise program, and they start out quick from the shoot, but then they eventually stop exercising.

Others start a diet and do really great in the beginning but then don’t keep up with it.

Some go to all their doctors, psychiatrists, and therapist appointments all the time at first, but then drop off.

You can’t go from bad (worst) to good (great) in one leap.

Because some things take time, and being steady over that time.

And you may not see the results at first – like a diet.

But if you stick with it, you will see the results.

Bipolar disorder does mean a change in lifestyle, to be sure.

But you have to maintain that lifestyle change over a period of time in order to recover, like I talk about in my courses/systems.

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?

Visit:

http://www.survivebipolar.net

Like they say with some things, “They didn’t get this way overnight, and they’re not going to change overnight.”

The problem is that we live in a “right now” kind of society.

Fast food restaurants.

TV dinners.

Credit cards.

People are used to getting things quickly.

But stability isn’t something that can be gotten quickly.

Yes, you have to do some things that you don’t want to do.

But it’s kind of like putting something on layaway at Christmas time, then making payments on it, until you eventually get it.

You do that because whatever you’re buying is worth it to you – is worth the wait to get it.

Well, stability is like that.

Everything positive you do to get it, every “payment” you make towards recovery is worth the wait.

You just have to keep doing what works.

And you need to do it over the long haul, steadily.

Because slow and steady, in this case, really does win the race.

And don’t you think it’s worth it?

  1. I agree with you to an extent……some people don’t quit/give up by choice. My fiance takes his medication and does very well when he’s able to take it…
    These medications that are needed are VERY expensive and when the company you work for does not provide insurance and you’re barely making enough money to get by in these times it becomes VERY difficult to afford to renew your perscription. We have been fortunate that he is able to continue taking his medication but I feel for those out there that are in similar situations and CAN NOT afford to spend hundreds of dollars a month to take the medication that is so needed.
    And please don’t say they are “places” out there that can help……because thats BS….it took us almost 9 months just to find a doctor that would perscribe the medication that he needed…that was 9 months of pure hell because during that time the medication his current doctor was giving him wasn’t doing any good! Long story short, if you don’t have the money there aren’t places out there that will help…. it’s just a line the goverment and so many others like to keep feeding the people.

  2. Dear Dave,
    its so true “Slow and Steady wins the race.”
    My daughter has had BP for 9 years ( probably more only we didn’t know about it). It took a avery severe episode and resulting hospitalisation for us all to realise that what she had(BP) was a potential killer.
    So much of what you write about does relate to my daughter – She was always enthusiastic at the beginning of a task but she could never stick it.I just use to think she was lazy or couldn’t be bothered.
    The biggest thing she walked away from was medicine.
    It was only when Rachel was diagnosed with BP that it dawned on me that BP adds an huge unbearable additional weight of self doubt and negative self talk to a persons endeavours that it was a battle Rachel was bound to lose.Rachel would always complain bitterly about her lot as a medical student and she would actively put things in the way of her future success in order to fail she reckoned it took too long and that the studying would never end so why bother. The actual loss of her dream ( to become a doctor) was a terrible blow for Rachel it brought her to her knees.
    and when I think back to the time Rachel was a child growing up this aspect ( of setting oneself up for failure) was part of her modus operandi.If the task took more than a minute of her time she didn’t want to know.
    She now is back up on her feet she has taken 2 years and a lot of self will power and courage and sheer bloodymindedness to get herself back up,she has learn’t about baby steps little steps ,my daughter has a huge well of knowledge and brainyness, she has begun to understand that good things will take a while and lots of hard work to get there, for now everything Rachel is doing is always quietly thought through without the rose tinted glasses she use to have on.Somedays iut can be really hard and she has to have enormous amounts of willpower just to get out of bed
    I thank yhou Dave for brining up the topics that you do- these (topics ) serve to give me pause for thought … thank you
    Regards
    Shona

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