Hi,
How’s it going?
You know I do a lot of reading about bipolar disorder, right?
I read everything I can get my hands on, all the time.
Because in order to keep you well-informed, I have to stay well-informed.
And also because I am still a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder myself.
And there is always new stuff coming out all the time.
Well, I read something in a brochure from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) called “Making the Journey to Recovery,” and I thought it was really interesting.
So I wanted to share it with you.
This excerpt from the brochure said:
“All of us are unique. What works for
one person may not work for another.
But one thing is true for everyone: The
more you know about your illness and
treatment choices, the more ready you’ll
be to make the decisions that are right
for you. You can control your illness and
your life. With the help of friends, family,
health professionals, and support groups,
you can recover.”
———————————————————–
I really liked what that brochure said, because too many times the information you read is negative.
It can even discourage you.
But this was very encouraging, I thought.
In my courses/systems, I always talk about recovery from bipolar disorder, that it is possible, and how to get there. I try to give people hope, and direction.
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:
That’s what I think this brochure did, too.
It raised some good points.
It’s especially important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another.
Because you may hear things like at a support group meeting, that you might want to take home with you, and that wouldn’t be the right thing to do.
For example, just because some person says that this one medication is great and did wonders for their loved one, doesn’t mean that it would work for your loved one.
Like the brochure says, everyone is unique.
You also can’t compare yourself to another supporter, because each of you are different as well.
Don’t try to be like someone else.
Just keep doing what works for your loved one and you.
I also like what the brochure said about the thing that is the same for everyone.
That the more you know about your illness and treatment choices, the more ready you’ll be to make the decisions that are right for you.
Notice it says, “…right for YOU.”
Because, remember again that everyone is different.
And you know I’m always stressing education.
That’s because I don’t think you could ever know everything about bipolar disorder.
There is new information coming out all the time.
And there are decisions you and your loved one both have to make in controlling and managing their bipolar disorder.
The more informed you are, like the brochure said, the better off you will be to make those decisions.
The best part of the brochure to me, though, is that it tells you that you CAN control your illness and your life.
Because that’s one of the main things I’m always saying about bipolar disorder – that it can be controlled. And that it doesn’t have to take over your life.
And, like the brochure ends: “…you can recover.”
I really like that part, because it reinforces what I tell you as well:
That recovery from bipolar disorder IS possible!
What do you think about what this brochure said?
Post responses below
I can’t support you enough on pointing out this reminder. The uniqueness of the individual should always be the first variable to identify and respect. I’m connecting with many wonderful people, but even with the experience I have with my own wife and how the disorder affects us on a daily basis, I learn more and more that the same disorder, with the same sub-types…the uniqueness of the individual changes everything. Thank you for sharing!
hi, Dave. People are different with their illness but being educated about it helps them manage their symptoms and lead a more fullfilling life. I’m still learning about my illness. Going to cbt therapy helped alot. Now i can talk to people without fearing criticizm. I go out shopping for groceries not having anxiety. The most important thing is to accept your illness. And think that you are not different but special. Because there is talent in everyone of us waiting to exhale. We just have to pray for it.
HI DAVIE BABE…..
How are you… I dont compare myself to anyone, an a dont think am like anyone…What brochures that you were reading dave….
Take Care Linda x
Hi Dave,
The thing I like about this brochure is that it emphisizes that we are all different. What works for me doesn’t work for my niece for example, or my sister. While it makes bipolar more difficult to treat than say diabetes, just requiring various amounts of insulin at various amounts of time intervals, we are all unique people, and that is what makes bipolar so different.
Did you know there are many kinds of cancer? Over 30 and that there are over 30 different ways to treat these cancers? Maybe not, not unless you have had cancer would you probably know that. Plus, cancer is seldom or not often felt before it is so far along that it is difficult to treat. Bipolar is kind of like that too. You can’t “Feel” bipolar, you can become manic or depressed but to the person who has bipolar, they don’t notice anything is “Wrong”!!! It feels “Normal” to us. That is why it is so difficult for people, like me and my niece and sister to understand we need medication to treat it. Once I got a combination of medication that made me feel better, there was no going back to not taking it. But until we feel “relief” from taking meds, it can be hard to understand why we need them. Just like the cancer that can grow fatal while we feel “Nothing”. Bipolar disorder doesn’t slap you and say “Hey You have Bipolar Disorder!! You Need to take Medication!” We have to find this out by research and reading, on the internet, library, asking psychiatrists other people with bipolar, or other supporters/support groups what they have found out about bipolar to know. And yes we CAN RECOVER!!! I have been stable 5 years now, and though I am not 100% episode free, I am 90% episode free! I can’t promise this for everyone, but working with my dr and doing my own research has paid off. That and a lot of talk therapy : )
So keep up the good fight, the victory is well worth it. I’m not giving up on my sister and niece, one day they will stabilize and will probably wonder what took them so long to see the light!
Your Buddy,
Bob
It’s precisely because I read about other people with bipolar disorder, that I found out I WASN’T unique, at least in the world of “bipolar.” That opened my eyes and allowed me to believe others were dealing with the same thing I was having to deal with. Especially because I found others who had the SAME delusions and behavior problems, it made it easier for me to relate and understand my illness.
I began reading everything I could get my hands on, from my initial diagnosis of “manic depression,” to the final diagnosis of “bipolar disorder.” And I must say here – in particular – that Dave’s BipolarCentral site educated me in many ways. Reading the blogs posted by others with bipolar, I was able to see where I was part of a “group,” if you will, of people with the same hardships and problems that I was experiencing.
I know this kind of negates Dave’s article today – that we are all “unique,” but we carry some of the same “symptoms” as others with bipolar. And if it’s possible for me to be a “recovering bipolar” since 1977, then others can do it, too!! Just keep following a treatment plan and DON’T deviate from your normal routine, and I just bet you will be able to “control” YOUR bipolar.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Hi there Dave,
until I had read your blog Dave everyone ( and this includes the very pyschiatrists and nurses who looked after Rachel when she was in a major episode) believed she would never stabilize.your blog was the only one( I saw at the time) that gave any hope to those with BP and their supporters.I grabbed hold of that hope like a survivor to a flotation belt.
Rachel has been stable now for 6 months I am so proud of her. It has been her fight and her victory for every day of the 6 months she has been home with us.
You are right Dave, the more informed we supporters are the better support we caqn be .
thank you for your emails they continue to inform, enlighten and promote insight
Regards
Shona
my son was diagnosed to be bipolar borderline personality. i’m a nurse but i could not believe the diagnosis to be true. my son is aware if ever he becomes violent , he’s ashame to go out for he knew that he had done wrong. i thought , a bipolar person is not aware if he is into episode. what the truth behind this?
Bob-a-survivor, you are right…cancer is not usually found until it is untreatable. But, there are many different types of drugs to ‘treat’ it. My mom has stage IV cancer. The oncologist says it will always be stage IV cancer. There are drugs to prolong her life, but there is no cure. Her life, however long, will not be great if she does not treat it, yet if she does not go through treatment, the doctor says the remainder of her life will be unbearable.
I think that mental health disorders are much like cancer. If we don’t treat it, our lives are unbearable. But, even with treatment, it is not easy. The medication we take is not without many undesireable side effects and it is nearly impossible to find the effective drug combination. It is difficult to find good health care professionals to help us. We continually battle for people to understand what we are going through and give us their support.
When I am severly depressed and needing someone to care, my family has hurt me. They don’t understand and they don’t want to be involved. Now that my mom (their sister) is in the biggest battle for her life, they are arguing amongst themselves how much time it is going to take away from their busy social schedules for radiation appointments. They are worried about how much money we may ask them for to help care for my mom. I have been begging for six months for their help. I am tired of fighting. It is just a losing battle.
I read your e-mails daily, but I do not have anyone to support me. How do I explain to someone to be a supporter for me? I am in a very involved episode. I work, but find it hard to keep going. It is suggested that I retire. My job is the only thing that keeps me going. I am 64 years old and hoped to go to I am 66 to get full benefits. I have not purchased materials which seems to be for supporters. Is there information for the person with bipolar disease?
Hello Dave, I want to say that first I like the artical and its true that medications don’t work the same way for everyone and the same is true for people that have bipolar disorder as a stage 1 all those with stage 1 will not act the same way in an episode now for all the people that have bipolar disorder and are trying to help another person with bipolar or cancer or any illness that is taking its toll on them and you I would like all who reads this to give a minute of their time and pray for them and also the lady with cancer and the one caring for her. I also have biplar disorder stage1 and I have 3 sons who suffer with bipolar disorder. I am doing all that I can to help them I am disabled and I am trying to get as much of Daves reports that he puts out to help them but I don’t have anyone to help support me emotionaly my husband was diagnosed as a spectoral bipolar I’ve never heard of that and he ignore my problems as much as posible if my meds are close to running out its always we gotta get them before you run out cause I don’t want to have to deal with you when you run out always makes me feel like I’m just nothing but a burdon that I know he’s tired of as he’s stated so many times anyway there is one other thing that I wanted to say that the site womentowomen.com has alot of info about chemical imbalances and hormone imbalences cause a lot of the problems that people with bipolar disorder and it maybe adding to the symtomes. And they also have information regarding that with natural herbs and natural hormones we can become gentley eased back to a balanced body chemicaly and hormonal which would help all the women that have bipolar disorder maybe not be as bad along with the doc that gives us ouur meds for our disorder and the people at women towomen they can help us become a lot more healthy naturaly and it could help a lot with cutting down on pain that some of us may have and less other meds that are not good for us while we may have to cont taking our meds for bipolar we should still try to get as healthy as we can in other areas to. GOD BLESS ALL
of those who suffer with this disorder and to Dave for all your kindness and hard work to help us live again may be one day I will be able to as well. Sandra
I have been recieving mail from you for sometime now and every email has been such a help. I told you in my email, that my husband was Bipolar,Scheiz,and dementure, it’s been every hard for him, the Dr change his meds and his is during better.He is gaining stabablity. There is Hope. Pray plays a major part to his stabalsity the family is with him all the way,we have been married for 46 years and over the years we knew something was wrong, it was in 1976, that he had hs first breakdown, the Dr didn’t realize at the time it was Bipolar.I thank God for the news about ths illness is out now,it was tearing us apart as a family, we all love each other but we didn’tknow what to do with my husband problem, there have been many time I wantn’t out of the marrage, but i loved him and wanted my marrage to work, this has been the hardest thing to gain help with, Davie I thank for all you help. you are truly a gift from God. Looking Forward to hearing from you.
Sally Stanley=sallyrags@comcast.net
I have been an avid reader of your course. However I am at this point very discouraged. Yesterday I had a problem with my loved one who has bi-polar disorder. He is very angry at me, and though I know that this is the bi-polar disorder which has blown things out of proportion, I am not sure I can forgive and especially forget the things he said to me. I don’t know what to do at this point.
I Love him but I am deeply hurt.When I met him a year and a half ago I decided to love one more try. He literally saved my life at that time,but the side I saw of him last night was so shocking and hurtful. He claims he feels the same way but I did nothing wrong…
He asked me to give him time to think and calm down, so I guess I have to leave him alone…