Hi,
I’m sure you’ve read about people who have started off with not much in life, or had really bad starts in life, but rose above their bad backgrounds to become successful in spite of them? Well, it’s like the same thing can happen with bipolar disorder. Or, at least, specifically, getting the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
How come one person can get the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and never seem to rise above
it…Learning how to manage it…Becoming stable…Becoming high-functioning…Becoming productive…Becoming happy…Becoming successful.
While another person with the same diagnosis of bipolar disorder never seems to rise above it…Never learning how to manage it…Going from episode to episode…Never becoming high functioning…Never becoming stable…Never becoming productive…Never becoming happy…Never becoming successful.
What’s the difference?
See…First you get the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and then you have to ask yourselves: Where do we go from here? And then it’s basically up to you and your loved one. They can choose to be in denial, for one thing. And that will cause them to fail at stability. In other words…They can deny that they even have bipolar disorder. They can say that the doctor/psychiatrist is wrong about them.
Or they might take the medication until they feel better, and then believe that they’re “cured…” And then want to stop their medication. That’s a form of denial, too. A very dangerous form. Because if they stop their medication, they’ll go into a bipolar episode.
Maybe not right away, because the medication may stay in their system for a while, but it will happen. Because one of the things about bipolar disorder is that there is NO cure for it at the moment. (so even though they “feel better,” they are NOT cured). But there IS treatment. And treatment consists of medication and therapy.
But they need to stay on that medication so they continue to feel better and so that their mood swings are regulated and they stay out of bipolar episodes. Without that medication, that just isn’t going to happen.
And they will fail at their efforts at stability. Pure and simple. But the person who continues to take their medication and comply with treatment, WILL succeed at stability.
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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Hi- I have an adult relative with Bipolar and he had been on meds for a number of years until almost 2 years ago. He did seem to be functioning well but last fall he crashed and attempted suicide. He was hospitalized but shortly afterwards stopped taking his medication. He now sleeps most of the day and is on the computer most of the night. He has isolated himself, doesn’t work and feels that we as parents are to blame. My problem is that I cannot get him to seek any help because he denies that he ever was bipolar, and he won’t discuss medication or therapy. He is surley if confronted and won’t even communicate with siblings or any family members. We really dont know what to do!
dAVE,
TODAY I MET A MEDIUM WHO HAD A MESSAGE FOR ME FROM MY “ALLEGED” FRIEND WHO PASSED AWAY 5 YEARS AGO AND SHE HAD THE MOST OUTSTANDING MESSAGE FOR ME\
THE ANGEL’S SANG WHEN YOU WERE BORN AND YOU HAVE SO FOUND YOUR NICHE – HELPING THE HELPLESS OR THOSE AFFLICTED WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES (AHHHH, LOVELY YOUNG WOMEN WHO ANSWER TO THE NAME LEGION – MANY OF THEM)!!!!!!!
THE MEDIUM SAID “I STAND OUT AMONGST NOT JUST MEN BUT WOMEN AND CHILDREN TOO!!!! I WAS SO THRILLED TO DISCOVER HOW MUCH HEAVEN LOVES ME!!!
IT’S A GIRL, I KNEW HEAVEN WOULD LOVE “YOU”!!!!!!!!
My 23 year old son continues to go off his medication. After 3 years and many episodes I feel as though I am enabling him by providing food, shelter, etc. with no effort on his part to make it on his own. Any suggestions? He has not finished college and has been unable to keep a job.