Hi,
Have you ever thought about how things were in the beginning when your loved one was first diagnosed compared to how things are now?
I know how frustrating things can be sometimes, because I’m a supporter, too, but…
Sometimes it helps to think back to how helpless you felt back before your loved one was diagnosed and before you had any information on bipolar disorder to begin with.
Then think of how much you’ve learned since then, and how much your loved one has, hopefully, also learned since then about how to manage his/her bipolar disorder.
But think about it – In the beginning, you knew nothing about the disorder. All you knew was that your loved one just wasn’t “normal,” just wasn’t “themselves.” But now you know so much more, don’t you? Hopefully, you’ve done some research, gotten educated, read my material, and
at least I know you’ve been learning from these emails. Educating yourself is the main thing,
as I teach in my emails.
You have to learn as much as you can about the disorder in order to help your loved one. It’s like you have this enemy that you’re fighting, and the enemy isn’t your loved one, it’s bipolar disorder.
In any war, they tell you to know your enemy. In order to know your enemy, you have to know as much about your enemy as you can.
So I encourage you, keep learning. Keep studying. Keep reading. Keep researching. Never stop growing in knowledge, for the more you know, the better equipped you are to deal with the disorder and your loved one.
• Keep researching on the Internet
• Order BP Magazine or read it online
• Read books about it
• Visit your local library
• Research online articles or at your
Library periodicals section
• Go to your loved one’s bipolar
support group for f.ree literature
• Ask your loved one’s doctor for
f.ree pamphlets
Keep learning as much about bipolar disorder as you can…so you can stay in control of it instead of it in control of you and your loved one. Remember, knowledge is power! And that knowledge empowers you in the fight against bipolar disorder.
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
Thank you David for all your support i could never have got through it without you. love you lots and wish i could meet you xxxx
Your email today was soooo right. I know so much more now than I did about my sons bipolar. When it first raised its ugly head was 1994.
Your daily news letter has been a huge help. I look forward to them each day. Keep them coming!!
Sincerely,
Alice B
LIFE IS THE LESSON – YOU NEVER STOP – YOU JUST FALL IN LOVE WITH THE RIGHT TEACHER — THE ONE THAT REMINDS YOU TO LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH — WHILE AWAITING THE PERFECT SITUATION!!!!
GLORY DAYS ARE HEAR AGAIN AND MY ENVIRONMENT IS ACTUALLY BIPOLAR FREE!!!!!
Hi Dave, your information has helped me a great deal..thank you so much. regards Brenda.
35 years ago the world knew very little about this manic/depression world. As the advertising people say “you have come along way”. The good news is the progress has been good. The bad news is the Medical support process is still very fragmented, not well trained and still not really on top of it like you are Dave. Keep up the good work.
I just want to thank you for all of your emails. You are like some kind of human angel – the right message at just the right time. There are times that I just want to throw in the towel, and then you post something about patience and tolerance, and how it is not the fault of the person I am supporting. I keep forgetting that and you keep me hanging in there. Right where I am supposed to be.
to quote you…….
You have to learn as much as you can about the disorder in order to help your loved one.
“It’s like you have this enemy that you’re fighting, and the enemy isn’t your loved one”, it’s bipolar disorder. In any war, they tell you to know your enemy. in order to know your enemy, you have to know as much about your enemy as you can. So I encourage you, keep learning. Keep studying. Keep reading. Keep researching
to quote you you described “DISORDER” AS THE ENEMY NOT YOUR LOVED ONE- WE BOTH TOUCH AND AREE THAT THE ENEMY ISN’T A LOVED ONE (NOT BY A FAR STRETCH, IT IS THE DISORDER THOUGH) WHATEVER IT MAY BE – I HAVE A PROVERB THAT I SUBSCRIBE TO THAT PREVENTS ALOT OF FRUSTRATION:
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. -taken from the GOOD BOOK
I ALWAYS BELIEVE THE END IS THE “BEST” THAT’S YET TO BE SEEN! SO STAY TUNED AND DEFINITELY BE PATIENT – YOU ARE RIGHT — WHAT YOU LEARN DOES COME BACK TO BENEFIT YOU – SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME TO SEE THE ‘FRUITAGE’ 3 MONTHS, 2 YEARS, 10 YEARS BUT YOU WILL SEE HOW YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONE HAS BEEN TRULY BENEFITED.
(THIS IS WHAT MY FRIEND’S BIG BROTHER IMPARTED INTO HER LIFE LATELY) AND I MUST ADMIT, I LOVE WHAT IT’S ACCOMPLISHING IN HER PERSONAL LIFE IN PARTICULAR – she has her eyes on the right prize!