Hi,
How’s it going?
I hope you’re having a good day today.
You know we’re in a recession.
Everyone knows we’re in a recession.
But there are some people that blame everything on the recession.
Whatever goes wrong in their life, they complain that it’s because of the recession.
Basically, these are people who would complain anyway, recession or not.
They blame all their problems on something else.
They have a bad attitude.
A doom and gloom approach.
A negative approach to life in general, and their problems in particular.
And if you try to encourage them or give them advice, they may even turn on you!
These people continually have problems, because they don’t have active solutions.
They just complain, but don’t do anything about their situation.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
YOU choose your attitude.
YOU choose your approach to life and your problems.
YOU choose how you handle things that come against you.
In my courses/systems, I call this being proactive.
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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If you determine that you aren’t going to let bipolar disorder run your life, it won’t.
If you choose to have a positive attitude, you will.
If you decide that you are going to take control of the disorder instead of letting it take control of you, you will.
It’s all in your attitude, and in being proactive.
See, some people just react to everything that happens to them.
Those are the type of people I was talking about earlier.
There’s a saying:
“Life is 1% what happens to
you and 99% your reaction to
it.”
These people react in a negative way.
You need to be different.
You need to react to life and the things that come against you in a positive way.
I’m not saying that you won’t have any problems (everyone has problems), but a positive attitude
will help you to solve them.
Being proactive with bipolar disorder is “taking the bull by its horns,” and taking control of it.
You take the approach that you can manage the disorder.
You look at the different things you can do to accomplish that.
You look at all your choices.
You make good choices.
And you make good decisions, because you have looked at all sides of it.
If you are a supporter, being proactive with your loved one’s bipolar disorder means that you
are alert for any signs and symptoms of an episode and prevent it from ever getting started.
And being proactive in your life means that you are in control of it.
Do you agree with me?
How do you approach your or your loved one’s bipolar disorder and your life?
Post responses below
I disagree:
“Life is 1% what happens to
you and 99% your reaction to
it.”
I have no control over what happens to me. I feel as though I am a passenger on an airplane, at 33,000 feet, heading nose down, ready to crash in eight minutes.
Question—Is an anxiety attack part of being bipolar??
For almost 2 1/2 years things have been going great. No setbacks. Med taken religiously with no problems at all, as before. But last night, a totally insignificant subject, after reminiscing about a food store that I remembered being in the old neighborhood, my husband snapped back at me that I was imagining it, he didn’t remember it so it couldn’t have been there. It was said in a quite condescending way. Completely out of his normal personality. It sent shock waves through my body all at once. This was exactly how the other episode began – He realized I became very upset and said I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Completely avoiding any feeling I had. Today, he is his old self again, always caring and loving. I am on the alert and watchfull an episode does not happen again like the last one. I just read Dave’s message of how you have to remain control as the provider, but it just kind of through me at the time. I wonder if this is the usual way a manic person carries on. Do they ordinarily have these minute moments in between phases or do I have to be on the lookout for a forthcoming manic episode and the pattern will esculate further or just come and go?
To Tried them all and Failed:
I see you have changed your name to reflect even more negativity in your outlook.
You are wrong, you DO have control over YOUR reaction of what happens to you.
S…t happens, but you do control your reaction to it.
I am sorry your point of view is so negative. Myself and several others have reached out to you in the past, to no avail. It seems you do not want help…you reject every idea or helpful advice we have given you. It seems like you are dwelling on failure and negativity. I can only conclude that you must be on incorrect medication (still)…and hope you keep on bugging the doc’s to get you on the correct med’s so you won’t feel so bad. My heart aches for you, but I realize I cannot help you because you will not listen.
Dee Dee,
Gee…thanks…I suppose it is the meds that have failed me. I have tried and failed at every overdose attempt. I have not yet given up though.
Why is it that when you’re really down and you can’t find your way up from the gutter that others say that you ‘can’t be help or refuse help?’ Ironic, isn’t it?
To tried them all and failed:
If you have failed at every overdose attempt, then there must be some small part of you deep inside that still wants to live! Overdoses of psychiatric medications are unlikely to kill you. Jumping off a bridge will. But since you continually try to overdose on medications, it makes me think you don’t really want to die. I certainly hope not. If you have hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up…
To tried them all and failed:
Hello! My name is Sherie, and i am a bipolar supporter. My boyfriend of 15 months has severe bipolar, and an anger disorder. To top it off he also has MS. Of course the whole thing pisses him off, and he has every right to be upset at what life has dealt him. He is a young man of 36, has lost his ability to work, and has little desire to socialize.
When i met him he was not on any medication and hardly ever slept. (manic high for months) he was being evicted from his tiny apartment because his air conditioner needed fixed and he told his landlord he was “holding the rent ransom” This may seem totally irrational to a person that does not suffer from bipolar, however, his thought process without meds. is rarely labeled “rational”. In his mind, he had every right to withold rent because he was paying for services that he wasn’t receiving.
Of course, when i learned of the situation, i jumped right in and tried to help out. Giving rational ideas on how to get what he wanted, yet keep his apartment. His non chalant attitude, was very upsetting. I didn’t understand…..I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND. the key words to supporters of bipolar victims.
Jumping forward, 15 months later…I have learned so much in the last year. I work every day with the mentally ill. (I am a psych nurse) but that only gives you little glimpses of people and what they face on a daily basis.They share what they want to share, you order up what seems appropriate, and they are off! WHAT CRAP!
To see, feel and share the anxiety and stress of mental and emotional disorders that our victims have to live with on a daily basis is incredible. I am the closest i will become to understanding the disease without having it myself.
I have watched a man that was dealt an awful hand in life, as he was drowning in the consequences of his chosen negativity-turn into an amazing guy with desires to be a part of a family. Who now shows sensitivity to me and my children, and is learning how to deal with life’s daily stressors. He has opened his mind and put forth the incredible effort to overcome his illness. He has entrusted himself to me and our relationship. For him, thats what makes it worth the work.
I am sharing this with you so that you might get a glimmer of hope and realize that you are not alone in this world. There are people that can and will take your hand through your journey to better yourself.There is a positive light at the end of the tunnel. No, not hunkey dorey crap in the movies. It takes a lot of hard work, and you may never get to where you think you should be in life. However, through learning and loving yourself you may find the person that you desire to BECOME, introduce themselves in your mirror.if you need a friend, i am offering.
Sherie,
Thanks for your offer. I am so happy for you and your 15-month relationship with your boyfriend, whom you have helped. But, really, there is there is no hope. I am just waiting out ‘my time.’
To Jane,
yes, anxiety can play apart in bipolar. in fact, most people i work with that live with bipolar experience some sort of anxiety also. It is usally diagnosed as a seperate disorder, but often times accompanies the bipolar.Anxiety can stem from many things and many times leads to or expresses itself as aggitation. I would have to say that a long acting, non narcotic medication is usually the way to go if it is a consistant problem in your life. (more than once daily) ask your doctor.
An actual”panic attack” can mean other things are going on,and you should find out from your psychiatrist what that entails for you.
Hope this helped a little. Sherie
To tried em all…
If i may ask, what is so terrible about your life, that you feel like you have to wait it out? Life is passing you by. We are all here for similar reasons. If in fact you truly thought that there were no hope for you- you would not visit this thread, or even try to socialize through this site! i am saddened that you are at the lowest of lows in your life.I was under the impression that you crave to be well.That deep within your heart, you have an inkling of hopes and dreams. I think you do! You have not totally given up, and i refuse to let you believe that you have! i do not know you, or anything about you, but as a human being in pain, i have compassion for your soul. I can just be here to listen, or participate in your quest for happiness. it all begins with you. You have to allow people to take your hand, or you shall not get anywhere. I will await your response.
Sherie,
Yes, I am at the ‘lows of lows.’ No, you don’t know my story. Yes, maybe I am here to ‘socialize’ as you say. I am alone, here, at my computer, wishing I had a loaded gun. Would you take my hand and help me point it to my head?
tried them all,
Why must you be hateful to a complete stranger that not only took interest in your well being, but you as a person? Now you mock me? I could be ridiculous, and condesending, but I choose not too. Life is a choice, you have made yours. You made the statement above that it was “ironic” that people accuse you of not wanting help, or refusing help. Isn’t that what you are so blatently doing? I am confused at what you are really looking for? I thought everybody here was looking for help, or a venting station, or to share stories. Guess i was wrong. I am sorry for intruding on your misery. it is clear to me that what you DON’T want is a friend. Sorry for the confusion. I will not bother you anymore.
Sherie,
Thank you. I plan to go out in style. Wish me luck, not friendship.
I am in need of some direction or advice. I love my wife to pieces, however I believe she has BP and it has me at the end of my rope. A co-worker of mine has a wife that was diagnosed with BP and when I talked to him he said it sounded similar. He suggested that I do some research on it and that is how I came to this Blog.
Our story began when we first got together about 9 years ago. I noticed that my wife was having what I figured were Anxiety attacks; where she was having problems with getting a good deep breath and feeling nervous. She finally settled down somewhat and the attacks became less frequent. Then entered the “Evil Twin”, this person would get angry at the drop of a hat for nonsensical issues or non existent issues. Her mood swings could change in the blink of an eye…one minute happy and laughing, the next minute she would be totally pissed over the smallest thing. I explained to her that this was not normal behavior and these symptoms indicated that she might be suffering from depression. I finally had enough and had to issue an ultimatum; I was not going to continue going through life with an “Evil Twin” and either go see the doctor to get a checkup or else I am out. She didn’t like that too much, but she did go and the doctor did diagnose her with depression. After she started taking her meds it seemed to help initially and things began to stabilize. This period of stabilization was short lived however and over the last 6 years it has not improved. I know that behind the “Twin” there is a good loving fun person, but this behavior is killing my feelings. I am getting very tired of being the punching bag and walking on eggshells so as not to wake the “Twin”. I should not have to live like this, nor should she for that matter.
After doing some reading here I have come to the conclusion that her symptoms are more indicative of BP than they are depression, however I am not a doctor. The problem is that if I try to suggest that she see the doctor about this, it will wake the “Twin” and the fight will be on…again. She is doing a good job painting me into the divorce corner and I really would like to not have to go there, but I will not accept living with this type of behavior for my remaining years. How can I attempt to deal with this without having to talk to an attorney or putting on the boxing gloves?
Same thing here, except, I have been diagnosed wit BP yet my husband of almost 30 years gets explosive with his yelling at ME over stupid things that go wrong and then it leads to MY not doing things he thinks the way or as much things he thinks should be done. We are raising our young granddaughter and going through a custody issue which puts stress on the both of us and especially me with BP trying to stay afloat.
But if I were to actually tell him “I think you have BP” – well I wouldn’t go there. What do we do?