Hi,

Have you ever noticed that sometimes things are black and white? They’re just plain that way. Easy to see the answer. Or the information. Or the subject. Or whatever. But other things are kind of gray…Like “in-between…” Or not so easy to see. Not so easy to tell the answer. Or to discern the information. Or to understand the subject. Or whatever.

Sometimes we can feel downright lost, can’t we? Or even feel like maybe everyone else sees the
answer except us. That can be really frustrating. It’s especially hard for older people, because they’re always saying: “In the old days…” Or, “Back in the day…” Or, “In my time…” Because to them, things were simpler then. They could see things clearer. To them, things are more complicated now.

And to us, well…I guess that’s the way things can seem to us as well sometimes. Especially when we’re dealing with a loved one with bipolar disorder. It’s not always clear what to do. It helps to get advice from people who have been where you are. They can offer you help and advice because they know what you’re going through.

That’s why I advise going to a bipolar support group. Being around people going through the same thing that you are can help sometimes. Maybe you’re struggling with an issue, and someone in the group has struggled with that issue, and they tried something with their loved one and it worked with them. So maybe you can try it with your loved one too, and maybe it will work for you too. That’s how it works.

You not only get support in a support group, but sometimes you get really good advice too. It helps for those times when you’re struggling with something, and you just don’t know what to do. It helps to know someone who’s already been there and gone through it.

Sometimes just bouncing things off a close friend or family member can help as well. That’s why I recommend that you develop your own support system (your loved one should also have
their own). You should have people that you can go to and talk to and tell them how you’re feeling. It helps not to keep things in.

They can also offer more than just encouragement – sometimes they can give some pretty good concrete advice. Maybe even something you didn’t even think of.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave