Hi,
How’s it going? Hope you are doing really well and have a great day today.
I wanted to tell you about this important lesson I learned.
You may not remember but I actually body build NON competitively. That means I don’t do contents, get on stage, and I do it as a hobby.
I do most of all the stuff people who compete do except get on stage and take steroids. I don’t take any steroids and everything I do is natural.
Anyway, I hang out with a number of people who do the same thing.
For me, since I am really busy, I have not learned how to cook well. I don’t use spices — only pepper and maybe some stuff that has a lot of things in it that are spicy with no salt. I forget what it’s called and I want to get this daily email done without any further delay.
I met a lady in the gym who suggested to spice up my meatloaf (which is basically glorified ground turkey in a pan LOL) I should add onions and it would taste better, she said. She also suggested I add an onion to the gigantic amount of green beans that I eat every week. Or two onions.
(NOTE-I am truly the WORST cook. Period)
Other than it making me cry a lot when I was cutting it, I thought no big deal.
However one friend of mine warned, “Dude, onions will mess you up.”
So after a few weeks of thinking about it, I decided to try it.
BUT, you know me, I track stuff. So I was getting prepared to track how I felt, looked, thought, energy level, etc.
After two weeks, something amazing happened! The onions did start to smooth me out, which essentially means that it makes you look less tight.
There was only one variable I changed in my eating plan–onions.
Now you might think, “No way.”
Here’s the thing. When I took it out of my eating plan, the smoothness went away in a week. Amazing!
What the heck does this have to do with bipolar disorder? You’re probably thinking.
Absolutely nothing. I gotta go.
LOL just kidding. It does.
In my courses/systems below:
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:
I teach about how the smallest changes can make the biggest impact.
You do have to monitor the things you’re changing, though, like I said above, like I did.
Like you’re eating habits. Like in my courses /systems, like I was saying, I talk about how important diet is to your loved one’s treatment plan (and your own diet). Because just a small change can make you feel so much healthier. Now that sounds like a small thing, but it is very important.
And exercise. Another seemingly small thing, right? But just starting to exercise, or changing up your exercise routine, can make such a big difference, because it can lower your stress level, and that IS a big thing when it comes to bipolar disorder.
Especially for supporters, because you have to deal with so much stress just being a supporter, am I right?
Think about your sleep, too. Seems like another small thing, too. Especially for your loved one, because not enough sleep an be a trigger to a bipolar manic episode, and you definitely don’t want that, do you?
So my point is, like the onion (don’t laugh!), small changes can make a big difference!
It’s really true. It’s you and your loved one’s job to look at all the changes made to see what can adversely affect the bipolar disorder.
Don’t ever say, “oh that won’t matter, that can’t hurt.” It can. You just never know.
My mom can’t drink several drinks because of her bipolar disorder. Everyone else with bipolar disorder can drink the same stuff and not have any problems. Odd huh?
Ever happen to you or your loved one?
FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME
Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.
Post responses below
Dave thank you for always giving me new information everyday. I have never thought about how certain things could change the way that i feel but i do know that right now i am not havinga easy time i won’t go into detailit wouldjust bore everyone just wanted to say thank you for everything.
Bonnie
You should write MORE about bipolar. You don’t go over much about bipolar, but you go over and over about your life. What you said you would offer in the mini course isn’t what I’m seeing. I’m mainly seeing more stuff about your daily life.
Thanks for the info
Hi Dave,
What does F. REE mean? I notice that you always use a full stop between the F and the R and was wondering what this stands for?
Regards
Jan
My son Anthony just out of two months of jail and oddly he had to work out just to have something to do. He was always thin as a rail and never ate right, but now he does seem more at ease and looks more healthy. Also while in jail he did get more sleep, thanks these are things I will bring up to him today as a new way of life.
Good Morning David,
Thanks again for the e-mail you sent out, I look forward
every morning to them, and I always get something good
from them. Keep up the good work, you are God’s gift
to us. My favorite bible verse, I have many but the one
I will quote is Proverbs 3:5,6,7
Have a great and wonderful day, one of these days I will
get back to the YMCA and exercise, I am missing that in
my life. I know how important exercise is but just to find the
time is difficult for me.
My grandson is doing so well, he loves golf so we go golfing
with him and his parents and have a wonderful time together.
God Bless YOu.
Hi,
I think I need to persude my hubby to get back on his excercise routine. Small changes do make a huge difference, but getting him to make them can be impossible.
I was going to write more about change and a funny story about how my hubby will only eat dinosour shaped chicken nuggets because the other kinds are the “wrong color”, but after I read what I typed I realized how much resentment I have simmering.
I am somewhat relieved you wrote about the stress the supporter feels and I guess that mine is normal.
Virg
I have epilepsy on top of bipolar, so lack of sleep (anything less than 7 1/2 for me a night) will trigger seizures BEFORE triggering mania. But you are right about having a routine. You said once how your mom has a routine she does every night before bed. That is actually a good thing. My mom was a firm believer in routines, so I have been on once since I was a baby. It helps with things like taking meds, sleep and remembering to eat. Yes, I can actually forget to eat.
But one thing you didn’t point out is that every one needs different amounts of different things. I have a friend who has epilepsy. She is fine on 4 hours of sleep a night. After talking to her parents, they told me she has never been one for a lot of sleep. I know that I need more sleep than most. As a child my mom didn’t think I would EVER give up my afternoon nap. I needed one until I was in school. My sister, (same parents, same environment) quit her afternoon nap when she was a little over a year old. Drove my mom nuts. Here she had a 3 year old who happily took her nap and a baby who refused.
And eating right is important for every one. Due to some imbalances in my body and side effects from medication, I gained a lot of weight. The doctor changed my meds, I changed my diet and started walking every day, and I’ve lost 110 lbs. I look so much different, feel so much better about myself. My husband says I’m even MORE beautiful. I have more energy, too.
That’s too bad about the onions – they are very tasty. My husband and I eat them in almost everything. Plus they are SO good for you. They can prevent certain kinds of cancer it is believed. Don’t worry about being a bad cook. It took my sister until she was 34 to learn to boil water without burning it. If she can learn to boil water, you can learn to cook.
Dave, this thing on onions smoothing you out – huh? Your skin, your demeanor? What exactly does that mean? You’re on the go so much, you need more than just adding some onions…call or email me and get I’ll get you set up on some Juice Plus vegies and fruits compacted into tabs – it’s the best!!!
Your friend in CA – Cheryl
ps glad to see you searched out and put together info on vitamins and such for BP!!
Hi David,
I think todays email was specially relevant. The way we eat will definitely affect the way we feel, and it doesn’t mean preparing complicated meals, rather, I would say, simplifying the way we eat to eat more nutritious food. My first therapist would recommend me that every time I boiled water for cooking (for pasta, potatoes, cooking veggies, etc) I did it with one whole onoin in the water, she said onion helped clean the soul. She actually had a pan of “onion water”, so when she needed water for cooking she just took a cup of that and poored it in anything she made.
I recently added Omega 3 to our diet, and I must say I noticed the difference in just a few days, our skin is shinning, I’ve gotten rid of some wrinkles, and we have not quarrelled as a couple in two weeks, which is great news for me! we both seem to be much more patient with eachother.
On my side, I consider it useful to read about how you manage yor daily life being a bipolar supporter, since I don’t go to support groups, nor have contact with other bipolar people.
Thanks for your newsletters… regards, Merida
What we eat, as well as what we drink indeed affects the way we feel, and how we re-act. Some foods have adverse reactions on us that we are oblivious to because we do not suspect that this is or could be the cause.
We are made aware of the side-effects of medications because we are told in advance most of the time what to expect. Some of the foods we eat and drink, when digest are not agreeable with our blood type, therefore it is difficult to distinguish the foods that causes negative and troublesome reactions unless we know what to look for.
What makes it even more complicated is the mixture of medications, food and beverages that are bad combination. We should also make sure that we drink plenty of water, because often times we get dehydrated from the medications which add even more reasons for some of the unpleasant feelings, and attitudes we display.
Sleep is the perfect antidote for depression, mania, stress, and illness. It allows us to recuperate, recover and repair our mind, body and spirits.
Exercise helps to keep us from depleting the muscles in the body and brain from degenerating and becoming non-functional from lack of use.
So, not only do we need physical exercise we need to constantly challenge our minds to learn and receive new concepts and information.
It’s amazing to see some one in a shinny new car all pimped out ( for lack of a better word) LOL – and the person driving looks as though they are about to fall apart.
We should realize that we are more important then our most prized possessions and know that it takes commitment on our part to see to it that we will do everything that is possible and available to maintain good health, mental clarity and stability in our life.
There are re-flags and signs along the way that points us in the right directions and if we will adhere to the voices in our head that gives us the reasons to do what is best and not resist what works, stability, comfort, and peace of mind and good physical and mental health will follow.
Tomorrow is a new day let us embrace new ideas and concepts and keep an open mind so that we can improve and prolong the things that sustains our health, relationships and attitudes for the better.
Dave sharing with us some of the experiences he encounters are lessons that are transferable to the use of helping to understand the misconceptions, unexplained, and some people obliviousness of bipolar and the consequences of not knowing certain things no matter how small they appear, helps to explain and help many get a better understanding of the struggles and bonds we share having to deal with this condition constantly and continuously.
I thank you so much for allowing dialog from so many that seeks to understand and deal with issues that cripple and disable many from all walks of life that look for ways to gain knowledge to overcome this oppressive disease. God bless you.
Dave,
I am at my wits end. My wife, who has been diagnosed with bipolar, is not willing to let me help. In fact she is doing everything she can to end our 15 years of marriage. What do I do? I want to help, but she wont even tell me about her doctors appointments. I know she is seeing a psyciatrist or tharapist next month, but that is all she will tell me. There is more, but that would be for a more private venue. Thanks.
hi dave! Definitely i know onions are good for you. Especially for cleaning you out. I guess exercise goes along with that – definitely helps with digestion etc!
Iwas rather skeptical when I first found your sight. At first I thought you were another “if they’d just take their meds they’d be fine” medical industry puppet. I’m sorry! Thanks for being a real son to your mother. When I was diagnosed my first husband of 15 years didn’t lift a finger to help. How dare I complicate his life by having an embarrasing illness. After 7 years of believing that no one could put up with me I finally fell in love again and my new husband of 3 1/2 years is amazingly supportive and making a huge difference in my life!
Thank you for providing information from the caregiver’s perspective. You are the only one that I’m aware of doing it.
I enjoy your down to earth style and appreciate how challenging writing something everyday to keep the dialogue going must be.
And like one of the previous commenters Proverbs 3:5,6 has always been my favorite verse. I also like John 17:3.
hi dave,
my mum has had bipolar since she was sixteen, she is now 57,she has had a huge amount of episodes that i can remember of all my life.
she is currently having a very manic episode, she has not had one this bad for twenty years,but she recently had alot of dental work done,some one suggested the anasthetic they use could have triggered this off, have you or anyone ever heard of this.
hi dave
i just want to say thanks for all the time and care you put into all these emails i have just found out i have bipolar and its not easy to take in.. i didn’t want to belive it heck i still don’t… you have helped me understand alot about this sickness so thanks dave and may god richly bless you for all you do for his people
Hi Dave
Good one!!!! Had a great laugh. Agree with you that small things can make a big difference.
Heloooo!! I have eaten onions on just about EVERYTHING from the time I was little – they add MORE than just flavor – they are the “bulb” that lights the world!! (LOL).
Yes, the old adage, “You are what you eat,” is true. Sometimes we put things in our bodies (junk food, etc.), that are NOT good for us in the first place; but, hey, they taste GOOD!! I have just started taking Fish Oil, and already I’ve noticed a difference in attitude and well-being. I “cured” myself of “shaky leg” by walking 10 blocks in June; now I walk nearly every day; it’s made the BIGGEST difference. I have also started “cutting off” the computer between 10-10:30 at night, and getting more sleep – as you say, diet, exercise, AND sleep DO help bipolar survivors to stay “on their toes!”
Good luck with that “cooking thing!” If I can learn to cook, so can you…you just pop it in the microwave – and eat!!
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good.
I don’t have a reply but i do have an important question..I have Bipolar..severe anxiety/panic attacks and alot of stress.Has anyone ever experianced problems with your breathing..like not being able to get a full deep satisfying breath.In between those breaths..i feel like i am suffocating and hungry for air.Is it anxiety or is there something wrong with me??Please help??
I don’t understand if onions are good for bipolar patients or not. Please clarify.
To AMANDA: What you are describing with not being able to take a “deep breath,” is ANXIETY. Some people claim that’s the same as a panic attack, but much milder. I’ve suffered from the inability to take a deep breath for YEARS; you just get used to it…
I do have ONE suggestion, though. Take a deep breath – hold it for 4 seconds, exhale for a count of four, pause, and take another deep breath. Do this for FOUR inhalations/exhalations – this SHOULD make your breath come back to normal.
Of course, you should try and figure out what is STRESSING you out; anxiety is caused by stress, though a lot of bipolar survivors have anxiety and breathing problems without KNOWING the cause.
Just be SURE to take your meds as scheduled, and sooner or later, you’ll be surprised that your breathing will come back to normal (whatever that is for you).
Hope I’ve been of some help.
SuzanneWA
Hey Dave,
You are a gift from the Almighty, and I thank Him fir U. I have been bipolar for more than 20 years. Here in India, this is a hush-hush thing. Psychiatrists and counsellors are rare and going to them is taboo. Although, India is far advanced in technology, science, medical treatment for physical health, mental health has far to go.
God gave me a psy..who is trained in New York, U.S. He counselled me my husband and son too, and thought us all how to deal with this most horrible disease. Now I know the signs, and with His help do manage to see I don’t get out of control.
Your notes are helping me, but I am slow. I work at quite a distance from home and travel by the crowded public bus. Hence, I have cervical spondilities, which is very painful. Also my dentist now tells me, after spending so much money and time that my teeth are fine. The intense pain I feel is o nly due to stress !!!
I am slowly, but, surely reading the stuff you mail, and am learning much from the little I’ve read.
Thank you Dave for coming into my life, and may God give you the wisdom and the strength to reach out a helping hand to us highly troubled lot.
Cynthia – from India.
That is amazing. Yet the simple changes
that people make should make a world
of difference. THe biggest things in life
are far reached and not always obtainable.
Basic little changes make more of an impact.
If you can see the light at the end of the tunnel,
try to think about how to rework your schedules
and beleive me the little things are better added up
than the big things falling on your shoulders
all at once.
I have just been diagnosed with bipolar 1 month ago and i am in a hypomanic state. I am a physical therapist so exercise has always been my outlet through my depressive stages, when not suicidal, but I have tried a new, fun exercise class. I have been pole dancing which sounds “dirty” but it is the best workout ever. Ladies, if you are athletic and live on Long Island this is the toughest, most fun workout you will ever get. I have improved my core strength and learned that feeling sexy is great! My husband doesn’t mind it either! Check out Cathy’s classes. I have also stopped drinking, cut back on artificial sweetners, started taking fish oil suppliments,and been reading dave’s manual on nutrition. It is wonderful. Read it and do it!!!!!!! Make a change, a small one today. You will feel better tomorrow.
This is not a reply, this is information for an aricle on Bipolar News:
The link to the article from New Haven Register doesn’t work for the topic,
brain research and mood disorders. You must do a search on the site:
“mood disorder” to get it. Here it is:
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2008/08/21/today‘s_stories/20084269.txt
I can’t make this a hot link, but if you type it in you should get the article or if you hit the link provided in the bipolar news and type in mood disorder to the New Haven Register you will get it that way, too.
hi dave
your information on bipolar disorder was very helpful. But thankfully i do not have bipolar but a milder version of depression (recurring). i do not need any more correspondants from your web site. thank you for your time and effort to comfort me when i needed you most. keep up the very important support. good bye
paula
Regarding onions, and fluids. My sister is on a very tight diet, that won’t allow her to have anything high in mineral salts, due to the dialasys she has to go through three days a week. Also she is on a limited fluid intake and has to be careful of what fluids she is able to take. Minimum milk i.e. Coffee Rich, milk substitute, and no phosphates if you can manage that. What she does do though is have a little of that when she can do so once in a great while, but she does pay for her ‘straying away’ and that is not a happy thing. I don’t recall that she can have any onions or not. But I do have my own share and enjoy them with my meals when it is appropriate to do so. I don’t work out, I just do my housework and that in itself is enough for me. So my sister doesn’t do much in that direction, she has to have assistance in the things that do get done for her. My mom has someone to come in to help her and insurance use to pay for it, but now they consider it non-essential to medical care, how sad, but that is the case. ( bathing assistance) . Since my mom and sister don’t use a computer they won’t see this letter. I do hope that others can benefit from what I have shared though it isn’t really very much. T.C.