Hi,
Have you ever heard the expression: “They were born with a silver spoon in their mouth.” I’m not saying it’s a very nice expression, but it means that someone was born into wealth…Or that they haven’t had to work for what they’ve gotten in life…Or that things have come very easy to them. It’s usually said by someone who is jealous of the person, that’s why it’s not a very nice expression. But there is a little bit of truth to it. There are some people who are wealthy…Who don’t have to work very hard to get what they want in life. Then there are others who are the opposite. They have to work very hard to get what they want in life. It really should be that it doesn’t matter whether you have money or not… It should be that your character itself is what gets you ahead in this world. Character should determine whether you succeed or fail…NOT money.
So like with bipolar disorder. Money definitely does NOT determine whether you succeed or fail with the disorder, that’s for sure! You can have all the money in the world and still fail at bipolar disorder. Or the recovery from it, I mean. What I’m saying is that bipolar disorder is no
discriminator of people. It hits both the wealthy and the poor. It doesn’t care whether you’ve got money or not. So you can have two people, one who’s wealthy and one who’s poor…And their money won’t determine which one recovers and which one doesn’t…Depending on which one WANTS to recover the most! I think that can really be the determining factor, if you ask me.
Because there are certain things that your loved one can do to help them get stability with their bipolar disorder. You know…Like to get stability, they must take their medication every day…
And see their doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist when they’re supposed to. Then, once they get stability, there are certain things they can (and must) do to maintain their stability with their bipolar disorder.
Like…Of course, they need to keep doing what it took to get stable to begin with, that’s a given.
But they also need to do other things, like:
• Have a good, strong support system (that includes their medical and mental health professionals, but also friends and family members, coworkers if they work, community
members, neighbors, pharmacist, clergy person, etc.).
• Attend (and be involved with) a bipolar support group.
• Be well-groomed and care about themselves and their appearance and general well-being.
• Have a general routine that they stick to every day.
• Have a reason to get out of bed every morning; i.e., have goals, both long-term and short-term that they want to meet.
• Be productive and have things they want to accomplish (a To-Do List is good for this).
• Work a job (usually part-time, or have a home business).
• Have hobbies and do things they enjoy.
• Exercise (at least 3 times a week).
• Eat a nutritious well-balanced diet.
• Stick to a good sleep schedule.
They need to be well-grounded and well-balanced, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well.
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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Thank you David for the great “common sense” solutions for people that suffer from bi-polar. As a man with a spouse who is bi-polar and an adult daughter, I am continuing to show support but at the same time let them know they are responsible for their own health…sincerely, Pat Prohaska
Thank you Sir Oliver. My grandson is 21 and doesn’t believe he has bipolar. Occasionally if I can find him in a normal mode and can discuss this issue I’m going to save this e-mail so he can read about what he has to do and well as what others around him need to do to help. Thank you. Pam
Just this morning, I addressed this issue in my journal! Last night in my session with my therapist, he asked me what I have learned from child sexual abuse (and bipolar disorder) that somehow gives meaning to its purpose in my life. Well, after giving it some thought, I realized that it helped me find my soul. I have cried out to God, even when I thought he hated me, and I was angry with him. I’ve had to continually think outside the physical realms that bind us to this earth. To be well-balanced, one must maintain themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. If one aspect of our lives is out of balance, it will make us sick in other ways, too. We cannot treat these parts of ourselves separately and expect to be whole. Granted, it takes a lot of work to pay attention to all our ‘parts’ in order to be healthy, but it is the only way we can live well with bipolar disorder. No matter what our spiritual beliefs may be, everyone needs to have faith in something.
DAVE.
YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE EXCELLENT. WE AGREE TOTALLY.
WE HAVE A FRIEND WHO CALLS US CONSTANTLY 6 TIMES A DAY. SHE HAS SOME VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES WITHIN HER OWN FAMILY, AND THROWS HER PROBLEMS ON US. WE HAVE SUGGESTED SHE SEEK A SUPPORT GROUP OR DISCUSS IT WITH HER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER,BUT SHE WON’T. SHE THINKS WE ARE HER DOCTOR,ETC. SHE IS ON BIPOLAR MEDICATIONS
AND WANTS ARE ADVISE. WE HAVE TOLD HER WHAT TO DO, BUT SHE GETS MAD IF WE SUGGEST ANYTHING.
WE HAD TO CHANGE ARE PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE OF HER CONSTANT CALLS. WE CANNOT BE AN ENABLER. WE ARE SENIORS
IN ARE 80 AGE GROUP.. DO YOU THINK WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.?
Hi DAve I wanted to say I agree that bi polar happens to anybody rich or poor. Yet I find that it is so hard for a person to become stable when everything around them is failing. I myself have bi pollar and am a single mother of teenagers and am not making basic needs it is so hard to even just afford medication rent and food. I get to the point i dont want to get the mail because of bills piling up. Where a rich person has more leway to succeed at at least meeting basic needs a poor person has such a hard time living and asking for help the paperwork to apply for is even worse.
Just a point of view.
The reality of any illness is that money can help if you use it wisely to treat yourself. Lack of money as we know can be a streesor that creates a tough environment in which to heal. Exessive spending on the wrong things does not solve anything.
I have supported a Bi-polar person for 50 years. To this day there are very few formulars for succes that don’t include Daves suggestions. However without adequate funds the healing process is much more difficult. Keep on reading this blog since it is free advice and comfort that works.
dave,
i love “ignorance is bliss” – alot of times the light is on but we don’t see the good news about this is:
if there’s bad present, we are so childlike (when observed by the right entity), we are immune to it
if there is goodness, we are naive (someone has to forcibly put the light on, in order for us to see our True Beauty and Wealth)
either way…..it all depends Mr. Oliver
does money matter once you’ve achieved what you define True wealth (painfree existence, healthy relationships, a reason to laugh out loud everyday) probably not…..if however you ever loved someone with your whole heart and you have food, shelter and all the money in the world but not your lover – it really doesn’t…….perspective makes one feel better!
I was told that by a Good Relative after lunch at Red Lobster’s today! I feel soooooo much better