Hi,

Have you ever watched someone try to put a jigsaw puzzle together? The concentration…The focus…How meticulous they can be…All those parts? Some people can’t do it. But those that can…Those who can take all those parts…And put them together just right…Can make a beautiful picture out of what seemed to be nothing!

Well, music is the same way. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you like the best, all music still has the same parts:

• Melody

• Notes

• Rhythm

• Tone

• Timing

• Composition

• Instruments

• Songwriter

• Song

• Lyrics

• Band

• Singer

All that concentration…All that focus…All those parts! And that’s just for ONE SONG! Now, these days, they usually add a video and some dancing to it as well. So now you’ve got even more parts –

• Choreographer

• Dance steps

• Choreography

• Lighting

• Direction

• Outfit designer

• Outfits

• Etc.

Now with bipolar disorder, we have parts, too – Like the parts to the stability equation I talk about. Many people still complain about the parts to stability for bipolar disorder, but when you compare it to the parts to music (especially one with a video) it doesn’t seem so bad, does it? If you want just music, you can skip some of the parts. I’m not saying it would be the best music, but it could still be music. But if you want QUALITY music you have to make sure that you have all the parts, and that every part is attended to. Same thing with bipolar disorder.

Some people just tend to the minimum of the parts to stability with bipolar disorder. They just take their pills and go to therapy, for example. But if you want QUALITY management of your bipolar disorder, you have to make sure every part of it is attended to as well.

You’ve got such things as:

• Medications

• Therapy

• Strong support system

• Sleep

• Exercise

• Diet

• Self-care

• Productivity

• Reduced stress

• Balance

• Watch for triggers

• Look for signs/symptoms

of episodes

• Etc.

In other words, like putting that puzzle together, your loved one has to put all the pieces together, too, to make one bigger complete picture of their stability.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

 

Dave