Hi,
I wanted to share an email that I got recently with you:
“I have been diagnosed wirh Bipolar for 14 years, had the same job for 14 years, people meet me who meet and some who know me have no idea that I have bipolar, I also been in thearpy for it too for 14 years .. I am blessed that I have been able to afford my med, If you can’t afford meds you can contact the company who make them and you can get it free or what you can afford. Yes you can say that I am blessed, I know what I have and I know how to treat it. Before I knew that I had bipolar, I was a basket case, rages, up and down moods. I knew something was wrng. You can say that I am blessed. Iam not ashamed to say that I have bipolar. I am been stable for 14 years.”
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You have no idea how much this email lifted my spirits! I get so many emails that are just the opposite. I get emails that are just horror stories. You wouldn’t believe some of the emails I get.
And I feel so sorry for these people. All I can do is keep writing these blog posts like I do and hopefully help some people. At least in some small way. Sometimes people tell me it helps in a big way, and that makes me feel good. But to get an email from a bipolar success story like
This, well, it really did lift my spirits. I wanted to share it with you because I know being a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder you can get discouraged sometimes. I know, because I did with my mom. Sometimes you can even feel like there’s no hope for your loved one. But I wanted you to see by this email that there IS hope! This person has been stable for 14 YEARS! Can you imagine that? WOW! 14 YEARS! That’s incredible!
But what I liked about their email is that they told about some of the things they do to stay stable.
The essential things, of course. Like taking medication. They even talked about how you could get your medication if you can’t afford it. And that’s true – Many drug companies now have Patience Assistance Programs. You can either get their phone number from your pharmacist or off the Internet. Then you can just call them directly and ask how to get help with your medication. You’ll be able to get it for little or sometimes even no money! I know some people have even been able to get help this way even though they had insurance but the insurance wouldn’t cover their bipolar medication. It’s worth a try.
The other main thing this person talked about that’s kept them stable for 14 years is the fact that they’ve been in therapy that whole time. Your loved one doesn’t have to be in therapy for their bipolar disorder. It’s not like having to take medication or anything. There’s no “rule” that says they have to. But I’ll tell you this – I’ve talked to a LOT of bipolar success stories, and in virtually EVERY case they were in therapy for their bipolar disorder. It just goes without saying that it’s a tool that can help your loved one deal with their bipolar disorder better. That’s because the therapist works with the issues that surround your loved one’s bipolar disorder.
Think there isn’t hope for your loved one? Just remember this person who’s been stable for 14 years!
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
That makes the two of us – MY SPIRITS ARE ALSO LIFTED!
THANK YOU!
After 20+ years – I got angry with my therapist and can’t forgive her. If she only knew how to have handled it better – I wouldn’t be where I am now. They become your closest confidant, but there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, and when there is a breech of confidence, all is lost. Once you trust someone with your deepest, darkest secrets and fears for that many years – the loss is devastating.
The worst year of my life. Lost my job, my house, my mother died, I spent all the money I got from the sell ( forced as foreclosure was imminent ) $40,000 in 5 months. Now, I live in the bedroom of a friend. I’ve applied for disability and worked on the application since July. I’ll have an answer by the end of December…. But, she has no idea how much I miss her. Don’t let your therapist become your “friend” – that’s my only advice.
Hello David,
I have been receiving you emails for a couple of years and I enjoy hearing that there are people out there that can get their life straight while fighting this disease. I have been fighting it for about 20 years and I see no end in sight. I take about 13 pills each day that don’t work and the dr.s say that is the best they can do for me but yet the government and doctors still think that I can work a full-time job for the rest of my life. In the past I was working as many as 9 different jobs each year and after awhile employers start destroying the applications that are received from people that will cause problems in their businesses. I was trying to go to school so that I can get a job that I will be able to hold for a few years instead of a few weeks but alas I have found that not even going to school is in my future. So what do I do now that I there is nothing left for me to try? I don’t know how much longer I can keep going like this without some help from someone who really cares and knows what they are doing.
14 years.. oh, I wish he/she will stay that way next 14 years. I think him/her have good stable “system” ongoing. in here, we just talking fist steps to that stable life.. her take her meds regularelly now (pheww), and her has bene change eating habbits, etc etc.. to get in the end that sable and balanced life. now we both wnat that, and do work that way. well, she has stressfuljob, tho. but so far our “system” works okay.. not the perfect but okay. next thing is find good therapist who speak also hers language (hard issue), but as you all see, now we do work as a team of us. (me and my wife). 14 years, that will be our target now. thanks to share that e-mail, and of cource .. keep write this block! I have feeling that it oes work like domino blocks.. one positive thing lead to others positive thngs… and so on.
-Pekka, from finland.
Hello David,
I have a strange family – it’s just the 4 of us
My sister is Neurotic
My brother has 2 personalities
My Mother is talking to a Shrink
do you suggest I get a girlfriend and make her feel special 24 hours a day?
I’m a BIG boyfriend in training.