=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <=
Hi,
How’s it going? I have to make this
really quick today because I have
a bunch of things that I have to
get ready for concerning an important
meeting I have tomorrow.
Today I wanted to talk about
one question that I get over and
over and an important sign to look
out for.
Here’s the question that I got
that started the me thinking
about this.
“Hi Dave,
I wanted to ask you a question.
My husband is newly diagnosed
with bipolar disorder. First he
wouldn’t take his medication.
But then he said it was because
he didn’t understand how to take
it. Then he started to get better.
Now it looks like he isn’t taking
it again because well he doesn’t
look right. How can I know if
he is taking his medication?”
-Mary Anne
I get a lot of questions like this.
I would like to say a few things.
1. At first, a newly diagnosed
person might not be super excited
to take a bunch of pills for a disorder
that not really explained to them.
I think if you have empathy with a person
in this situation you can understand
why someone would be hesitant. I am not
saying people should take medication
but I understand why some newly diagnosed
people are resistant. Especially when
they are given little information on
what they have and why it’s so serious.
2. Sometimes, some bipolar supporters
don’t believe that a person with bipolar
disorder can’t figure out how to take
their medication at first. When I first
looked at all the medications my mom had
to take at first and at what times, I was
totally confused. I seriously thought, “what
the heck, I can’t even understand this?”
I called the doctor and asked over and
over for a system to take it and understanding
what should be taken when. I did it in front
of my mom and I think she appreciate the fact
that I was confused and trying to help.
3. Some people look like they are trying to
avoid taking their medication when they just
messed up on when to take it. Some you have
to just judge with patterns. If a person repeatedly
doesn’t take any but takes some it’s probably
confusion. Work with him/her to create a system.
Actually in my courses/systems below, I have
incredible systems of figuring out how to
take medications. The system was actually
created by someone who has multiple disorders
and has to take a whole lot of medications.
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:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
I also talk in my systems and courses all the
ins and outs of working with a doctor when
it comes to getting the medication right.
This is where 99% of people mess up. If you don’t
work with the doctor correctly, you or your
loved one will be in trouble.
I try to post tips on how to do it via email but the reality
is, the section is written and audio and it’s a lot so
look into my courses/systems OR find someone that
takes lots of medications and ask them how they do it.
Whatever you can do, just do it.
4. The final point is this. Sometimes bipolar
supporters fall into the perfection trap
or the “they aren’t getting better fast enough
trap.” Notice how Mary Ann is thinking that
since he isn’t getting better it’s probably
because he isn’t taking his medication.
The reality is, figuring out what medication
or medications and how much is an art not a
science from what doctors tell me. NOTE-I am
NOT a doctor. So what I have seen, is you can
go two steps forward but then three steps
backwards with bipolar stability as you are
getting the medications right.
Just keep this in mind.
Hey I have to run. Tomorrow I have a super big
important interview with one of my businesses.
I have to go to New York City so I have to
make sure that I get all my meals in early today,
go to bed early and have a good night’s rest.
So, with that said, I have to take off for the
day. I am going to try to send the bipolar news
out tomorrow super early before I leave or
I will have to send it when I get back later
in the afternoon.
Have a great day today and let me know what
you think about today’s email.
Your Friend,
Dave
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different programs I’ve put together… each
one is designed to help you with a different
area of bipolar disorder whether you have it or
you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp
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http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/
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you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com
Thank you for your tireless efforts in keeping us educated about bipolar disorder. My best friend’s daughter has it and it’s driving the mom bonkers. The least I can do is be a supporter. As of yet… the mother won’t admit her daughter has it. She seems to be ashamed of it and keeps saying her daughter doesn’t want it known. But if we don’t get things out in the open and educate ourselves, how can we ever help those who are suffering from this horrible disorder. Fortunately I figured out what her daughter had by the daughter’s behaviors. Thus the mom can never be accused by her daughter of “telling on her.” Her behaviors screamed bipolar beyond a shadow of a doubt. My concern is for all the moms and parents out there still sweeping this under the rug for fear of peoples’ ignorance. If I had cancer, I wouldn’t hide it… but when the illness has to do with anything to do with mental health… so many people just want to pretend it doesn’t exist. As a result the people (those with bipolar and their fearing families trying to hide the facts) only make it worse for those who could stand a little love and understanding.
Dave, you are doing an excellent job! I have no idea when you fin the time to type and send such imformative and crucial emails daily. You must have a 48 hour day.
Just Amazing! keep up the great work! And great tips todays.
Dave,
I am only two weeks into this new title as a bipolar supporter. My husband and I have been married for 10 difficult years, and now I know what I’m facing. It’s a relief to know that there is help and I look forward to your kind and supportive emails every day. Your easy going writing style is so friendly and cuts through all of the medical jargon. Thank you
thank you far all the good ideas on how to help my wife and family deal with this disease. for some time i have felt lost and unsure how to deal with this. my wife and i have even split up because of her behavior and after learning that she has a treatable disease and through some therapy our family is back on track..thank you again for all the insight…keep it up..bryan
Hi Dave thanks for your mail. I take a great interest on bi polar disease because my father had it (he passed away several years ago. I study a lot about “dis eases” and this particular one is very challenging since it deals with “anger turned inside- IMPLOSION”.I don’t have it in my DNA but in my profession I deal with it a lot. See you and all the best. Mariana
Dear Dave:
I am a Bipolar supporter. I find your information very valuable. In particular, about the Bipolar support groups. I left many meetings with information on meds and behaviors but left with a less than positive feeling. I thought something was wrong with me. I am glad to hear some success stories from you and others. God Bless and please keep writing.
GRINGANICA. There is still a dreadful stigma attached to mental illness. The general public needs to be educated about it, as they tend to believe that people with mental illness are either stupid or dangerous. My ex-husband won’t see a doctor and get help because of this stigma. His daughters would turn around and say that it was me that was “mental”, as their perfect Dad could never do anything wrong. They didn’t live with him and didn’t know of any of the crazy things he did. Now that I’m no longer there they should at least know that I wasn’t to blame for his depression. He is still emailing me one week with grandiose business ideas and the next with how pointless his life is. And I still wish and pray that one day he will wake up and get help.
My boyfriend is on the right medicine and tells everyone he is bipolar and doesn’t care what people think.
There is a strange ad on Irish tv trying to get the message across (I think). About six different people tell us that they have a mental illness. They all look and act totally normal. The point they’re making is that they have to tell us that they have a mental illness or nobody would know.
I think eventually people will accept mental conditions. Not too long ago many people were prejudiced against everyone who was a little bit “off centre,” e.g. gay people, or even left-handed people. Now it is generally accepted that not all people are ABC, some may be DEF or even XYZ and not doing anything against the law. I still often get stick from so-called normal people for being nocturnal.
The world would be a tedious place if everyone was the same. But it would be a better place if we were willing to learn more from each other and accept each other’s differences.
Dave – I was confused at first about taking Lithium. It was prescribed in a hospital setting, and I had to get up at 6 every morning for blood tests. I didn’t understand WHY it was so important. When I got out of the hospital, I was sent to the local Health Dept. to get my blood checked. This seemed to me to be ridiculous, so I stopped going. AND, I stopped taking the Lithium.
As you would guess, as soon as I stopped the Lithium, I started into the worst clinical depression I had ever had (or would ever have). I was referred by my internist to the local Community Mental Health clinic, and the DR there re-prescribed Lithium AND Desipramine; upshot – within 3 weeks, I was feeling more “normal,” and was out of the depression.
Unfortunately, about ten years later, the Lithium had caused neuropathy in both legs, and I was prescribed Depakote. My other antipsychotics were changed as well.
When I read that there was a lawsuit against Zyprexa, I asked my psychiatrist to prescribe Seroquel. Well, it didn’t take long for the Seroquel to cause unwelcome side effects, like utter fatigue, listlessness, and confusion. I asked to be put back on Zyprexa (Seroquel ALSO has lawsuits), and have been stable ever since. Sometimes it takes changes in meds to discover the “drug of choice” that works best for the bipolar survivor. AND – we shouldn’t be our own doctors when it comes to changing medications. I learned that the hard way…
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love them. May God hold you in the Palm of His Hand. My prayers are with you.
Dear David, you are doing a great job, thanks!
Has anyone else found that their loved one with bp refuses to take their medication because they are addicted to the highs of their manic phases and feel – once stabilized – that they are no longer ‘themselves’? Do other bp sufferers confuse bp mania with genius?
I found you to be very supportive with your piece of advice today David. As someone who has been a married to a man suffering from Bipolar I (rapid cycling might I add) for over 14 years, I can honestly say it does take time to find the right meds. Up until April 2007, my husband still was not on the right cocktail. It has improved significantly witht the proper anti-psychotic but we are still trying to figure out the rest. It’s painful to watch him go through the trials of finding the right meds but in the end it will be worth it. As for what to do with how, when, and what pills to take at what time…we asked our pharmasist to help out with a blister pack, it works almost flawlessly every day. Thank-you so much for the info you are providing.
Michelle, Fellow supporter
to Evakour,
I think my husband is addicted to his “highs”. I think bipolar can have a lot of addictive qualities. I think that’s why he doesn’t stay on his medication as prescribed. Because it feels SO good to be high. He’s a very bright person. Does anyone think the two go hand in hand? Bipolar and intelligence?
Even now, as he’s coming out of a depression, he doesn’t appear to be making plans to stay stable. He probably can’t wait to be high again.
Hi
I can’t tell you how much your info has helped me. My husband who is 70 was recently diagnosed with bi-polar. I had heard the term but knew little about it. Hearing from someone who has LIVED it not just got their info from a book has made a world of difference in our lives. We have been together for almost 50 years. Many things has happened in all this time that I have tried to cope with until it passed not understanding why they were happening. After undergoing heart bypass surgery things escalated to to a point where my husband spent 6 weeks in a senior behavorial unit and we then found out the why’s of the dark days of the last almost 50 years. They said he no doubt had gone undiagnosed since he was a child. It is like living with 2 different people.
You have not only given me hope for the future, helped me to know how to cope with the present, but helped me to understand the past. I could not afford to buy your info but you sent it anyway. I can not say enough thank you’s for all your help. May God bless you as you help others.
I have always said I can’t understand why people will help you if you are physically sick but want to desert you if you are sick mentally. Now I am having proving it. Thank You again and again. Thanks to you I know how important it is to take your meds, be patient until you find the right one, our first meds did not work. When we tried the second ones “thanks to you” I knew to be patient and give it time. After a few weeks it worked and gets better and better, again thanks to you, I know that no matter how good it seems, to not let your guard down. You have to realize this is a life time problem. I am greatful for every good day and can now handle the others better. Thanks to you.
Beulah
Dx.: Bipolar II, MRE suicidially depressed, hospitalized for most of January. My son flew in from MN to be w/me and my daughters, all of whom have FINALLY, I HOPE, realized that I need their on-going support.
System we developed: a separate daily pillbox for ea. of the 4 times a day I take my meds and supplements. Seems to be working well; did make an error in frequency of one of my meds, for abt. a wk., and did develop some minor depressive symptoms, but am now back on track.
Find a system that works for you, and then STICK TO IT. Oh, yeah, and I’m still in an out-patient program for 6 hrs./day, 5 days/wk. Will be going down to P.T. prolly this coming week.
Best of luck.
A Bipolar survivor, Lynn
Hello
I am a supporter of someone with bi-polar who also tends to become addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, gambling while he is in a manic phase. He also seems to be addicted to the feeling of being manic and believes there is nothing wrong with his bahaviour so refuses to seek help or stop drinking, smoking and gambling. This reaches a peak after about 3 months when he crashes and becomes depressed and fearful for another three months and does nothing. After plenty of talks and maybe a visit to a doctor he starts to excercise, take his medication properly, eat properly and doesn’t smoke or drink. This then gets him back on track but that only seems to last for 3 months and the cycle starts all over again.
He’s just started again on the path toward gloom and I really don’t know how to deal with it!!???
Is there anyone else that may have experienced this similar situation and perhaps has found a way to break the cycle and the addictions?
Hello
I am a supporter of someone with bi-polar who also tends to become addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, gambling while he is in a manic phase. He also seems to be addicted to the feeling of being manic and believes there is nothing wrong with his bahaviour so refuses to seek help or stop drinking, smoking and gambling. This reaches a peak after about 3 months when he crashes and becomes depressed and fearful for another three months and does nothing. After plenty of talks and maybe a visit to a doctor he starts to excercise, take his medication properly, eat properly and doesn’t smoke or drink. This then gets him back on track but that only seems to last for 3 months and the cycle starts all over again.
He’s just started again on the path toward gloom and I really don’t know how to deal with it!!???
Is there anyone else that may have experienced this similar situation and perhaps has found a way to break the cycle and the addictions?