Bipolar Supporter? You’ll probably be told you’re crazy

Hi,

How’re you doing today?

We are testing a new system for sending out the daily emails again. A way to make it more efficient. It takes up to 75 minutes to do it start to finish every day : ). I am trying to get this done quicker.

If something is a little off, sorry. Otherwise if it all looks fine and reads well and arrives at the normal time then all is well.

Okay, if you haven’t found out already, you will probably find out that if you’re a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, lots of people will say you’re crazy.

First of all they’ll say your loved one is crazy, because many people still don’t understand about bipolar disorder, or mental illness in general, so they still call people with a mental illness “crazy.”

Then they’ll say that you’re crazy, too, for “putting up” with them. Many would even probably think you should leave them (because that’s what they would do).

Even your friends and/or family might do this.

So don’t expect to get much reassurance or support from these people who say (or think) these things.

And many times you can expect to feel very alone when you’re dealing with a loved one who has bipolar disorder.

That’s why it’s important to have your own support system outside of your loved one’s.  The important thing is that YOU know you’re not crazy (although sometimes you might feel like you are J) But that leads me to my point.

I had someone ask me the other day if a supporter can “catch” bipolar disorder from their loved one. Really. She did ask me that!

I told her you can’t “catch” bipolar disorder like you can catch the flu from someone else, but yes, if you live with someone who has the disorder, you may find yourself picking up some of their behaviors.

Like you might find yourself more moody than you used to be.

Fro another example, you don’t have bipolar disorder or major depression, but you may find yourself depressed more often.

Or you may have been a relaxed, calm person before, able to handle a lot of things, but now find yourself stressed-out more often than you used to.

Maybe you never suffered from anxiety before, but now you do. You might even be on medication for it.

You might find yourself getting more headaches than you used to get (or even migraines) that you have to take medication for, which could be a sign of stress from bipolar disorder (your loved one’s).

In my courses/systems, I talk about the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, and they are of people who have the disorder, but if you look at them, you’ll see that there are some that you can begin to “mimic” if you live with someone with the disorder as their supporter:

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

Again, it’s not that you’re catching bipolar disorder or anything, and I’m not suggesting that you’re developing bipolar disorder yourself. I’m just saying that, as a supporter, you can begin to have some of them without actually having the disorder(just from being a supporter).

Again, this also does NOT make you crazy, either!

There may be times that you seem to have more energy, and you may super-clean the entire house in a single day. But that doesn’t mean you’re in a bipolar manic episode.

You may have insomnia, but that doesn’t make you manic, either.

And just because you have a little bit of extra money and choose to spend it on yourself for some clothes, doesn’t mean you’re on a manic shopping spree. You have more control over the money than someone n a bipolar manic episode.

You might be super tired and spend an entire Sunday in bed (you might even feel lazy and do the same thing, because you feel you deserve it from working so hard Monday through Friday), but that doesn’t mean you’re in a bipolar depressive episode.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

Other people may call you crazy, or they may even call you bipolar, but it’s only out of their own ignorance.

You know the truth.

Hey I have to run. Catch you tomorrow.

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.

  1. Hi Dave: You really hit the nail on the head today, as it is often said that the longer you live with someone, the more likely you are to start acting like that person. I have done this myself in the past, I started acting in many ways as my past husbands were acting. I no longer do this. I have BP, as well as my daughter, her father, and my current husband and I am a supporter for both my husband and daughter. It would be very easy to take on one of their characteristics, but I have learned better than to allow myself to do this over the years. To allow myself to do so would only make my own BP worse and harder to treat and deal with. So to all you supporters and persons with BP out there: Take heed and read this day’s email very carefully. It can be a 2-way street here as no one is perfect!

  2. Excellent in site in regards to catching Bipolar – I have been telling my loved ones this for years. I truly believe that people living with a bipolar person do have the unfortante truth that it can be a learned behavior. Example take my 13 year old he is not bipolar but his 16 year old sister is he will have melt downs that are not appropriate for his age but again I can tell this is a learned behavior as he succeeds in ways she can not.

  3. Our problem is that our son who is suspected of being bipolar won’t consent to any more counseling, medication, etc. He has left home, refusing to talk things through and thinking all is fine with his leaving but we feel it is heartbreaking and on bad terms. What can you do for someone who refuses everything?

  4. This is the type of encouraging e-mail that helps bolster the supporters. Thanks.

    LeRoy

  5. Dave,
    I can’t believe that you sent this article today. Last night my wife tried to commit suicide. She threw her journal at me and told me that I am the one who is bipolar and that I’m driving her crazy and she can’t take it any more. She has been trying to convince me that I’m the one who needs help not her. In her journal she writes that I am exhibiting all of the behaviors of a bipolar person and that I am trying to “control her”. In reading the journal I recognize the events that she is describing but the way she describes them are nowhere near what actually happened. I have been wondering if she is right and that maybe I am causing her problems. I am now also seeing a therapist and on medication for depression. Her entire family has deserted us and blames me for all of the problems. How am I supposed to keep going??? All I can say is that I love her and I can’t give up. I married her for better or worse, in sickness and in health…this is definitely a sickness and it is also the worst part of being together. Please post this so that other people who might be thinking about giving up will realize that love and marriage are a commitment not a fuzzy warm feeling to be enjoyed when things are good and walked away from when things get tough. I also ask that everyone reading this please pray for “B” and me…there is a lot of power in prayer. Please forgive me if I am rambling but I have not sleept since the ambulance took her to the hospital last night.
    Take care and keep the articles coming.
    Ron

  6. This was so true. But You forgot to mention that bipolar can run in families. I know that due to 2 of my brothers have it and so do I! Some people dont understand that fact but I do and others need to be aware of it! So please write something to get the word out that if ylu do have close family that has bipolar you are at risk too..

  7. Note:
    thank you for all you’re hard work, i very much appreciate you so much.
    GOD’S BLESSINGS always,
    Marie DePriest

  8. THIS WAS WONDERFUL DAVE, THANK YOU, NEED MORE ON BIPOLAR SUPPORTERS………….GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

  9. Dear David, perfectly true. I experienced this with my fiancé for two intense years. I thought I was going crazy. Now, we’re far from each other, taking a break, trying to find out who is the bipolar one. It’s practically turning out that he’s the one, although he just half admitted it. Before, he wouldn’t tell me anything, and no one from his circle of friends and influences would. He said he was afraid to lose me if he revealed that sickness to me. Result, I was like in a roller coaster ride almost everyday, three times a week or four trying to find out what was going on, what was true and what was a lie. It was to hard to tell. But anyway, now at least I know I am not the one, but yes, I’ve inherited some of his behaviours which I am actually trying to discard now by recalling who and how I was before I met him. Cheerio!

  10. Thank you for this email, most particularly, David. I’ve found myself feeling almost hysterical – totally out of character for me – with my spouse’s tunnel vision in his bipolar experiences. We married a year and a half ago and I have allowed myself to expend all my $65,000 monies trying to pay bills and get life on-track. I find myself tired now…and once the heavy burdens of bills are now gone (returned house on contract for deed), he wants to put his invalid parent first…it seems to be an attempt constantly to put anyone else first, always. His job is probably the most important thing to him, his parents next.

    I’d love to hear any ideas. I’m living in my small house and he is in a camper on his folks’ property. It looks like such an awful downward spiral. He’s in therapy and on medications…I would so wish to feel there might be hope of change down the road.

    Thank you for the email today.

  11. I just wanted to thank you for all the time you take with your news letters! My 16 year old daughter was only recently diagnosed because I had family memebers telling me that it was ME! I did struggle with depression because I was so frustrated with her, they don’t live with her so they didn’t understand my struggles with her, & I myself at one point started to believe that it was me. As she got worse, so did I!! I finally sought help, & each day is a new day!! Thank YOU for CARING!! It’s really suprising to see, especially within the MEDICAL SYSTEM, how uncaring people are!! You Rock & Thank You Very Much!!
    Bobbie & Kailee Borts

  12. this is Hector Salinas and i dont support sombody with bipolar I have bipolar fells like iam fighting a losing battel

  13. I just found your website yesterday, and I feel like I might have found hope at last. My son is dating a 20 year old girl that is bipolar. They have been living with us until they can afford to get their own place. She is currently on a 72 hour evaluation hold in Napa. My son took her to the local Mental Health last week to try to get her some help. It seems very bleak right now, she talked to her mom yesterday and is still threatening suicide. This is not the path I would have chosen for my son, but he loves her and we want to support hsi decisions. We aren’t able to purchase your course right now due to our finances, but hope to get it as soon as possible. Hopefully it can help my son be prepared when his girlfriend comes back. Thank you for caring, Toni

  14. THANK YOU FOR THIS ONE. IT IS WELL NEEDED. THESE ENCOURAGING WORDS REALLY HELP. THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES WHERE I FEEL THAT I AM ALONE TRYING TO HELP MY SON AND THAT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS. MY HUSBAND IS VERY VERY SUPPORTIVE AND WANTS TO HELP IN ANY WAY, BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE PATIENCE, SO IT GETS FRUSTRATING WHEN I AM THE ONLY ONE TRYING TO WORK WITH MY SON. THIS REALLY HELPED ME TODAY. THANKS AGAIN.

  15. I love all of your articles Dave. I think this a wonderful thing that you do. I just wish it was more affordable for the average Joe. I really appreciate the free mini course though I have learned alot. i was diagnosed about 16 years ago. been stable on and off for 3-6 years at a time. My daughter has it, her father was diagnosed in 1984 and now her son 9 years old i think may. they say he is adhd like his father but i dont know. she cant afford the medicine for both him and her so he suffers or she does most the time both do. i would also like to read articles on it and not just from the supporters view. thanks for everything, kathy

  16. dave i am and have been living and trying to support boyfriend but everyone around me makes me feel as if i am stupid for the shit that i put up with. all of my friends and family stay away or when they come around they make sure that they have nothing to do with him because of the way he treats me when he has an episode. i am on medicine now and supposed to go to counseling but i have shut myself down and i do feel as if freak out for no reason and i sleep less and worry about everything! we have a son to take care of but i feel as though im going to be the only one there for my son i dont know how much his dad can take of his life . he makes everything bigger than it is or he ignores it and deals wiht it when it blows it up in his face. he doesnt realize that decisions he makes or doesnt make effects his family, our family that im trying so hard to keep together but im loosing daily and it angers me but more than hurts me so yes i do feel like im loosing my mind trying to keep it all together but nothing seems to work anymore im ready to give up on being a bipolar supporter. especially to one that refuses to help himself. my luck ,my son will have it god bless his soul i WILL NOT give up on my son but i cant do anything else for his father

  17. Hi Dave,

    I am a supporter, but I too have bipolar. I don’t know if it is more difficult for me because I know what it is like and that for Certain that things could be better if my sister came around to getting the help she needs. She refuses the idea of her being bipolar. It’s the old “You don’t understand” situation. It “is” tough, and a really hard call when to leave someone. If they hurt you or their children it is time to call the police, but giving up on someone? I agree, we should not give up on people. I don’t know really where the line is in the sand between staying and trying to support someone vs. giving up hope on them and leaving. Thank God I am not in that position. But I think if you need a break, take a break. It is better to take a break than to break down and stress out! As a supporter we need to take care of ourselves even more so than the one we are supporting. I think it is easy to get lost in the shuffle of seeing their problems and trying to help them while we forget to meet our needs for fun, recreation, socialization, and spiritual rejuvenation.

    If you are a supporter, take time for yourself too. Make sure you keep your needs met. Try not to get over involved because that leads to burnout. Burnout leads to unhealthy stress, and hopelessness which no one needs because it helps no one. We need to keep ourselves stable, happy, and detached in a healthy way from the illness, but love the survivor as best we can by being there emotionally for support, encouragement, and standing by them.

    Thanks for the message today Dave, but I exhibit the bipolar symptoms because I am bipolar, but I know what you mean…

    Bob

  18. You reference is to the SUPPORTER who may be viewed as CRAZY or taking on the characteristics of a ‘crazy’ bipolar. But what about the SURVIVOR who is told he/she is ‘CRAZY.’ I don’t like the connotation of the symptoms labeling a person as crazy. I have many who do not understand my situation and tell me I am ‘crazy and mad.’ It is so degrading and lacks compassion. My family continues to say mean things to hurt me and I am struggling with their destructive criticism. They don’t want to help me…they want to destroy me.

  19. I am really feeling ‘crazy’ today. I don’t know if it is the medication, the stress, the money (lack of), the bills being due and I can’t pay them, still no job prospects, and a family waiting patiently for me to fail. Is it bipolar or is it crazy?

  20. To TRIED THEM ALL: No, you’re NOT “crazy.” You are just dealing with impossible situations that increase your stress levels, thereby increasing YOUR stress and making you feel “crazy.”

    I have a LOT of stress on me, too, even though I “think” the tax problems have abated. I am still trying to rent my room (costing over $300 for 3 weeks of ads in the paper – I DON’T have that kind of money just to throw away), and other “stressors” too numerous to mention. I’m feeling “crazy” now, too – I’m not getting the sleep I need – wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, so go on the computer to catch up on emails – and, when I DON’T have appointments the next day – sleep until the middle of the afternoon! Even my boyfriend has noticed a lack of concentration and some “crazy” behavior when he’s with me.

    He KNOWS about my bipolar, and I’ve given him scads of emails from Dave, but he refuses to accept the fact that I am “different” from HIM. He is a genius, and can figure out ANYTHING/EVERYTHING, sometimes overdoing it at times. He’ll take 3-4 hours to “fix” his laptop, instead of giving up on it. Then WHY can’t he take my actions and UNDERSTAND??!! He lives an hour-and-a-half away, and we don’t live together, so he doesn’t see me every day. I have NO supporter. AND – when he’s here, if a situation comes up when I’m groggy from no sleep or haven’t had my coffee before he starts “getting into me,” he has a trigger temper, and we have a confrontation. These do NOT help.

    So – to sum it up, TRIED THEM ALL – you are NOT “crazy.” You are simply a person with bipolar disorder who is trying your very BEST to hold it together, as am I. If those around us don’t, or refuse, to understand, and call us names, just disregard it, and TRY to reduce your stress. I’m praying for you, darling, so don’t look for ghosts that aren’t there!!

    BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good.

  21. Suzanne, If I am not CRAZY, why do I feel as though I am losing my mind and my motivation for living. I get up late everyday, stare at the TV, not really watching it, read my emails, lay here saying, “oh, what is the use?” How do I get out of this cycle that I am now in?

  22. 10/02/2008

    Hi Ron,

    Rest assured of my prayers for you and for your wife ” B”, my whole community will be praying for your family. I really appreciate your stand and commitment on marriage. lorna

  23. “Mama, we’re all Crazy now.”

    Yes, this one really touched home. It seems we Supporters attract Victims (in my case BPDs – although the symptoms really do seem to overlap Bipolar – and after two years of reading I’m still not clear on the differences, especially since the two Sufferers in my life DO NOT follow all the patterns). We Supporters are kind, caring people who can’t just dump spouses and friends. In my experience, at least, Victims are very intelligent, cleaver people who twist things (and even lie, although they may not realize they are doing so) and make YOU look like the “Crazy” one.

    It’s been said that Victims leave A PATH OF DESTRUCTION. How true! Also that relationships with them are TOXIC.

    Because of my relationships (too complicated to really explain here) I haven’t slept or accomplished anything significant in two years. My mind races. I can’t sleep at night, and if and when I do fall asleep I wake up in the wee hours and have to turn the TV on in an attempt to ease my mind. So, Tried Them All, you are not alone…I know that’s not much consolation, but at least you know you are not the only one being tortured.

    So the point I’m trying to make so awkwardly is that the “Craziness” in others brings out the “Craziness” in us. Sorry for using that “tag,” but when people ask me if I am crazy I give them a quick reply: “Yes I am!”

    I love music. And now that I am more educated on the subject, have discovered that many songs, especially love songs (and most especially songs about love gone wrong) have references to mental illness. Listen to “Ghost In This House” by Alison Krauss. It stops me in my tracks, as it reminds me of my own situation. I live in a house with a wife of over 30 years who suddenly turned on me three years ago. One of the episodes of “Gray’s Anatomy” ended with the quote “Living in a house with someone who doesn’t love you is worse than living alone.” Yes, I know what it’s like to be run-over by a steam roller.

    DAVE and Company: Is there a way this could be turned into a forum, in which all these good (and hurting) people could communicate more directly? I have an overwhelming feeling that we could all help each other, but most people probably don’t go back to these blogs of yours after they are more than a couple of days old. If someone responds to someone else, the answer is not necessarily seen, and that’s a real shame.

  24. I so enjoy your articles. I am involved with a man who I suspect has bipolar disorder. Just by his own description of himself and from the behaviors I have observed, he’s a classic textbook case. He is unfocused, indecisive, hyper, gets involved in risky behaviors, is hyper sexed (has multiple sex partners), easily irritable, says he likes to be hyper, can’t make up his mind half the time or says he is going to do something and then quickly changes his mind. He describes himself as difficult to deal with, unreasonable, unpredictal, unstable and won’t listen. Many times he can’t sleep, staying up late nights is a frequent occurence. He self medicates to keep himself on an even keel, if ever he is even. I have told him that should see a mental health professional to get himself checked out, but like many, he doesn’t want to. He was married before but his constant running the streets destroyed the marriage. I am trying to be supportive of him and if I knew for certain that he had bipolar disorder, it would probably make it easier for me to deal with. It would make it easier to forgive, although not make excuses for his behavior. Keep publishing you informative articles. They are a godsend, and thanks.

  25. HI! and thank you Dave for today e-mail.
    it helped me and i read the reply to you and they help too.
    because I support my boyfreind with BP.
    he said that he didn,t need help .
    I supported his mom for 71/2 years with BP.before she died.
    and found out this year that no one new that she was BP.
    so it is hard for me to get my boyfeind to the dr,s.
    but i will not stop helping him i have known him for 36 years.
    been together for 9years
    4days ago he said to me that he will go to the dr,s with me
    because I said that I can not to thing no more
    and I was walking from him .
    My boyfreind Larry said to me that his live is over
    because I will not stay with him.
    this is not the frist time Larry said that to me.
    I said to him that if he wound me to stay with him
    he will have to go to the dr,s
    we go to the dr,s on Oct.8
    I will let you know if he gose with me.
    please let all the supporer know that
    i support them all.
    it is not ease to support some one with BP
    THANK YOU AGAIN DAVE FOR ALL YOUR HELP!
    your freind Kimberley

  26. hello dave thank you for all the information you have been seending to me on Bipolar i have had this for many years and was finaly told 7 years ago what it was, your papers you send to me is helping me out alot thank you so very much. and your new paper looks great to thank you kep up the good work my friend. thank you so very much for everything you are doing. god bless you.. sharon 10-02-08

  27. Thank you so much Dave. For the last few months I have felt like I am bipolar. I have a boyfriend who is bipolar. He went into a maniac episode in June. Seems like he has had an episode pretty regularly since. He has moved to Arizona. I am moving to Arizona myself. I would do anything for this man. I am finding my own place when I get there. He told me the other day that he loves me but he is not in love with me. He wants to be my friend but Im not sure that I can be that right now. I love him with all my heart and soul. I am a supporter and he needs me to talk to because I let him talk when he needs to.
    But how do I support him when he is so far away right now? I have been told that I need to cut him out of my life but no one seems to understand how I feel about this man. That I am crazy for loving him, because he treats me like shit sometimes.

    Thank you for the emails. I am thankful that there is someone who understands what I am going through.

  28. You know, its amazing that i should receive this mail today. Cos I just spent a week with a best friend trying to desperately convince me out of supporting my bipolar boyfriend. Somehow i felt more convinced about supporting him every time she pleaded, begged and cried for me to leave him. As far as being impacted by their behaviour, i have been getting panic attacks and am now on medication. I guess thats the side-effect of their condition. Thanks for this mail Dave, it just reassured me of my love for my boyfriend!

  29. Dave has written an email recently in which he comes out against forums. In fact, it was a strongly warning not to get involved with them. Granted, you have to be careful, just as it’s important to be careful what information you do or do not disclose in in-person support groups. Another problem with forums is that you risk posting a message to which noone responds or you might not like the responses you get.
    I have noticed a few people referring back to someone’s message and responding that way. Generally, whether I post or not, I check the blog daily unless I’m really sick and just don’t want to get online or my computer is messed up or I’m out of town. (Boy, wouldn’t that be nice! I think the last time I went on an extended out of town trip was over three years ago!) But I don’t mind the simple pleasures, when I’m stable, like I am now.
    There are some forums for bipolar survivors and supporters online. There are three on the about.com website. When you get on the site, you to go Home and Garden, then to health, then to the main bipolar disorder site. It is a very informative site and there are specific articles written for family and friends. They have three different forums. You have to register to post but it’s free and they don’t ask anything except for a user name (don’t use your real name, it’s best to stay anonymous on any forum or blog to which you post) a password and maybe and email address, I can’t remember. the way about.com works is that each division, or website, has a guide or, in the case of the bipolar site, there are two guides, Kimberly Read and Marcia Purse. They write informative articles on a variety of subjects related to bp and there is a blog and three forums. You can give your email address and have it so that you get email notifications when someone responds to your messages. In that email, you get linked to the forum and you can read the message or messages and choose to reply or not. I have found that there are some very supportive people on those forums. There are all kinds of people, parents of children who have the disorder, people who have it, spouses and boyfriends and girlfriends of people who have it, sometimes health care professionals and some people who think they or someone in their family might have it and are looking for information. The site has some good general information and some personal experience stories. Though the site sometimes has sponsored links, there is no advertising of products allowed on the forum though if you have a blog or website, you can put a link in. The posts are moderated so that inflammatory, obscene, insensitive or rude messages are deleted. But you can discuss pretty much anything except that if you’re going to get graphic (like describing in great detail the techniques you use to self injure or ways to commit suicide, those will probably get deleted. But saying you feel like doing something, well, it’s important that, and this would be true on any blog or forum, if you think the message might be triggering, you can put * and “possible trigger” so that people will understand that the message is serious and could potentially cause them a problem. You can’t anticipate every trigger. Nobody expects you to. For example, if someone on the forum has a certain word that reminds them of a traumatic event and they go into a flashback, you can’t control that. But if you know that there is a person who regularly posts to a forum who is a combat vet, and who has told forum members that he gets triggered by detailed war stories and you know that, then you might choose to talk about war but you could place a “trigger” warning.
    I’m making it more complicated than it really is. Forum guidelines are always listed. They are short, simple and pretty much common sense. Differing opinions are fine but act responsibly and with respect. Try it. You might like it. Lots of people do. At this point, I wouldn’t plan on seeing a forum on this site anytime soon if ever.
    There are other forums. Revolutionhealth.com, ivillage.com (for women) and other reputable sites have them. Revolution is a big site and I haven’t checked lately but there is a lot of good information on different mental illnesses there and I think they have forums.
    One thing that I’ve found is really important to do when you evaluate information you find on the Internet, and I think this may be one reason Dave steers people away from forums, is that there are a lot of bad sites out there, where content is not monitored or regulated at all, anyone can post irresponsible information etc. You can check the credibility of information in several ways, including checking whether the site is accredited by a group called “health on the net”. Also, on about.com, all medical information, even non-medical stuff that’s on their health sites, is reviewed by a medical review board of doctors, and their credentials are posted on the site. The psychiatrist who reviews mental health information is Dr. Steven Ganz. About.com is affiliated with the New York Times Company and, I think, Time Warner, though I’m not sure about the last one. There are over six hundred different topic sites on a wide variety of topics and each site has subtopics, a blog and a forum. They have a site for borderline personality disorder, one for panic disorder, one for depression, one for generalized anxiety disorder, one for PTSD, one for alcohol and drug abuse, one for abuse survivor support, and there are many more plus a whole lot of other things from ADHD to autism to parenting of different age groups to religion and spirituality to chess, crafts, financial information fitness and all kinds of stuff and it’s all free. They even have free email courses, some of them complete with homework assignments. Each site has a newsletter too. It’s worth checking out.
    Laura

  30. Dear Dave,
    This is a very good email. This email enlightens me a lot to give balance both for myself and for my boyfriend. When my boyfriend told me that he has this disorder your email been a part of my life to understand more about BP and how to handle every situation. lt is more difficult on my part because we haven’t been together yet and l have to learn a lot of things. Maybe, many would be surprised why l stayed with my boyfriend after l learned about his disorder and to the fact that we haven’t been together. There are really things that are unexplainable. l understand how much a BP needs someone that really cares and your emails are one of my guides to stay firm for him. Thank you.
    -id-

  31. Hi Dave
    I know my husband can definately not develop bipolar, but it can cause a great amount of distress due to the fact that it is not easy to have a partner with moodswings. You never know what to expect. It can cause the supporters of bipolar to have headaches and symptoms of depression. With bipolar your moods are very unpredictable the one minute you happy andthe next minute you are sad. It cause a great deal of stress in any relationship, but if both partners understand the illness and know how to be in control of the situation you can make it work. Thank you Dave

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