Hi,
Hope you’re having a great day!
Since my dad had a stroke, the other week, I was talking to him about what his experience was in the waiting room.
Then I was remembering all my experiences waiting in waiting rooms.
Having bipolar disorder, there are several appointments you have to attend to regularly, such as:
· Doctors
· Psychiatrist
· Therapist
· Support group
· (among others)
Especially for supporters, who don’t necessarily go into the actual appointment with their loved one.
So, much of your time is spent doing what?
WAITING!
Sometimes it’s because you’re early for your appointment, sometimes it’s because the doctor (or whoever) is running behind schedule, or sometimes it’s for other reasons (like if you’re a supporter, you have to wait for your loved one).
Getting frustrated and impatient will get you nowhere. And it may just stress you out, stress that you don’t need.
In fact, it can make matters worse – it can make you forget what you wanted to ask the doctor, or what you wanted to bring up in your therapy session.
In my courses/system, I talk about how important productivity is:
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
Instead of being irritable and unhappy during times of waiting in those waiting rooms, wouldn’t you rather be productive instead?
Here are some helpful hints:
· Prepare ahead of time, and bring something with you to do.
· Read a book.
· Read a magazine in the waiting room (some of them have some good articles on how to take care of your health)
· Sew, knit, crochet, cross-stitch, embroider, or quilt
· Make a list of questions to ask the doctor
· Make a list of issues to discuss with the Therapist
· Make a To-Do List
· Write a letter (catch up on correspondence)
· Speak to other patients who are also waiting
· Do crossword or word search puzzles
· Some offices will allow you to use cell phones (others won’t, however)
· Read the newspaper
· Write in your journal
· Bring a friend with you to keep you company
Whatever you do, WAITING time does not have to be WASTED time!
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.
Post responses below
You bring up such an important topic. As a full-time working and Master’s student mother with bipolar and 3 children I often do a lot of waiting. My life is always SOOO busy though that these times of waiting actually become productive. I spend time reading to my children, playing games with them, catching up on magazine acticles that I don’t have time for when I’m not waiting. I need this “wait time” to do things I don’t have time to do because I’m always running in my manic states, or too depressed to do anything at all. I sometimes even get upset if I don’t have to wait too long because the doctors and other appointments are becoming more efficiant.
David Your so right. I always go to waiting fully equiped with items as a am of five children i dont just have my own appointments to attend to and even with the children I’ll say we could be here for a while bring something, book psp whatever. I sometimes use the time if on me own for my quiet time. I dont hear whats going on around me and just relax.. until I’m called.
But it does stess me if i’m delayed so long that my next place to be is going into jepordy of been late. I hate been Late.
God Bless Amanda
I clean out my purse waiting for my son’s psychiatrist, social worker, therapist, SSI, school counselor and vocational rehab appointments.
…my purse is fairly clean and my son is fairly stable.
Thanks for validating supporters!
Waiting Room tips is so simple, and so true. I have waited a million times not just for myself, but family members with a variety of ailments. The anxieties of their treatment combined with things that I should have been accomplishing made things harder when I had no control. I do carry a large bad and stuff it with a variety of things so I am not aware of the time passing.
Hi, I try to be calm and supportive. I bring something to read. I for sure bring my questions written ahead of time. I am so THANKFUL today for David Oliver. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Hugs, Mary
i do not have a problem with waiting rooms i only take one lithium in the morning my biggest problem is a usually go hi never bad depressed having been a nurse along time aga i received a lot of supooort alothough i hav vivid memories oof early treatment ie shock treatment i was only 19 today at 51 i no i can pace myself and work two days a week i hate the storms and humid weather my worst experience was previous to a hysterectomy i was put on anti depressants oh boy what a night mare i finally came out of my phschotic episode 2 months later my biggest hurdle is putting that behind me and gaining confidence any advice i was put on olanzapine which side affects made me very medically ill now two years on i am back to my old self working and enjoying life care to see gp two weekly i am even in a relationship i met him before episode and he is still with me my motto is never give up and have a go but remember your limitations..please excuse mistakes i am ok i ususally wake at this time my son does shift work but i will have a nap in afternoon… your sight is a gret information site
I no longer celebrate the Holiday of Thanksgiving. I remember the good times, six years ago when my dad cooked Thanksgiving dinner for us. Now that he is no longer alive, I don’t see the point of celebrating anything. My brother goes with his in-laws, my mom’s extended family absolutely hates me. I just want to lay in bed, cry and pull the sheets over my head.
The waiting room techniques you’ve mentioned are all good, but – I LIKE being in the waiting room and talking to the other people there. At first, I’ll bring a “rag mag,” read it in the car until 10 min. before my appointment, and smoke a cigarette before I go in. You meet the MOST interesting people in a waiting room, and they’re probably just as bored as you are, and want the distraction.
To TRIED THEM ALL: Without family (my adopted family was all deceased by 1993), it CAN be hard. I feel for you and the loss of your beloved Dad. Enjoy your memories of him, but DON’T cry and cover your head. Don’t you have a single friend who doesn’t have anyone themselves that you can share Thanksgiving with? I worry about you being alone and not having a turkey with all the trimmings! Since I’ve been alone, I don’t fix a turkey; I buy a “turkey roll” and add some vegetables, and have “quiet time” to reflect on all I’m grateful for for the year.
This year, I’m going to spend Thanksgiving with my boyfriend and his 91-year-old Mom, who is sooo spry, she makes ME jealous! We’ll travel over an hour to get there, and drive back the same day. That’s the way he wants it, and he LOVES to drive, so who am I to complain?? His Mom is fixing EVERYTHING (last year, I brought everything to her house), and doesn’t even want me to HELP!!
May everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING DAY!!
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Just me, a bottle of Chianti and a few dozen bottles of pills. Friends – yes I have em, but they have their family and did not invite me. Cheers.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the US a happy Thanksgiving Day!
Have fun!
TRIED THEM ALL, Friends are the family you choose yourself. A true friend accepts you the way you are and will never let you down. Family is over-rated. In my experience friends I have had much better support from friends than family members. Both my marriages failed due to interference from the husbands’ relatives. My boyfriend’s family all turned their backs on him because they don’t understand his bipolar. We will probably spend Christmas together just the 2 of us and that’s great, as we can empathise with each other. Instead of turkey I will cook his favourite dish.
However, I understand that you miss your Dad and he will always be there in your heart. As Suzanne says, remember the good times and let go of the bad. My boyfriend has been depressed recently, but remains positive. One of his quotes is “When you’re down the only way is up!”
Happy Thanksgiving to all. For all the trials this year I am very grateful for my family, home, friends, etc. Things could be much worse. My son who has the bipolar is doing pretty well except the tiredness is depressing him a little. God bless you all and be safe.
Thanks, Suzanne, Nightlady. I appreciate your thoughts & kindness. The fact of the matter is that I have not gone through a Thanksgiving without a suicide attempt. For some reason, Thanksgiving is the worst time for me. I feel as though I am all alone, without the support of those who are near. I don’t really have family supporters–they are anti-supporters, actually. My friends are all nice, but they don’t understand my psychological or financial problems. I cannot talk to the friends because I make them feel uncomfortable and they don’t know what to say. No one really understands ‘suicidal ideation.’ I’ve been trying to think of the good memories that I have shared with my dad…and there are many. Unfortunately, his life came to an abrupt ending that was more than horrifying. I try to deal with it by trying to harm myself, in an intent to end my life. I have difficulty finding a good psychologist and psychiatrist to help me cope with all of this. I have been trying to take it ‘day by day,’ but when certain days come up, like Thanksgiving, I feel all hope is lost. I want to cry on someone’s shoulder and have someone tell me it will all be okay. But there is no such person who exists. I continue to go through years and years of unhappiness, lonliness, and severe depression. I don’t know how much longer I can do it.
Hello David…..
just responding to the list you sent me that I am supposed to be attending regularly well…in my city there is no support groups here, that is why I have come to this site, and keep your e-mails coming and these posts, it is the only contact with people who have bi-polar. This city I live in Prince George Canada, has no real support here, they have support groups for everythig else here, but no bi-polar groups, it is sad really.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I would rather be in the waiting room at the head doctors than somewhere like the post office. Simple things to be thankfull for. The harder we fight the harder it is to surrender!!!!!
Thanks,
Karen
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Hope you are handling things well. I enjoy your columns, even though I usually have to read a week’s worth at a time in one day, because of work and l;ack of computer access. Keep up the good work and hang in there.