Hi,
They say that what you see is what you get. I say that what you see is not necessarily what you get! Here’s what I mean: You can hope for one thing…And then get surprised when you get something totally different. You can look at something a certain way and think you’re sure of what you see…Then find out it’s not. Think about optical illusions, for example. If you look at it one way, you see one thing. But if you look at it another way, you can see something else. The important thing when it comes to bipolar disorder, is that you DO look at what is facing you, however.
Optical illusions can “trick” us. Well, bipolar disorder can trick you in sort of the same way. You think you see it one way, but something changes, and then you can see it a totally other way. A lot of it has to do with your attitude. If you look at something with a positive attitude, you’re going to see it one way. But if you look at it with a negative attitude, you’re going to see it another way. When you apply this principle to bipolar disorder, you can see the difference that your attitude can make.
Here’s another example: If you look at your loved one’s recovery from bipolar disorder with a positive viewpoint, you’re going to see them as stable someday. And you hope for that day. If you look at your loved one’s bipolar disorder with a negative attitude, however, you may think that they’ll never get better. Think about that optical illusion. There are two ways to look at the same thing.
One supporter put it this way: “Right now my son is not stable with his bipolar disorder. But at least he’s trying his best. It’s just that he keeps having problems with his medication. Sometimes he gets discouraged, but I try to keep him optimistic, because I am a positive person, and I try to keep him focused on the future and that someday he will be better, that soon they’ll get his medications right.”
That’s the difference that a good attitude can make. This woman is a good supporter. Having a positive outlook can help you get through the hard times. It can keep you looking forward to the “someday” of stability. It can help you to look forward to your loved one reaching the recovery stage of their bipolar disorder. Things may look bad now, but if you look at it later, things will look much different. That’s how bipolar disorder tricks you. It can get you believing that what you see now is what you’re always going to get. But that’s not true. If your loved one is doing the things they need to do to further their stability, then you have every reason to hope that they will recover. Just try not to get discouraged. Just remember that it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Just keep in mind that the bipolar disorder will try to “trick” you into thinking that your loved one will never get better. But you don’t have to believe it.Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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My girlfriend now calls me “Soft Rock” and it’s because I’ve mellowed down a bit. I was allowing way to much to take over my life and it became uncontrollable. I became what most people learn in Early Childhood education as “Brickwall” which represented “my way or the high way” due to the very thing you are talking about.
My own neglect caused me not to question the motive of why I was doing what I was actually (taking the jobs I was taking, settling for those I was settling for etc.) doing until it all came tumbling down. I became a HARD ROCK – NO ONE COULD GET THROUGH TO ME. and I was the one to blame for failing to do my homework — 1st thing – THE NEXT TIME PEOPLE OR SITUATIONS COME INTO YOUR LIFE TO SHOW YOU WHO/WHAT THEY ARE – BELEIVE THEM!!!!
I did some “self preservation” homework and decided it’s time to “Clean Up” like Bald Headed Mr. Clean (I only started attracting good copies “of me” adn those “like me” who now offered a new lesson – wehn you can’t be the whole wide world of personalities be with the one that you see in the mirror and never be ashamed to open your eyes and see what is coming your way by means of Finances, companions and Family) and now I am a gentle as a lamb, easy to deal with and my girlfriend enjoys my company whereas before she walked on 3 cases of egg shells to crack around me!
My Heart is likened Now a Soft Rock and all I had to do was open my eyes and see True Wealth!
Yes it is better to be positive. But how do I put a positive on an episode which alienates another family member! And then there is no apology for actions, the person just acts like he did nothing wrong. I am still angry at the behavior even though I know it was just an episode breakthough. My hubby has accomplished losing relationships with both my children and my parents. What kind of positive is that?
yah, you or me do not need to beleave all of those tricks. I absolutelly agree on this one. This unbalance of bipo´s brain does make tricks us supporters.. and sometimes it is hard to separate that is it person or desesase what or who tricks.. sometimes person can also be tricky.. but that is thing what we has to face our supporting life. and yeah, have positive attidude and mind, it does help us both.