Hi,
How’s it going?
I hope you’re ok.
I have a friend who calls himself a “recovering alcoholic.”
One day I asked him what’s the difference between a “recovering” alcoholic and a “regular” alcoholic?
He said, “I don’t drink.”
So what’s the difference between a high functioning person with bipolar disorder and just a “regular” person with bipolar disorder?
For one thing, if you were to look at a high functioning person with bipolar disorder, you’d never know that they even have the disorder.
They are productive, stable, and successful, and live a pretty normal life.
So what else makes the difference?
Usually their attitudes.
A high functioning person has a positive attitude…
While a low functioning person is just the opposite – they have a negative attitude.
Another difference is that one is willing to do whatever it takes to reach (and maintain) stability, while the other one isn’t.
Guess which one isn’t.
Right.
A low functioning person is like those people with bipolar disorder who you hear complain all the time, or blame all their problems on the disorder.
A high functioning person will do the things like I teach in my courses/systems:
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?
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They will change their lifestyle to suit their stability.
They will eat right, exercise, and keep a good sleep schedule.
They will be productive.
They will take all their medications willingly.
They will see their doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist faithfully.
They will have a strong support system.
They will avoid what they’ve learned are triggers to a bipolar episode for them.
They will keep their stress and anxiety to a minimum.
They will watch for any signs and symptoms of episodes, so they can avoid them.
In other words, in one word, they are STABLE.
And they worked hard to get that way.
While the low functioning person is just the opposite.
They won’t be medication compliant (or will complain about having to take it).
They won’t have a strong support system. They think they can handle this on their own.
They won’t go to see their doctor, psychiatrist or therapist, because they don’t think they need them.
They will probably sleep too much and even be lazy and unproductive.
They will go through several episodes.
In other words, they are NOT STABLE.
What’s the difference?
Just what I said in one sentence before:
The high functioning person with bipolar disorder will do whatever it takes to get and stay stable.
Willingly and with a positive attitude, they will do WHATEVER it takes.
Are you doing whatever it takes to maintain your stability?
If not, you could lose it.
Post responses below
David,
Thank you for your emails. They are helpful
I HAVE worked VERY hard on obtaining and keeping my stability, with or without a 24/7 Supporter. I have essentially been on my own most of my life (1st marriage lasted 5 years, then he died; second “marriage” lasted 6 years, when he died). I have had a “mental illness” since 1968, only recently diagnosed in 1977 as “manic depression,” then, in 2001, as “bipolar disorder.”
Yes, I have ALL the symptoms (when in a manic episode) that others have. It is only through learning about, and getting educated about just exactly WHAT is bipolar disorder, that I began to come to grips with the fact that it is “uncurable,” but “manageable.”
Right now, I’m in a sort of “mixed episode,” due to the 4-month bout of vertigo I’ve been going through. Last week, I had a mini-depression, but my mood lifted on Sunday. It’s tooo easy to rely on “oh, poor me,” because of the dizziness and NOBODY doing anything about it. I’ve seen specialist after specialist on this, and no one has any answers. The closest they’ve come is a TIA (transischemic accident), or “mini-stroke.” Some DRs are even telling me NOT to drive! That is NOT an option…
As soon as my PCP returns from vacation, he’s supposed to refer me to a GOOD neurologist who CARES. They are few and far between, it seems.
Anyway, I’m asking for your prayers and good wishes as I endure this siege. Thank you.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Thats a great letter Dave, says it all about functioning with bi-polar.I am with my partner for 3 years, past 18mths realise he is ill, one episode after another with some stability in between. Problem is he is in denial. Now I bring it into the open it’s like WW3! I give up, whats the point if someone won’t help themselves. I’m worn out, physically, emotionally, and it brings up all my issues which is good I guess, must be some benefit! I have to take a step back, for both of us because I’m enabling and fixing and thats no good to him, or me. I feel sicker because I’m well aware and he’s in a fog most of the time. So, stop blaming and look after myself,for both our sakes.
You do the most wonderful work Dave.
Just to say a very hearfelt thanks to you Dave for all your input into this crushing condition.
My son is doing all he can to become stable and really
trying hard.
My poor daughter will never become stable as she cannot recognise how poorly she is and has resorted to self medication.
Another son blames the world and me, his mother.
To have this so widespread in my family is truly testing and has been for years. I don’t feel so alone now that I receive such positive information given in a informative way that is simple to understand.
To all of you who are suffering we love you.And to all of you who are caring,stay strong. Others do understand that are in the same situation.
my daughter is a very low functioning bi-polar person –
i cant seem to motivate her in any postive direction – my concern is that she will choose to end her life rather than put forth the effort to improve her life – we have all tried to encourage her to seek help and go to meetings see a therapist – she goes to the doctor but does not take all her medication just her kolonipin – she does not take the serequle or lithum perscribed. what can we do
Hopeless
I totally agree. I have been saying this for a while now. Thanks.
Déar Dave,
You are so right. My daughter has been stable now for 6 months ; and it has taken an awful amountof very hard work – on her part to get there and might I add to stay there.She is a high functioning woman with Bipolar and I am so proud of her. She is that way , I believe,because she wants to be part of the community and contribute ( Rachel is a very bright young woman) and ( she just wants to be normal) and she wants to be around for her children. Now there was a time she was none of the above because she was in a major episode – she withdrew, she didnt want her kids she was self medicating, she became suicidal and she was in denial and she spiralled downhill at a very rapid rate until she was hospitalised.
Rachel had to have enormous courage and grit to turn it all around -I havent the words to describe what it was like to watch my daughter begin and carry out her herculean struggle with BP – and she has been so successful- to all those who live with BP and have successful lives I salute you all how brave your battle is. The fight for your own stability is monumental and ongoing.
Which just goes to show you a person with BP can stabilize and they can go on to live good lives.
Thank you Dave for all you contribute to international awareness of Bipolar and the way you inspire we supporters to believe that our loved ones can stabilize and yes they can go on live up to their potential
Regards
Shona
Or dave I lost it a long time ago 😉
Take Care Linda x
Dave,
What do I do for a friend who is doing everything right (seeing his therapist & psychiatrist & taking his meds)but I see his meds are causing agitation, manic episodes & inapropriate behavior? He trusts his doctors. When he mentioned to his psychiatrist that I mentioned he becomes aggressive after taking Lexapro. He said she replied “Is she a doctor?”. When mentioning it to his therapists, her response was “you don’t need the stress” you shouldn’t be around someone like that”???? He now refuses to speak to me.
To all the Bi-Polar Supporters out there, when your partner is in denial as they so often are, make sure you are keeping a diary yourself of there episodes. Your most important defence is to identify their triggers and subsequent patterns. Help them, even if they don’t realise you’re doing it, by avoiding their triggers and that will help keep them stable until they can eventually wake-up to what has been happening themselves.
Hope that helps, and my full support and admiration to all Bi-Polar Supporters, they will never know how much we do for them.
with regards to all – Devon Ryburn, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Dear Dave…the one and only way to respond to you….or its snail mail. I like many of your ideas regarding Bipolar Disorder. I am being a bit overloaded with Supporter oriented articles and product order offers. I am NOT a supporter (well, yes I am..in regards to myself. I am the one with this disorder along with several others. I would order items from you, but I am on too much of a tight budget…I moved here recently…a year ago…it takes some time to recover when you have moved a great distance..or several times in a short span of time. I appreciate your information. I do a lot of research (ex-reporter in radio) regarding my conditions….and I count on you as one of my valuable resources. Thank you kindly for your pen as well as your ear. Best Regards, Kathy “Katy”…
I give a heartfelt thanks to Dave.It’s been a blessing for all the wonderful help,insite in managing and to able control my bi-polar. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m on the right road. Thank’s again.
hello Dave……
I read your latest…what is the difference….
Well I am a high functioning BPer, some times I push my self a little hard, but high functioning….yes. A lot of people i meet for the first few times do not I am BP….hang out with long enough, but I can ususally hide it pretty good!
I have to disagree! This is so blatently blaming the “low functioning” person with bipolar disorder.
What about those of us (Myself Included) who did the best we could when the right meds were not available, as in not yet manufactured?
Low functioning does NOT mean non-compliant with treatment. It does NOT mean giving up or not trying or just having a bad attitude.
All I can say is, in my “low functioning” days I worked a thousand times harder to GET to those appointments, to remember to TAKE what medications were available at the time, to keep my really tough symptoms at bay…at least enough to stay out of the hospital or to keep from doing the kind of things that hurt me or others.
Those are the days I am most PROUD of – there was nothing wrong with me as a person! It takes so much strength to endure through that suffering, to hope anyway.
I say all of this with respect, Dave and others. I see what you’re getting at. No, a bad attitude and all those things you said do not help things, and they certainly can make a hard situation worse–
But PLEASE hear this – it’s not like “low functioning” people are just losers by comparison to the “high functioning” group, who are painted here as if they are better, harder working people. That’s really skewed.
It’s HARDER to hold it together when you’re having a BAD TIME. I call myself, and anyone else who makes it through that a complete WINNER!!! I celebrate all of you who know what I mean.
Just sayin’ – gersh, no need to attack someone’s character because they’re “low functioning.” They COULD be working a hundred times harder than you know.
Dave,
I’m a (reluctant) supporter but life is what it is and we must make the best of it. I just received your
e-mail regarding your “pushing” religion. As you surely realize you can’t please everyone everytime. It is quite fashionable these day’s to bash or downplay the importance of religion or at least a belief in a higher power. I feel sorry for those that don’t have that belief because it makes life so much more difficult. Everything happen’s for a reason and believe it or not you/they are not in charge. If one will just give their troubles to the one that died for them life get’s much easier, you just don’t have to carry those burden’s, give them away to one that can and want’s to handle them for you. I read recently that there are posters all over NYC proclaiming that 1 million New Yorkers had a wonderful day without God. I’ll bet there are 10 million New Yorkers that had a better day with God! But what do you think the response would be to posters making that proclamation? ACLU would have a field day.
I was quite pleased to watch the start of the Nascar race today when the announcer asked everyone to stand and remove their hats (that used to happen without being asked) for the invocation and the singing of the national anthem. If there was a little more God and prayer in Chicago there just might be fewer teens beating each other to death. You keep up the good work and suggest that people just might take a look at religion and what it may offer in their lives.
I want off your emailings and the unsubscribe link is not working please take me off.