Hi,
Today I want to talk to you about the fact that I think you are lucky. I know, I was talking about this with someone the other day who has bipolar disorder, and when I said that, they thought I was crazy. You probably do, too! You probably can’t think of even one reason why you’re lucky at all. And if you’re a supporter, you’re probably thinking the same thing. But whether you have bipolar disorder or are supporting someone who does, I’m telling you that you are lucky. And I’m going to tell you why. If you are reading this, then you are already thinking about a mental illness. You may think you have one. You may know you have one. You may think your loved one has one. You may know your loved one has one. The great thing is, though, that you are thinking in this direction. That makes you lucky.
Because there are millions of people with a mental illness that don’t know that there is anything wrong with them. Did you know that there are 1 in 4 people with a diagnosable mental illness?
And I’m not making that up! It’s the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) that says that!
Now, that’s a national government agency saying that, not me! And many of these people don’t even know that they have a mental illness! Do you know how sad, or even scary that is? Just think of the statistic I’m always telling you about people with bipolar disorder. That 20%, or 1 in 5 people, who don’t take medication for the disorder, will kill themselves. Some of those people are those who don’t even know that they have bipolar disorder! So, if you have bipolar disorder, if you’ve been diagnosed with it, and are taking medication for it …You are lucky. And if you’re supporting a loved one with it and are helping them with their medications…You are lucky.
Because you/they aren’t going to be a statistic.
I have seen this 1 in 4 statistic in action. I have had friends that fly off the handle for no reason.
Friends who spend money like the world is coming to an end. I have one friend who is so paranoid that he thinks there is a global conspiracy! I have seen people (and I know that you have, too) wandering around the streets homeless, dirty, and talking to themselves. You know that these people have an undiagnosed mental illness. So, you’re lucky that yours or your loved one’s is at least diagnosed!
Once a mental illness is diagnosed, then you can do something about it. Then you can become educated about it. Then you can take medication for it. Then you can develop a treatment plan for it. Then you can learn how to manage your disorder.
You can talk to other people who have the same disorder. You can do so many things to help yourself recover. You can become STABLE! Don’t you see how lucky you are?
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
It’s an interesting way to look at it. I would agree in so far as it took over 15 years for me to get diagnosed, on the right meds and stable. However, and although somewhat off topic, you mention someone believing in global conspiracy as if that is crazy! It’s only because I’m stable and thinking clearly, able to read and realise certain truths, that I know there IS a global conspiracy. I won’t go into the details here, just check out The Zeitgeist Movement for one source. It’s important to wake up and realise what’s actually happening in the world, once you know you are stable and ready to open your eyes. Peace.
I agree that we are fortunate that our loved ones are diagnosed, so know we how to go forward. I am writing to let you know that NAMI (Nat’l. Alliance on Mental Illness) IS an authority on mental illness, but it is not a gov’t. agency. It is a nonprofit, mostly volunteer, advocacy group. Very glad that you mentioned it, though, because it has literally been a life-saver for me and my family. I highly recommend it for those diagnosed with an illness AND loved ones.
Hello, there. Haven’t posted for awhile, so here goes. I consider myself MORE THAN lucky, but BLESSED, to be well-controlled on my meds, appts., therapies, etc. I DON’T WANNA BE A STATISTIC ON THE EVENING NEWS, for killing another and then myself. The last time I attempted suicide, I ALMOST SUCCEEDED, and had almost given up my will to live altogether!! And tks. to God and Alcoholics Anonymous, I GET TO DO THIS SOBER, as well. God willing, I’ll celebrate 33 yrs. of continuous sobriety, later in October. AND I SURVIVED BREAST CANCER THIS YR., and am now 2-time cancer survivor/thriver!! Truly, God is watching out for me, very carefully and lovingly. Tks. for letting me share.
Lynn, alcoholic, survivor/thriver
I wish my son could just stay on his meds. He is once abain in a psych hospital. I feel lucky he was picked up before something bad happened. I m exhaused living on the edge.
I have been diagnosed wirh Bipolar for 14 years, had the same job for 14 years, people meet me who meet and some who know me have no idea that I have bipolar, I also been in thearpy for it too for 14 years .. I am blessed that I have been able to afford my med, If you can’t afford meds you can contact the company who make them and you can get it free or what you can afford. Yes you can say that I am blessed, I know what I have and I know how to treat it. Before I knew that I had bipolar, I was a basket case, rages, up and down moods. I knew something was wrng. You can say that I am blessed. Iam not ashamed to say that I have bipolar. I am been stable for 14 years.
I know that I have been bipolar since early August 2004. I also have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which has been affecting my life since early childhood. I am not obsessive with spending money. However, I am obsessive which checking things, such as home door locks, car door locks, making sure the stove gas is turned off, and making sure room lights at home are turned off. I also am obsessive about avoiding traffic intersections with red light photo enforcement cameras. (Fortunately, I never received a ticket as a result of a red light photo enforcement camera program.) At times, my OCD runs my life and makes me use a lot of nervous energy. However, if I do not pay attention to it, my anxiety level shoots up. If my anxiety stay high too long, I get mentally and physically fatigued, can get headaches, and can have trouble sleeping. Anxiety that lasts several days can cause depression and even can make me borderline suicidal (although the anxiety and depression have not caused me to make suicide plans). Fortunately, I have learned some personalized cognitive tricks to control my OCD. Amazingly, I look quite young and youthful for my age as I am age 56. My physical health is great. Unfortunately, my mental health, at times, really sucks. Thank goodness for the lithium and the cognitive techniques. Without both of them, I really do not know if I still would be around. I live one day at a time.
ALWAYS timely when I take the time to read it..like I did today…thanks
Well, I did not think that way before I did read yours todays topic, so, thanks to remind of it. I am supporter and husband of hers bipo and her. Yeps, it is sort of good to know, I agree fully. Well, 3 days ago she started taking hers meds again, after ‘a bit’ ups and downs.. she is much nice now to me and others.. and her scrink update a bit stronger meds to her.. so, finger gross, that she finally find good amount of meds what fit her and her job, (yeah, she goes to 7am-4pm job), and she was diagnosed her bipolar about 12 years ago, more a less… so, she should already know what happen if she drop out meds. But YEAH, I am happy that I do KNOW that she has it.. and that there is medications of it. And that I has been able to read information about it. So, thanks Dave for good topic again, and remind me.
A teacher always is!!!!!!! LUCKY!
patients, customers, clients are often well disguised as Teachers. As you know, they are always Right!
EVEN 52 YEAR OLD SISTERS OF SPECIAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOW PASSED ON THAT MAKE REMARKS LIKE “IS GEORGIA (A BUMPY STATE) IMPORTANT”????
p.s. children repeat what the closest adult in their lives say…..great one