Hi, how are you today? Are you having a good day? I hope so.

Do you ever feel as if you’re the only one going through what you’re going through? The only one who has to deal with the problems that you have to deal with? Would it help to know that you aren’t the only one?

If you have financial problems, well, so do other people. Maybe you can learn from them. Maybe it’s just a matter of learning how to problem solve. Like in the case of financial problems, you might want to look at getting out of debt. You can talk to a debt counselor

about that. You might want to look at where your money is going. You can sit down with your loved one and figure that out, and then develop a budget. Then you have to stick to living within your means. It may take time, but if you do these things, you may no longer have financial problems.

And you must know that you’re not the only person with a loved one who has bipolar disorder.

You can go to just one support group meeting and find other people in the same boat as you are in. You can even get some good advice on dealing with your own loved one from a support group.

Unfortunately, in our culture we have become isolated from each other. To the point that we sometimes think we’re the only people with the problems that we have. That makes those problems harder to solve.

Everyone has problems. Would you even want to trade yours for someone else’s? Think about it. You know the expression, “No matter how bad you’ve got it, someone else has it worse.” That’s true. And remembering that can help you have a more positive attitude.

Some people just sit around waiting for “the other shoe to fall.” They expect that they’re going to have more problems. That’s like you waiting on the edge of your seat for your loved one’s next episode. That’s no way to live.

You have to believe in their stability. Otherwise, it’s just another unsolvable problem.

No, you are not the only one. Many millions of people right now are struggling with bipolar disorder. The difference between it being a problem or not is how you approach it. Either it controls you, or you control it.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave