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!

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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.

Hi,

How’s it going today?

I was having a bad day the other day, (I’m sure you can relate, right).

The kind of day where nothing seems to go right?

And I have to admit, I was getting more frustrated and irritated as the day went on.

Well, I went to the store, and at the check-out, the clerk seemed to be as frustrated as me, and that didn’t make things any better. Even my order didn’t go right.

I just gave this long, sort of loud, big sigh. And then I heard this little old lady’s voice behind me in the check-out line say:

“You know, you don’t have to be that way. You can start your day over any time you want to.”

Well, that sure got MY curiosity up!

What could she have been talking about?

I was sure I didn’t know this woman, had never seen her before in my life! So she couldn’t know me, or what was going on in my life, or even why I was so frustrated!

So, of course, HER order went just fine, and she was out of the store quickly, and we kind of caught up in the parking lot, and I asked her what she meant by how I could start my day over any time I wanted to.

She told me that she used to get irritated and frustrated pretty easily.

“In fact,” she said, “I was so full of stress in a line one day, just like you were today, and someone told me those very same words!”

I didn’t want to be rude to her, and at first I really didn’t get what she was saying, but then I thought about it.

The concept is really simple.

Instead of waiting until you’re at your boiling point, after hours of frustration and irritation (and needless stress)…

At the beginning, when you FIRST start to feel that way, you stop yourself, and you simply… right then and there… “start your day over again.”

In other words, you let go of the stress, and all the other negative emotions you’re feeling.

In my courses/systems, I talk about how stress- reduction techniques can be part of a successful treatment program in managing bipolar disorder:

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
You can do this as often as you need to.

Whether it’s morning or evening.

Whether it’s twice a day or 10 times a day.

Whether you’re by yourself or in a crowd.

Whether you have bipolar disorder or you’re a supporter to a loved one with the disorder.

We live in a world full of stress.

Any stress reduction technique that will help us manage that stress can only help us.

So the next time you feel irritable, impatient, frustrated, stressed, or any other negative emotion, remember:

“You can start your day over any time you want to!” 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.

Hi,

I hope your day is going well.

You know, many people write to me and tell me how they manage their bipolar disorder.

The ones that manage it the best use systems, or routines.

You can help your loved one by helping them find a routine that works best for them and then helping them stick to it. You can even share some of these routines.

I’ll show you an example:

Bob and Sue are married. He has bipolar disorder, but she doesn’t. However, she does take pills for other things she has.

Every day, they have a routine. When Sue takes her pills, she reminds Bob to take his pills, too.

This helps Bob to be compliant with his medication.

It’s easy for Sue to remember to do this, because she always takes her pills with breakfast.

So there’s another advantage to this routine.

It encourages them both to eat a good, healthy breakfast, and to spend some quality time together each morning.

Here’s another example:

Margaret has bipolar disorder, and her doctor has told her that she needs to exercise as part of her treatment plan. But Margaret hates to exercise.

Margaret’s husband, George, doesn’t have bipolar disorder, but as a good supporter, he agreed to walk with her every evening for an hour to help her manage her disorder.

This has become a routine for them. In my courses/systems below, I talk about how important routines are to management of bipolar disorder, and how to implement them into a system:

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
It’s important, as well, that your loved one get the right amount of sleep each night. Going to bed at the same time every night should become a routine for your loved one.

If you add this to your routine as well, it will help them stick to theirs.

Cooking dinner together can be a great way to learn to eat dinner at the same time every night so that dinnertime becomes part of your loved one’s routine as well.

It’s important that your loved one has routines, as these are a way to help keep them stable.

There are many things that they can do by themselves, and those things you should let them do. For example, you wouldn’t want to dress or groom them. If you did, they would see this as babying them.

But other routines, especially those where they need a little encouragement (like sticking to an exercise routine), they may welcome your help with.

Medications are a good example, as it can be difficult sometimes to remember when to take your medications.

Associating taking their medication with another routine is a good way to remember to take them. Such as with their morning coffee. Or when a certain TV show comes on. Or when they normally read the paper.

The best routines are ones you can share with them, as it can bring you closer together.

It will help to remind them that they are not fighting this disorder by themselves.

It will show them what a good supporter you are.

And since you are so close to their normal routines, it will help you to notice when something is not right with them. It may have to do with something upset in one of their routines (for example, they are not getting

enough sleep). In these ways, you can help them to manage their disorder, be healthier in general, and be more stable.

You will also reap the benefits of having a loser relationship with your loved one.

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.

Hi,

Hope this day is going well for you.

Well my dad is out of the hospital. His blood pressure is still really high but thinks are looking good. My mom is doing well now as well.

I have had a ton of problems recently. If you read my past few blog posts you know that I have had people have to resign due to PHYSICAL illnesses, my dad, my mom, my friends, etc.

I am going hiking today to relieve SOME of my stress : )

Okay, I was talking to someone the other day, and this person was complaining about her bipolar disorder.

I asked, “What’s the problem?”

She said, “Everything.”

I said, “Do you have alligators in your front yard?”

And she was like, “Huh?”

So I asked again, “Do you have alligators in your front yard?”

She said, “Umm…no. Are you ok?”

I said, “Absolutely. You just said everything was wrong, so I wanted to see if that was one of your problems.”

I asked her numerous questions, all centering around if she had clearly identified her problems and if she was thinking of solutions.

She did not.

So she really had no clearly defined problems.

She was just complaining about everything in general.

Guess what?

If you don’ have clearly defined problems, do you know what happens?

Take a guess, and then scroll down for the answer.

NO CHEATING!

Keep scrolling…

Ok. Here’s the answer:

You will never have a solution to any of your problems.

If you don’t have a clearly defined problem, you can’t have a clearly defined solution.

It’s that simple. Not easy, but simple.

In my courses/systems below, I talk about problem-solving and how to come up with solutions to your problems:

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

So, it sounds simple enough, but like I said, it’s not easy.

So let’s tackle this one step at a time.

Obviously, you don’t have alligators in your yard (at least I hope you don’t).

So let’s stick to bipolar disorder.

What if you’re frustrated with your loved one?

Now that’s not a clearly defined problem. That’s just a feeling.

Look at it this way —

Try to get away from feelings, and be more objective.

What’s the REAL problem?

What are you frustrated ABOUT?

Then make a list of the things that frustrate you about your loved one.

For example:

1. He won’t take his medication.

2. He keeps missing his appointments.

3. He won’t go to his support group.

4. He doesn’t listen to me.

5. He thinks I’m an idiot.

6. He doesn’t help around the house.

7. He doesn’t help with the children.

8. He feels sorry for himself.

9. He won’t go to family functions.

10. He sleeps too much.

Now you’ve got something to work with.

You’ve identified some clear problems.

Not all of them are clear problems, though.

So then eliminate those things you can’t do anything about.

Look at your list again.

Look at #5 (“He thinks I’m an idiot.”)

How do you know he thinks that? You’re not a mind reader, you don’t know what he’s thinking. This is a feeling, not a real problem. If it were a clearly defined problem, there would be a solution to it.

So you eliminate #5.

But look at #4 (“He doesn’t listen to me.”)

This is a clearly defined problem, because it indicates a breakdown in communication. Communication is very important in a relationship with your loved one with bipolar disorder.

You may be feeling like they don’t listen to you, but they may feel like they are. Still, it means that you aren’t communicating, and that indicates a problem.

Clearly defined problems have clearly defined solutions.

So once you have found a clearly defined problem, you look for a solution.

What if you were to sit down with your loved one and say that you feel like they don’t listen to what you have to say?

If you clearly define the problem as they are ignoring you, say that.

If you feel like they don’t turn away from the TV when you talk, say that.

If you feel like they don’t respect your thoughts and opinions, say that.

But be very clear about what you think the problem is.

Remember, the more clearly defined the problem, the better the solution.

Now let’s look at #6 (“He won’t help around the house.”)

Clearly defined problem. Solution?

Talk to him about it, suggesting that maybe you can divide up the chores.

Are you getting the idea?

Now here’s a real important one. #1 (“He won’t take his medication.”)

First of all, and this is a real important point, you can’t make someone do something they don’t want to do.

However, you can express your feelings to them, and you can do other things.

You can remind them how important it is for them to take their medication in order to get better.

You can tell them you’ve read the statistics (1 out of 5 unmedicated people with bipolar disorder will kill themselves).

You can tell them that you’re worried about them.

You can tell them that you want them to get better.

You can call their doctor, psychiatrist, and/or therapist and tell them that your loved one isn’t taking their medication.

You see? These are solutions to a clearly defined problem.

Then, go back through your list and look for other clearly defined problems.

So first, you make a list of your problems.

Then you eliminate those things that aren’t clearly defined problems.

Take one clearly defined problem at a time and work on solutions for that problem.

When you leave out feelings and get to a clearly defined problem (that is, you think with your head instead of your emotions)…

You can find real solutions to real problems.

What do you think?

Try this method and let me know how you do with it.

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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.

Hi,

How’s it going?

I hope you are doing well.

Sorry again the news is coming out on Saturday. It will be back to the normal schedule next Friday.

Again, very sorry.

Here is today’s news.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews405

Rejected Author Finds Audience in Spouses of Bipolar Husbands and Wives Online
DO> Great story, what do you think?

New drugs approved for Australians
DO> Interesting, what do you think.

Through website, patients creating own drug studies
DO> What do you think of this?

Support grows for parents of children with mental health needs
DO> This is really needed.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews405

==>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==

Check out all my resources, programs and information for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

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.

Hi,

Hope your day is going well.

Okay, there is no bipolar news today. Here’s what happen. We had a person have to resign for serious medical problems that were NRTB (not related to bipolar).

I do not actually post the news on the internet. I don’t know HTML and that kind of thing.

I am sitting here looking for the news but it’s not up. I am not sure why.

I have to call the person. I guess she had trouble but it doesn’t make me happy that I wasn’t notified let’s say yesterday or last night.

Anyway sorry. I am REALLY annoyed by this.

I will have it posted hopefully tomorrow.

I want to talk to you about something today.

It’s about tweaking your treatment plan.

You know I work out a lot, right?

Well, sometimes I have to “change up” (or “tweak”) my routine some, or I would get bored with it, and then I probably wouldn’t

work out as much as I do.

This is why I work in about 9 different libraries and do cardio in many different parks.

Well, this is sort of like that, only with your treatment plan.

I mean, obviously, there are some things you just can’t change (unless they aren’t working).

Your medication, as long as it’s working fine, is something you just shouldn’t mess with. If you are having problems with it, or the side effects are bothering you, that’s something you should tell your doctor about.

That’s NOT what I’m talking about here. Therapy is another part of your treatment plan that is very, very important.

If you’re happy with your therapist, fantastic!

But if you’ve been with them for a long time and you don’t feel you’re getting anything out of therapy any more, or you just feel like you’re going out of habit more than anything else, then that’s something you may want to tweak.

First, talk to your therapist. Tell them how you feel. If you’re supposed to be with that therapist, then maybe you just need a tweak in your sessions (or go down to less sessions).

If you’re not supposed to be with that therapist any more, then you may have to think about switching therapists. Again, this is something you should discuss with them. If this is what you decide to do, it would be good to have them on your side, as they may be able to give you a referral.

In my courses/systems below, I go over all the parts that make up a comprehensive treatment plan. Medication and therapy are just two of the parts:

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

Exercise should be part of your treatment regimen, but if, like me, you get bored with the type of exercise you’re doing, you may want to tweak your routine. If you’ve been walking, try swimming instead (or the opposite). If you’ve been doing free weights, try the machines instead (or the opposite). There are many options for exercise programs.

If you’ve been exercising at home, consider joining a gym or use free programs you may find in your area. If you’ve been exercising alone, try working out with a friend.

You should be eating a healthy diet as part of your treatment regiment, but maybe it’s gotten too bland, and could use some tweaking. Try some different cooking ideas. Buy a low-fat cookbook and try some new recipes.

Look online for foods you like and make meals using those foods. Meals shouldn’t be boring. If you’ve been eating 3 regular meals a day, try tweaking that to 6 smaller meals a day.

And be flexible! Instead of thinking of it as “dieting,” (which everyone hates and is too restrictive), eat what you want, just in smaller portions, while being health conscious, and if every once in awhile you want that small bite of a candy bar, allow yourself that luxury! (That way, you won’t want to eat that whole cake later on and feel like a big “cheater”!)

Sleep is still so very important, but can still be tweaked if you need to. If you decided on a 9:00 bedtime but still find yourself up and tossing and turning at 10 pm, just change your bedtime to 10:00 and tweak your morning rise time.

As long as you are still getting 8-9 hours of good sleep every night, the hours you go to bed and rise aren’t as important. Go to bed and rise according to what works for you and YOUR body’s internal clock.

Enjoyment is an important part of everyone’s life (bipolar or not). If you aren’t having enough fun in your life, perhaps that’s an area that needs to be tweaked. Now, don’t go so far as to get manic or anything, but make sure you include enjoyment as part of your treatment regimen. Remember not to neglect your supporter, either, as that is very important.

“Date Nights” are a great way to keep your relationship with your supporter close and let them know how much you appreciate what they do for you. (Maybe this is an area you need to tweak? Intimacy is very important.)

Make sure you are taking care of your mental health – things  like stress reduction techniques and relaxation exercises are also important in management of bipolar disorder. If you have been slacking off in these areas, maybe these are a couple of those areas that need to be tweaked.

Get back to basics. Maybe you’ve gotten away from some of those things that worked in the beginning, but that you stopped doing. You may want to go back to doing those things.

Maintaining a good treatment plan is crucial for good management of bipolar disorder.

Sometimes all it takes is some tweaking!

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Hi,

How’s it going?

Thanks to everyone for wishing my dad well. Like I said, he had a stroke.

I went to see him. He is doing okay.

He has to stay in the hospital until they figured out why his blood pressure is so very high. They have no idea why it is.

My mom, did not take it well. She actually got very little sleep, which triggered her being super angry at me (of course). She wound up screaming at me and hanging the phone up on me.

I didn’t even bother saying anything.  But then she followed the system that we setup ahead of time in the doomsday scenario and now she is doing much better.

I spoke to her last night and she is back to her old self.

But if my dad gets worse, that’s going to act as a major trigger for a potential bipolar episode.

In addition, someone who works for me, went into a bipolar episode and now is in the hospital.

In the past few weeks, I have had one person

get into a car accident, one person diagnosed with cancer (had to resign), one person has other serious medical problems not related to bipolar disorder (had to resign), my main computer is not working, my mom’s medication has changed, dad in the hospital and some other issues.

So it’s not been a good past few weeks.

BUT, I have a strategy to deal with these types of situations. You may have read about it in articles I posted online for f.ree.

Okay, I was talking to Michele yesterday and she was having a tough day.

She had a bunch of bad things going on.

So then she spoke to her mom who told her to remember the good things going on instead:

Like that she has a husband who loves her, a beautiful home, a great job, her bills are paid, her car runs good, she has 3 healthy sons, and she is stable with her bipolar disorder.

When Michele did that, her problems didn’t seem that bad!

We were talking about it, and I told her that I have to do the same thing.

There are nightmare days for me. Or weeks like I just told you.

But I train myself to think about the good instead of the bad. And there were lots of good things, too.

With bipolar disorder, too many people just focus on the negative.

That’s why, in my courses/systems, I teach people about positive thinking.

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

It is SO important to balance the bad with the good, or else your bipolar disorder can become WORSE!

If you don’t, you begin to think negatively, and negative thoughts lead to depression, and depression for too long leads to a bipolar depressive episode.

See why it’s so important to think about the good things, too?

Michele’s mom was right, and know how she came up with her little philosophy?

She has bipolar disorder just like Michele does!

And she’s been stable for a long time because she does what she told Michele to do, and what I told you that I do.

No matter how things seem, you can always find some good in it.

If you’re struggling, there are good things you may not even have thought of.

Even if it’s just the little things:

Like, you found this website.

You’ve learned about bipolar disorder, more than you knew before, which means you’re getting help for your disorder.

You have people that care about you.

You have a roof over your head.

You have food to eat.

You probably have a car to drive.

If you have children and they are healthy, count that as a good thing.

If you are physically healthy, count that as a good thing, too.

If you’re having a “good bipolar day,”  that’s a REAL good thing!

These are just some examples.

I know you can come up with more.

I’d love to hear about them.

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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.

Hi,

I hope you’re having a really great day.

I have some bad news for myself. My dad had a stoke yesterday.

I have to take off and head to the hospital.

Actually I have two problems. My mom was NOT sleeping well over the last week BEFORE this happened to my dad.

Last night my mom was sending me emails after 11:00pm. The fact that my dad had a stroke will probably make things worse. In addition, my mom’s worst period of the year for bipolar is November through early December.

I have to think long and hard and plan for the worst. I have to think of all the possible ways that bipolar could get the upper hand.

I have so many systems in place, I don’t think it’s possible. BUT, bipolar is smart and sometimes there are small cracks in the system that it can slip through and create an episode.

After using my own Doomsday system, I don’t think this is possible anymore.

I told my mom to make sure she takes care of herself.

My dad called me late yesterday from the hospital and did NOT want me to tell my mom to avoid worrying her.

I told my dad that would not be possible because he if did not show up at night she would then worry more.

He said, “ohh, that’s right.”

So she was told.

Hmmm.

We will see I guess.

You know I talk to a lot of people about bipolar disorder, right?  It seems like everywhere I go, I run into someone who has bipolar disorder, knows someone who has it, or is a supporter to a loved one with the disorder.

Well, the other day, this supporter was talking to me about her loved one’s bipolar disorder, and she seemed really troubled.

She said:

“I know you’re going to think I’m a really selfish person for saying this, and I know there’s a lot of people out there who have it worse than I do, but I really don’t care about them. All I care about is my husband and his bipolar and helping him get better, and that takes all my time and energy. Does that make me selfish? Do you think I’m a terrible person?”

——————————————————————-

Well, what do you say to something like that?

First of all, I assured her that she wasn’t the first supporter to express those kinds of feelings to me, because she’s not.

Then I assured her that just because she feels that way does not make her a terrible person.

When you have a loved one with bipolar disorder, your world can become very small to the exclusion of everything (and everybody) else.

Your problems can seem so overwhelming to you that it takes all your time and energy to deal with them.

Your life as a supporter is definitely not an easy one.

When I asked this woman, “What about your support group?”

She said:

“It’s almost the worst there, because mostly all they do is complain. I mean, some of them I feel sorry for, because they have as many problems as I do, but the rest of them I resent. Their loved ones are doing better than my husband, and they’re the ones who complain the loudest. They don’t even try to help me. Maybe I’m not the selfish one – maybe they are.”

I didn’t know what to say.

Bipolar disorder or not, everyone has problems.

And to them, their own problems seem worse than everyone else’s just because they’re happening to them.

That’s why, in my courses/systems, I teach problem-solving techniques, because they’re so important, not just for the person with bipolar disorder, but for their supporter as well.

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

There’s a difference between being selfish and “taking care of your own.”

If this woman was truly a selfish person, first of all, I don’t think she would’ve been so concerned about it.

And second of all, if she were really selfish, she would be off doing things she wanted to do instead of taking care of her husband and being a good supporter to him.

But these are just my thoughts.

What do YOU think?

Do you think she’s being selfish?

I’d really like to know.

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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.

Hi,

Hope you’re having a good day.

About 12 days ago, my mom started noticing some things that were “off.”

She wasn’t feeling too well, so she asked a friend to describe what she noticed about changes in her (my mom’s) recent behavior.

She thought she might be going into a depressed episode.

Well, I’ve told you before that my mom has systems in place.

So the first thing she did was call her therapist and ask her for an emergency appointment, and she was able to see her later that afternoon.

Then she made a list of the symptoms her friend had observed, and she took that list with her to her therapist.

Her therapist said that my mom was in a “rapid cycle” of bipolar disorder.

In my courses and systems, I talk about the different types of bipolar disorder. Rapid cycling is not a type of bipolar disorder in itself, but it just means that your episodes happen more frequently than usual.

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In my mom’s case, this is her “bad time” of the year anyway, so we watch her more closely than usual.

That’s why she was using her system.

And she did the right thing, that when she noticed that something was “off,” or didn’t feel right, she called her therapist and then went to see her.

By doing that, she avoided a full-blown episode.

These are what we call “mini-episodes,” or “relapses.”

But now my mom feels as if she’s failed.

So is a relapse a failure?

NO.

Especially if you’ve followed your system and done everything right.

Remember that with bipolar disorder, there are things you can control, and things you can’t control.

You can’t control the chemical imbalance in your brain.

But you CAN do something about it when the chemicals fire off unexpectedly.

You can do exactly what my mom did.

She didn’t fail. She did exactly what she should have done. And that’s not failure.

In fact, it’s just the opposite.

I’m proud of her for the way she handled the situation.

There was a time in the past when she didn’t have a system, and she would have gone into a full-blown episode.

But because of what she did this time, it shows me that she is following her system, and did the right thing.

We can call this rapid-cycling, or we can call this a mini-episode, or we can just say that my mom just experienced a phase of bipolar depression.

But the point is, she did NOT go into a bipolar depressive episode.

Because she followed her system.

Your loved one should have a system in place as well. And you should be a part of it.

You can help them by watching for signs and symptoms of an episode. Even if they don’t notice that they’re “off,” you can, and you can point it out to them, and encourage them to seek help (early).

And as long as they follow their system, they shouldn’t be going into episodes, either.

At least not as often as they did before their systems were in place.

But you can’t predict what their bipolar disorder is going to do.

Because there still isn’t a cure for the disorder, episodes are going to happen from time to time.

They can be minimized, though, and mini-episodes, or relapses are NOT failures.

Relapses should actually be expected, but if you catch them early (by watching for signs and symptoms of episodes), you can keep your loved one from going into a full-blown episode.

Odd. Guess what?

Hey, I just checked my email and my mom sent one that said how she wasn’t sleeping so she a) scheduled with her therapist b) called her psychiatrist and scheduled an immediate appointment.

My mom said that she is confident that a major gigantic episode like what happened in 2004 will not happen again because of all the systems we have in place.

What do you think?

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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.

Hi,

I hope you’re doing well.

Guess what?

Yesterday I went hiking like I told you. It started to snow when I was on the mountain and I almost slid off.

Kind of scary.

In addition, I fell in a River with hours required to walk back to my car. I was sooooo cold it was amazing. I had to drive home freezing.

After I got home, and unfroze myself, I was actually talking to my Goddaughter’s mother who was telling me that Anna (my Goddaughter) was afraid of different places in their house.

She was afraid of shadows and also certain toys.

Let me ask you:

Hey remember when you were little, were you afraid of ghosts and goblins?

Things that went bump in the night?

Creepy crawly things?

Scary things under your bed?

Big giants that would come and eat you?

Monsters that hid in your closet?

Huge beasts that could stomp on your house?

Were you afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Now that you’re older, are you afraid of any of those things? Of course not.

You’re an adult now, and you realize that those things were just childish fears of things that didn’t really exist (except in your mind).

Yes, they were childish, and yes, they only existed in your mind, but I bet the fear was very real to you, wasn’t it?

It’s the same thing with bipolar disorder.

For one thing, people fear what they don’t understand.

That’s why one of the first things I teach in my courses/systems is that you have to learn as much as you can about bipolar disorder:

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

The more you learn about bipolar disorder, the

less you’ll be afraid of it, because knowledge is power, and power defeats fear!

This is why I have NO problem hiring people with one or more mental illnesses. Have you ever wondered why I do or how I can?

It’s because I have tremendous knowledge on this topic and I am NOT afraid of the individuals.

People who have psychological problems with phobias (fears) or anxiety disorders, learn to overcome them by facing them.

You have to face your fears.

In this case, you have to face your fear of bipolar disorder, of what it does to your loved one, of what it can do to you, to your life, your family, etc.

You have to overcome your fear of bipolar disorder.

As long as you have a fear of the disorder, it has power over you. You have to take back that power! Face that fear head on so that bipolar disorder loses its power over you!

After you’ve obtained knowledge (knowledge is power, remember), you have to obtain tools (some people call this their bipolar toolbox).

In your toolbox you should have:

· Books on being a supporter

· Internet (to looks things up)

· A strong support system (for you as a supporter)

· A healthy diet and exercise

· Friends and family

· Balance in your own life

· Activities of your own

· (possibly) your own job

· A social life

· Church activities (if you are spiritual)

· Hobbies

· Recreational activities

· A journal (to record your thoughts and

feelings)

· Good communication with your loved

one

You can add other things to your toolbox as well, but you get the idea.

Picture a workman carrying a toolbox on his way to work. He looks serious. He looks strong. He’s ready to tackle the big job.

That’s YOU.

You’re ready to take on the big job of fighting bipolar disorder now.

Now, who’s afraid of the Big Bad Bipolar Wolf? lol

NOT YOU!

If you have been on my list for a while, I am sure that you have learned, the more you learn, the less you fear.

Agree?

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.