First HAPPY FATHERS DAY.

How’s it going? I hope you are doing well.

I have to go pretty quick today because I have to go to a brunch with my dad and then I am going hiking.

Actually I am going to take some photos and post them tomorrow on my blog if I can get it all figured out.

Well I am happy to report that I hired another person. A most unusual person. This person has about 6 different disorders and she is EXCELLENT!

That’s an understatement. I get a lot of emails that stay how it’s impossible to work with those with a mental illness, they are “crazy”, I am crazy for hiring people with a mental illness so on and so forth.

This is why I wanted to let you know about my new hire. She does amazing work.

Anyway, I was all set to write a daily email on another topic but I looked at the blog comments over here:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog/?p=30#comments

IMPORTANT FREE PODCAST

There is a f.ree podcast that goes along with this daily email. Hear it over here:

http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com/

I saw one post by Garry and had to address it. He wrote:

“Dear David,

I understand that what you have done for your mother is a sincere and wonderful thing, to devote so much to a loved one who needs help without asking is truly a great thing.

I do wonder though that if someone doesn’t want help like some people have said here that maybe that could also be an answer, I dont like to be a person who comes along and says this is wrong and that is wrong but if the person with the problem doesnt want help then maybe it shouldnt be given,

Im not saying that when its not given to be a cold person but in general just be there and offer support and an ear when needed, love for a love one or friend is a given.  My friend has been diagnosed with this disorder

and I know how it effects her, it cuts me up when I see it and hear how she is so low.

I’m sorry if I sound aggressive in with my post but its just that I’m at a point now where I feel I cant do anymore to help my friend, I feel as though I have already let her down because I’m out of things to say to her that can make her feel better without personally thinking I’m going round in circles repeating the same things.

Lately I have said to her that if this is a problem that wont go away then maybe you should try and accept it and take in as a part of you, I know she enjoys the mania.. explosive shopping spree’s, wild nights out and other such things but would you say that saying to her when the depression comes to just go with it and let it ride?

I know how tactless that sounds but I’m only trying to help, nobody will listen to her because they think she is mad. Ive said mad people can have the most fun? I sympathies with her because I too feel that I have this disorder but to what degree I don’t know, I know what its like to be really down and then some days later up again.

Its exhausting as you must know. I dont know what else to say really other than asking for tips? Sorry to sound narky.”

Then Garry wrote: Do people get any response to what they have wrote? Anyone here?

I wanted to address Garry’s post because a lot of people have this question.

But first I wanted to say to people who post on the blog, sometimes people post responses but many times, people just read posts. I however read ALL the posts along with many people who work for me.  I use these posts to determine what kind of content we focus on. Some I address personally. Other posts other people address.

Anyway, enough of that.

Basically Garry is asking, what do you do when someone with bipolar disorder appears to need help but doesn’t want it.

This is a VERY important question. It’s a question that millions of people have every day.

It’s something that I feel strongly about.

I am going to tell you what I think.

I think that if a person doesn’t want treatment, you have to try really, really hard using a wide variety of strategies and tactics to get them into treatment. Period.

There is NO one answer. There is no one magic solution that I have ever found and I have been looking for years and have more than 200,000 people on my list that I can draw from.

There are at least 25 strategies you can try to use that do NOT involve involuntary commitment.

After you try the something like 25 different strategies in getting someone into treatment and really put a tremendous effort into it, then I feel it’s okay to give up.

Make sure you listen to my f.ree podcast for further information on this.

You may think it’s confusing but it’s not. Think of it this way. I have found at least 25 proven techniques that you can use.

You look at the techniques and you try to determine which one will work. You try it, then another and so on and so forth. Eventually in most cases, one will work.

In my main courses/systems bipolar supporter course below, I go through all the techniques that I learned and learned from others on how to get someone into treatment.

In my course for those with bipolar disorder, I talk at length along with all the success stories of what you need to have in place to make sure if you go into a bipolar episode your supporters can easily get you into treatment.

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

With supporting children or teenagers it’s different because by law you can get them into treatment because you are in charge of them and they are not adults. However, there are many ways that children with bipolar disorder can manipulate the system and get out of treatment even if they are not adults.

It’s kind of amazing. Normally the system doesn’t understand what bipolar disorder really is and children can get out of treatment and wind up getting the parents into serious trouble. I cover this in my course above.

These issues are indeed complex and a simply daily email can’t give you all the answers.

I don’t mean to be evasive it’s just the way it is.

There is no question, getting a loved one into treatment is a tough thing. I have noticed that I have seen many doctors asked, “How do I get my loved one into treatment if he/she doesn’t want to go.” The doctor stalls, talks in circles and eventually says it’s “hard” and you really “can’t.” They normally talk about the requirements for involuntary commitment– which generally requires the person be a danger to him/herself or to others.

In my opinion and based on my experience there are a number of ways to get someone into treatment without using involuntary commitment but it requires hard work and a lot of time and trial and error.

Like I said, I have found no magic person, place, organization, statement, or strategy that works all the time. I am just being 100% honest.

I have found lots of options that could work. Many people think that a person should want treatment and just go.

You see, many people forget that when a person is ill, he/she is not in their right mind. So they make decisions that are not sound and do and say things they would never do or say if they were well.

As a result things like suicide, homicide, homelessness, bankruptcy, and many other bad things.

Many people in major bipolar episode think they are 100% fine and doing great.

Has anyone ever had the experience that a loved one was totally out of their minds and saying they were fine?

Please relate your experiences. I actually have to take off now and get ready. I will write more about this in the upcoming week.

IMPORTANT FREE PODCAST There is a f.ree podcast that goes along with this daily email. Hear it over here:

http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com/

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 was reading an article in the newspaper about a professor who was asked to give a lecture on what he would say to the world if he could – about what he thinks matters most.

I thought about that…and you know how I always relate everything to bipolar disorder, so instead of thinking of it so globally as, “What would you say to the world?” I thought about you:

Being a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, what would you say to another supporter of a newly diagnosed loved one with the disorder?

Think about your answer:

• Would you tell them about the importance of medications? Because that’s one of the first things that you have to deal with, and a crucial part of proper treatment.

•Would you tell them about the importance of getting their loved one a good doctor? Because, for sure, they’re going to need one.

• Would you tell them that they’re going to need to help their loved one to get a good therapist? Because that’s an important part of a good support system.

•Would you refer them to www.bipolarcentral.com Because they will certainly need the information from this website, just like you do – but is only having the website enough? You could refer them to my courses/systems, where they can get a great deal of knowledge 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

•Or would you be more personal with them and share your own experiences as a supporter? Would you tell them the bad as well

as the good?

• Would you tell them how difficult the road is ahead for them, or would you try to spare them from this?

• Would you just complain and tell them how hard it is to be a supporter? (Trying to keep them realistic)

• Would you be encouraging and tell them that although it may be hard sometimes, that it’s worth it? That their loved one can get better?

•Would you share some of your “tips” or “secrets” on how you deal with being a supporter?

•Would you even answer them at all, or think that it’s none of their business (or none of your business)?

• Would you try to avoid them, thinking that you really have nothing share, or no good advice to give?

•Would you not answer them, because you’re struggling with the same questions yourself?

•Would you refer them to someone else (more qualified than you), like a bipolar support group?

The point is, how do you feel about yourself as a supporter? Do you even feel like you could give another supporter advice about being one? Could you share any tips/secrets about how to deal with living with a loved one who has bipolar disorder?

Are you even willing to open up to someone you don’t know (or barely know, like through a support group) and share what it’s really like to be a supporter? Or do you feel too private about it, or like it’s no one else’s business how you cope with it?

Do you feel like you’re barely hanging on yourself and wish someone else would give YOU advice?

So, back to my original question:

Being a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, what would YOU say to another supporter of a newly diagnosed loved one who has the disorder?

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.

Hey, yesterday some great posts on my blog. You can see them here:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog/?p=30#comments

Lots of interesting news today.

Here’s the current bipolar news.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews382

Here are some of the headlines:

Family Traits Provide Clues To Genes For Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
DO> VERY interesting article.

Bipolar Disorder: Epidemic Without a Disease
DO> What do you think of this?

Bipolar Disorder — Record Keeping
DO> Everyone should read this.

Living with bipolar disorder
DO> Good article, what do you think?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews382

POST RESPONSES TO THE NEWS BELOW
==>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,

How’s it going?

I hope you are doing well.

Hey I have a math lesson for today J

OK, here it is:

Can 2 + 2 = 5?

Nope. No matter how much you want it to, no matter how many ways you go at it, 2 + 2 will never equal 5. It’s just a mathematical truth.

As in math, so in life. There are just some truths that are indisputable.

Your loved one has bipolar disorder. That’s a truth. So far there is no cure for bipolar disorder. That is another truth. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t treatment for it.

You know I love equations, so mathematically, it looks like this:

2 (loved one with bipolar disorder)  + 2 (no cure for bipolar disorder )  5 (loved one will never get better)

Nope. Doesn’t work that way.

This is called denial, and I talk about denial in my courses:

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

In other words, you can stay in denial, thinking your loved one will never get better, that things will always be the way they are now, and you’ll just have to live with it forever.

You can claim that you don’t have to manage the bipolar disorder in order for your loved one to get better,

or that it’ll go away by itself, but that’s just plain denial, and it won’t make it true.

But that’s not the truth. That’s Like believing that 2 + 2 = 5.

The real truth is something like this:

2 (your loved one has BP) +2 (no cure, but management) 4 (long term stability/success)

As it relates to bipolar disorder, the only way to make the equation true, then (make 2 + 2 = 4), is to include management of the disorder.

Because only management of the disorder leads to stability. And long-term stability leads to success.

So mathematically speaking, that’s the real truth about bipolar disorder (that 2+2=4).

And your loved one cannot reach long-term stability and success without your help. they can’t do it alone.

But they can do it with your help. That’s like the plus sign in our mathematical equation.

You are the plus sign. You add to the equation. You add support, understanding, help, love, patience, and all the other many, many things you do to help your loved one to manage their disorder.

You are part of the equation that helps your loved one to reach stability and success.

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?

Still battling my sinus infection.

These things are amazing in their ability to hang on.

Hey, take a look at all of yesterday’s comments. Some really good one.

One person thinks that everyone is the same person. You can see where I wrote that doesn’t make any sense.

Anyway, take a look at this link:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog/?p=26#comment-73

Okay, there other day I was in this big argument with a friend of mine about something and it’s a really important lesson about bipolar disorder.

Here’s what happen. I have a friend that wants to start a b.usiness. He has been working on the idea for YEARS. I mean YEARS. Like 10 years maybe.

Every year he is going to get started but there is one thing stopping him… You know what that is?

It’s that he does NOT know how to handle all the “what if this happens…”

When he talks to me, it’s kind of annoying because he will say, “Well I am ready to get started BUT, what is this happens. I need a plan.”

I have told him 1,000,000 times (okay not exactly that many :)) but many times that he will NEVER have a plan for EVERYTHING that he will come up against starting a business.

Still, he insists on trying to have a plan for everything.  As a result he gets NOTHING and I mean NOTHING ever done. Years go by and he isn’t getting any younger. It’s annoying just talking to him because he is always talking about all the bad things that can go wrong.

I thought of this because I spoke to someone who is a bipolar supporter who was the same exact way.

The actually had my main course but it was odd. They had gone through it but not taken any action. They were trying to figure out a totally comprehensive plan before they started supporting and helping their loved one.

I told them this was totally wrong and the longer they waited the more difficult it’s going to be AND they can’t account for everything. It’s impossible. Impossible. Impossible.

When you are dealing with bipolar disorder and trying to win the war against it, you make a plan based on the information you have, and then you get started. Things change, you have to adapt, you realize you need more information on this and that and you get it. You keep on working at it but you take action and move forward.

You can NOT have a plan for every possible thing that can go wrong.

Don’t be like my friend who follows “what is this happens” thinking and never takes action.

In my courses/systems below:

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

I go over at lengthing lots of “if this happens here’s what you do” situations. Tons. But, there may be ones that slip past me and you may have to deal with. Now, what you do is take action to figure it out or in this case, you can fill out the f.ree consultation form for NON medical, and NON legal questions and I can personally help you. I have solved 99% of NON medical and NON legal problems people have brought to me.

NOTE

I am NOT a doctor, lawyer or professional and NOT offering medical or legal advice.

This concept that I bring up today is VERY important with bipolar disorder. VERY. This is what I brought it up.

So many people are getting ready, to get started to get set to get ready to get going to get set helping themselves with bipolar or helping a loved one. This process winds up taking YEARS and YEARS and YEARS.

Don’t let it happen to you.

Has this happen to you in the past? Let me know by posting responses below.

Hey, I have to run. Catch you tomorrow.

PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW

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,

How’s it going?

I actually have to take off really early today and head to a meeting in New York.

It’s going to be a major pain going there. Plus it’s going to be really hot. Like almost 100 degrees.

Anyway let me get going with what I have to say today.

I was having this conversation with my friend the other day and he asked me the question, “Who ever said that life was meant to be fair?”

And I mean, I just didn’t have any answer to that! I guess I just always thought that life is fair in the long run, because that’s just what I believe. But maybe that’s just because I’m an optimist. But here’s my friend telling me not only that life isn’t fair, but whoever said that it was meant to be?

Well, I usually don’t get into long, philosophical discussions because they usually lead nowhere and my time is valuable and I usually have a million things to do… but still, even after I left him, I was thinking about what he said:

Whoever said that life was meant to be fair?

I mean, if life was fair, how come over 13 million people have bipolar disorder?

If life was fair, how come MY mom has bipolar disorder?

But then, think about it in positive terms – if my mom DIDN’T have bipolar disorder, there would be no bipolarcentral.com, and all the people that are being helped through the website, hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world, wouldn’t be getting helped.

So now I think…well, that kind of cancels that out, and maybe life IS fair.

People who center their thoughts on the fact that life isn’t fair are usually people who are negative people and who are very unhappy about their lives. A lot of people who have bipolar disorder are like that. Then it trickles down to their supporters. It’s hard to live with a very negative loved one and not become negative yourself.

In my courses/systems, I talk about negative vs. positive thinking, and teach about ways to become a positive thinker:

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

But see, the thing is, it’s your CHOICE whether you look at life in a positive way vs. a negative way. You can believe that life isn’t fair and that everything that’s happened to you is a big conspiracy from God and you can blame him or anyone else, or even the “system,” society, or Social Security, or whoever you want to blame that you/your loved one have bipolar disorder…

Or you can take the fact that you/ your loved one have bipolar disorder and turn it around for good.

I have someone who works for me that doesn’t only have bipolar disorder, but has about 8 other disorders as well. Now, she could just sit around and feel sorry for herself that she has all this stuff wrong with her, she could blame her mother for passing down the bipolar disorder to her, she could blame society on the fact that there is so much stigma against mental illness, etc., etc.

If anyone would have any reason to complain that life isn’t fair, I would expect her to. But does she? Nope.

In fact, she is one of the best employees I have.

You know why? Because whether life is fair or not is not something she stands around thinking about all day! She does the best she can with what she has to deal with. She doesn’t stop to think about all the bad stuff. She works within her limitations, as if they weren’t even there! She just doesn’t let anything stop her.

She always says, “If I can do it, so can you!”

So does that mean that life is any more fairer for her than for you? NO. It just means that she doesn’t let it stop her from doing what she wants to do. She doesn’t let it get to her.

So what I’m saying is that, bipolar disorder or not, you just can’t let the fact that life isn’t fair be an excuse for not becoming all you can be. You can’t let it stop you from getting better, or if you’re a supporter – you can’t let it stop you from being the best supporter (the most positive supporter) that you can be.

Sitting around complaining that you/your loved one has bipolar disorder is not going to make life fair. It’s a shame that you have to deal with bipolar disorder, and you may even be having a real rough time with it, but complaining about it isn’t going to help your situation one bit.

Think about the person who works for me who has over 8 mental illnesses, but doesn’t let them stop her. Think about the fact that you or your loved one only has ONE. And think about what she says: If SHE can do it, so can YOU.

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.

I am feeling better actually. Not totally better. I guess I must have some kind of sinus infection. I get them really, really bad every other year. And sort of bad every year. This is the year to get it really bad.

It sure did wipe me out. I did virtually nothing for two straight days. For the first time, I watched a bunch of TV. I couldn’t read because it was hurting my eyes.

Anyway, I am hoping to feel totally fine by this Wednesday and I am taking the week off from working out.

Okay enough about me. Yesterday I took a few minutes to read over the blog and saw this comment posted a few days ago:

“Hi,

i love having someone else understand all this sh*t for a change. as i said in my personal info, i don’t know which medications i should turn to, so i’ve been suffering through it all without them.  granted, for a time, i “self-medicated” myself with crystal-meth to keep the arguments in my head down to a whisper, but when that no longer worked, i turned to cutting myself to focus my thoughts. the pain crystallized my focus to a point where i could DEAL with the things happening around me, y’know?

maybe you don’t know, but that’s my POINT: how do i deal as i grow older (i’m 39), when the prices of medications are out of my reach? episodes are easier to deal with when i’ve got resources to turn to, but i’m technically -homeless and haven’t had a steady job in years because i also seem to have issues dealing with public-contact situations, and it’ not always easy trying to make bipolar-I sit in the background while i try to make a living in this freakin’ world!!!!

sorry i rambled-on there, but it takes me only a second to get worked-up nowadays! i hope i don’t offend anyone out there, ok?”

I wanted to respond to this post because there are a number of people in the situation that this person described–that is medication seems to be out of reach.

There are a number of things that can be done. But many require having like a home base to work from, because you have to get forms mailed to you and have a phone. But, I have a work around to that.

Here’s my recommendation if you are homeless, need/want treatment (note it’s important to not just need treatment but to want it as well), I would go to google.com and type in “mental health” and your county and look at the listings.

From this search, you’ll start to find organizations that deal with mental health attached to your county and state. Now if no hing comes up, replace your county with your state so you would type mental health and your state.

Now the next thing that I would do is this, type in bipolar support group and your county or city. If that fails, type in bipolar support group and your state.

Once you have these listings, I would visit these places and say something like the following.

“I have bipolar disorder, and I need treatment and medication. I need someone’s help. I am finally ready to accept my illness but I need help to pay for my medication and treatment.”

I would say that numerous times until I found someone who you felt strongly would help. It’s hard for me to describe but you can generally get a good feeling from a person who will be really helpful or go to the end of the earth for you. They will say things like, “wow, that’s terrible, let’s see what we can do. I know all these different programs. Let me help. Etc.”

Now when you go to the bipolar support group, you be 100% honest telling people that you are homeless, need treatment and a way to pay for it. You tell people you are finally ready to accept your disorder. If I am a betting person, people will be really motivated to help someone in this situation. Really motivated.

It’s going to be a process but probably between the mental health organizations and bipolar support groups, you’ll find all the programs that can treat you for free and also get you medication for free. People in these groups will help you fill out the paperwork and handle a lot of stuff for you that normally you might have to do if you were not homeless.

What do I mean? Well if you are homeless, you won’t have an address for papers to be mailed to you so these organizations will probably use their address and be the go between or coordinator on your behalf.

Also, let me say a few things. First, do NOT be ashamed that you are homeless. I have interviewed countless success stories who were homeless once, twice, three times or more because of bipolar disorder. Secondly, don’t feel bad or embarrassed about asking for help. A strong person asks for help when they need it. A dumb person doesn’t and keeps trying to do it all him/herself. I know a business person who is so dumb it’s amazing. I say dumb because he is a mean person. He never asks for help and thinks he knows everything about everything. As a result his company never grows it just gets smaller.

Anyway, all of the research can be done at the library on their computers. Also, if you are having trouble, you can ask the reference libraries to help you find mental health organizations and support groups. I would recommend trying to look the best that you possibly can so these people really want to help.

BUT, even if the reference librarian is not helping, you can easily do these searches on your own. It’s just a matter of going to google.com and typing in the words.

Now if you are not homeless and reading this and thinking, “well this isn’t for me” you are dead wrong. Listen up.

In my courses/systems below:

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

Many of the success stories that I interview were homeless at one point or their loved ones were. How does this happen? Well I believe for anyone with bipolar disorder this can easily happen.

One of the major things that I was fascinated with was how many of these success stories pulled themselves up against all odds. It’s kind of amazing.

The bottom line is, if you stop taking your medication. Then you start doing and saying really bad things, you probably are going to lose your job. Then eventually you start to alleviate the people around you who then wind up leaving you. Then eventually you run out of money and without money your home eventually will go.

It’s critical to learn how to support someone with bipolar disorder if they go into an episode or how to manage the disorder yourself. Otherwise this is possible.

For the most part anyone homeless with bipolar disorder really had supporters that generally didn’t know how to help them. I am NOT blaming it on the supporters but just stating the fact. The bipolar disorder wound up winning the war so to speak.

With my mom, there is no question in my mind that she could have gone homeless when she went into her really big episode. If you read and listen to my courses and systems I explain that my mom had quit her job, run up $30,000 of d.ebt with massive interest rates, alienated virtually everyone.

My dad was at the end of his rope. He talked about moving back to Texas and giving my mom the house. If that happen, it would not have been more than 6 months and she would have been homeless if I wasn’t around.

Eventually my mom would have been on the streets in the suburbs and eventually gravitate most likely to the city because they don’t allow people to walk the streets in the suburbs generally.

This is the reality. My mom agrees. Many people don’t understand this. This is why there are so many people who are homeless who have bipolar disorder.

Take a trip to any city and look at the people who are homeless. Many ONLY NEED maybe a week of treatment to get them back on track but they have no supporter or guidance. They are out of it. It’s sad but true.

My goal is to help you or your loved one with bipolar disorder avoid this terrible fate.

BUT, if you are currently homeless, don’t give up hope, remember what I said, MANY of my major success stories were all homeless more than one time. You can do it, just take action today.

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 had a really bad day yesterday. I was sick ALL day. I have a major problem with my sinuses.

I think I have a sinus infection. I am going to wait one more day and then I have to head to the doctor.

I had no energy and wound up sleeping 50% of the day yesterday.

Before I get started, take a look at the comments from yesterday’s daily email.

Some really interesting ones. You can see them here:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog/?p=21#comment-38

OKay with that said, I got this email that I want o share with you and ask you what you think:

“Dear Dave:

I am married to a man who has bipolar disorder.  He didn’t used to be bad about it, but lately he’s gotten so bad, it’s like it’s just one long episode with no breaks in between.  Is it possible for one episode to just go on and on like that?  Or is it just a series of episodes with like no break in between or maybe just a day or two in between?  I’ve read your emails and I know you talk about recovery, but I wonder in my husband’s case if there really is any hope of recovery.  Can you help us?”

——————————————–

This is a tough one, I have to be honest  with you.  I wish I could just turn it over to you and ask you what you would say to her (in fact, I think I will, at the end of this email).

It’s really hard for me sometimes when I get emails like this, because there are no easy answers.  I can’t just say yes or no or maybe.  The answers have to be more in-depth, and they’re not thesame for everyone.

I mean, I’m sure this  woman is leaving out a lot of information  that I might need if I’m going to give her  a really good answer.  But  I can at least  try my best, because I think she deserves an answer.

As far as episodes that seem continuous…

Without treatment, an episode that may have only lasted a short time can stretch out into months.  I know, because Michele who works for me, her mom has bipolar disorder, and her dad had promised her mom that he would never put her in the hospital.  So what would have been a one- month episode for her turned into a six- month episode.

Some people with bipolar disorder have episodes that extend for very long periods of time because they won’t take medication.

Taking the right medication (which she didn’t indicate if her husband is even taking medication) is crucial to whether an episode is shorter rather than longer.  So, see why I can’t even talk to this woman about that? She doesn’t give me that information, and without it, I can’t advise her.

But sometimes a series of episodes can seem like they stretch on and on with no break, while there really is a 1-2 or even a few days of a break in between.

There is a  type of bipolar disorder that is called rapid-cycling, where the moods can shift so rapidly that sometimes it can be days or even hours apart.  Now, granted, this is a rare form of  bipolar disorder, but it does happen.  So I would advise this woman to get her husband  to a doctor/psychiatrist and find out if  maybe her husband has this kind of bipolar disorder.

At any rate, he should find out if it is a medication issue, as there would probably be a different medication for this type of bipolar disorder.

In my courses/systems, I teach about all the different types of bipolar disorder including rapid-cycling bipolar disorder and the signs and symptoms of each kind:

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
As far as whether this woman’s husband has any chance of recovery, I like to believe that everyone has a chance of recovery.  That’s probably because I like to think positively.  Maybe there are cases with no chance of recovery, but I don’t like to think that.  If I did, I certainly wouldn’t write the courses I do, that talk about recovery in them.

But I think that with the right treatment and a good doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist…. And with a good supporter and a good support system… and with time and effort, anyone can recover. I know that sounds very simplistic, so let me go further.

First, let me define recovery.

I believe that recovery means long-term stability.  It’s like when a cancer victim goes into remission.  Because there’s no cure for cancer, the best they can hope  for is remission from the cancer – then they live as normal a life as they can. But they’re never really cured.

Well, it’s the same for bipolar disorder. There is no cure for it.  But as you learn to manage it, as long as you are in treatment for it, and the more you have long-term stability for it, you have recovery/remission from the disorder, like the cancer victim, you can live a relatively normal life, too.

Recovery doesn’t mean you’re cured. The disorder is still there.  It’s just not “active.”  You’re not going through episodes.  It doesn’t mean that you will never have another episode (that’s actually an important point to make), but people with bipolar disorder can go a long time without having an episode, if they’ve made the appropriate changes in their lives and they are managing their disorder well.

I know  a woman who went 12 years without  an episode, and a man who went 20  years without one.  So I know it’s  possible.  And I would call that as close  to recovery as you can get.

The very least I would tell this woman is that I believe recovery is possible. But as for whether her husband could recover, I just couldn’t say.  I don’t know him, and I don’t know their whole situation (like I said earlier, I don’t even know if he’s on medication, or if he’s taking medication), so I don’t think I’m qualified to give an answer.

Also, I’m not a doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, or any medical/mental health professional.  All I can do is give my opinion.

Speaking of opinions, what is yours?

What would YOU tell this woman?

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,

Have you ever read the book:

DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

It’s a really good book, because it helps you to put things in perspective.  And it’s especially good for people who are dealing with bipolar disorder because sometimes we make “mountains out of molehills,” when we eat, live, and breathe the disorder, and it’s all that occupies our minds (and our lives).

In this book, the author talks about all  his stuff as “small stuff.”  In other words, we’ve got better things to be worried about than the trivialities of life. Not to say that bipolar disorder is a triviality, I don’t mean that.

But it’s like how sometimes we get ourselves all worked up about things that, looking at them closer, really aren’t that big a deal.  We focus on little problems and concerns and blow them all out of proportion.

For example, like being in traffic, and someone cuts you off, and you get angry.  Now, how constructive is that anger?  You can yell at the guy all you want, but he won’t be able to hear you!

You can try to convince yourself all you want that you’re justified in your anger, you can even hold onto that anger all day long, taking out the anger on everyone around you, but it still boils down to “sweating the small stuff.”  And where does it get you, anyway?

Another thing is taking other people’s problems personally.  When it comes to bipolar disorder it happens all the time.

I write in my courses/systems about NOT taking things personally when it comes to your loved one saying things to hurt you or yell at you:

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
Other examples of “small stuff” in our lives are:

• Waiting in line

• Listening to criticism

• Feeling like life isn’t fair

• Feeling like we’re not appreciated

• Having to be right

I’m sure you can come up with many examples of “small stuff” in your own life.

The point is, you’ve got a great big elephant in your living room called bipolar disorder. And you can keep walking around it trying to ignore it, but that elephant will still be there, and you have to deal with it.  No matter what you do, the elephant (bipolar disorder) will still be there.  You can’t ignore it.  So let’s say that bipolar disorder is “the big stuff.”

In comparison to the bipolar disorder, everything else should seem like “small stuff.”

You just need to put things in perspective. Start weighing things compared to the bipolar disorder.

Ask yourself, “Is this disagreement really important compared to the bigger picture of dealing with bipolar disorder?” Most of the time, you’ll probably find that things weigh in on the “small stuff” side rather than the “big stuff” side.

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,

Happy Fourth Of July if you are in the United States.

How’s it going?

Sorry I am getting this to you so late.

Here’s the current bipolar news.

To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews385

C.redit C.ard C.onsolidation Speeds Freedom from D.ebt fromBipolar Disorder
DO> This article is by me. Let me know what you think

A patient’s view of bipolar
DO> Very interesting article.

Mother’s mental illness diagnosed a decade ago
DO> This is a super disturbing story. Any ideas why she REALLY did what she did?

Church response to the mentally ill
DO>EXCELLENT article. What do you think?

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews385

==>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.