==>>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

Hey,

What’s up? I have had a lot of people
ask me for suggestions as to how to
tell their boss they have bipolar disorder.

I recently wrote an article on the subject.

Here it is…

Oh before I get to that. Someone wrote me
yesterday: “I saw a David Oliver who worked
at the circus, was that you?”

I can tell you for sure, I don’t work at a
circus. And also, I am NOT a lawyer, doctor,
therapist, dog catcher, insurance agent,
spy for the drug industry (I get this a lot),
or any other kind of professional.

You should question everything that I say
and anything that I write is my opinion
not professional advice.

And if you go to the circus, I won’t
be there 🙂

Okay here’s the article:

Telling Your Employer You’ve Got
Bipolar Disorder?

Here Are Seven Suggestions

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about it for a
while, but just didn’t feel it very necessary
until now. Or perhaps you’re changing jobs and
forced with deciding whether your new employer
really needs to know you suffer with
bipolar disorder.

Making the decision to tell your supervisor or
other official at work about your bipolar disorder
is not a small step. Here are seven tips that might
help you make your disclosure on bipolar disorder
when the time comes.

1. Do some detective work before you reveal
your bipolar disorder.

In other words, just do your homework. Before you
actually make the decision to reveal you have
bipolar disorder, feel your supervisor out on
his attitude towards the topic of mental illness
in general. If you can, try to discover if others
with bipolar disorder have been hired? How well
have they been treated?

2. Give serious thought to disclosure on
bipolar disorder.

It’s not something done lightly, like telling
someone you have a hang nail. There is still a
large stigma associated with bipolar disorder.
In fact, you may be surprised just how many people
aren’t even sure what it is. Make sure you’re ready
to make the announcement on bipolar disorder.

3. Consider having your therapist sit in on
the meeting.

While this may sound extreme, the presence of your
therapist is an excellent idea. In this way,
he can answer any questions about the nature
of bipolar disorder in general. He would also
provide an excellent reference to reassure a
hesitant supervisor that even with your
bipolar disorder, you’ll function just fine
around the workplace.

4. Decide, ahead of time how you’ll handle
your disclosure of bipolar disorder.

Visualize how the meeting will go. Once you’ve
decided who’ll be attending the meeting announcing
your bipolar disorder, then decide you will actually
be doing most of the speaking. Rehearse what
could possibly be said about your bipolar disorder
and most importantly, what you can say in reply.
You are probably well aware of many of the questions
people have concerning bipolar disorder; prepare to
talk to these points. Also be prepared to reassure
the fears of any possible performance problems your
employer may think there will be with your
bipolar disorder.

5. Decide, specifically, what person at your
workplace you’ll reveal your bipolar disorder to.

Are you just going to reveal your bipolar disorder
to a few trusted co-workers? Are you planning to
tell your supervisor? Or perhaps you’re just going
to reveal it to the human resources director.
Whoever you tell about your bipolar disorder, be
sure you feel comfortable with the decision.

6. Be sure to talk about limitations

When discussing your bipolar disorder with your
employer, you need to be specific if you feel
you’ll have any limitations at all placed on you
because of the condition. Will you need any
out-of-the-ordinary accommodations? If you have
no limitations related to your bipolar disorder,
reassure him of this as well. You know it’s in
the back of his mind anyway.

7. Describe the symptoms

Even if your employer says he’s familiar with
bipolar disorder, describe the symptoms you
develop when you’re in an episode. Make sure
that she understands these. But more than that,
explain to her the best methods of handling these
symptoms. Also, don’t forget to tell your employer
any necessary information your doctor may want her
to know on bipolar disorder. This is also a great
time for you and your employer to talk about the
Americans with Disabilities Act in relation to
your 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

SIDE NOTE: I would really study the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Type it
in a search engine and read what comes up.
Then swing by the library and ask the “reference
librarian” to help you find information on
it and understand it. This law will help
you or your loved one with bipolar disorder.

Well that’s it. See you tomorrow.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

==>>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

Hey,

How’s it going? I have to take off pretty quick here
because I have to go to train.

As a side note, someone once asked how I think of topics
to write about each day. I have a lot of stuff to choose
from. I have over 100,000 on my list, it grows up to 800
people a day, I have 8 people who work for me with a mental
illness, my mom has bipolar disorder, I have friends
with it, so coming up with new things to write about
is pretty easy.

But getting up each morning and spending 1 hour writing
and thinking about it can be hard. Especially when
you are tired 🙂

Yesterday I was checking out my bipolar
blog yesterday at www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog
and came across some interesting posts.

Here’s one.

Anita said…
I have a question for Mr. Oliver that doesn’t
really pertain to the news. I just didn’t know
how else to contact you. I’m Bipolar and I wonder
why I do what I do. I shut everybody out. I don’t
let ANYBODY know what’s going on except my Dr. even
when I’m manic – unless I can’t help it. Sure-
I yell a lot at my kids, and everybody knows I’m moody,
but I don’t want anybody to know I’m depressed,
suicidal, paranoid, manic or whatever. Why do I
do that? Is that normal behavior?

And then I got another one that said.

misty said…
My mother is bipolar. I am at the end of my rope.
She keeps getting worse and worse. She has been
calling me latly leaving nasty messages. I don’t
know what to do. I just got married. We went to
Hawaii on our own just so she would not mess our
day up. Well, now she is giving us a reseption.
She claims all i do is complain about everything.
So not true. I am in the middle of starting my
new career.I have been going on interviews. i am a
stylist so I take clients at home right now. so I
am super busy. She calls me 10 times a day. If I
do not answer she getsreally bad and hateful. I
can’t take it. I don’t know what to do. Please help!

I was reading these posts and thinking about
something that I learned when I was at school. I
have actually used it a lot over the years.

It’s called Occam’s Razor.
Wikipedia says this of Occam’s Razor…
Occam’s razor (sometimes spelled Ockham’s razor)
is a principle attributed to the 14th-century
English logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham.

[The principle] often paraphrased as “All things
being equal, the simplest solution tends to be
the right one.”

Most of the time, I find that when trying
to help someone with bipolar disorder, indeed
the simplest solution is the one that generally
works.

If we look at the two posts, the simplest
solution that runs through for both people
is–the need to a correct treatment plan.

The first person obviously is struggling
and needs to immediately go to the doctor
and express all the things posted in my blog
or have the help of someone who is around
and acting as bipolar supporter do it for
them or help them.

As for the second person, the mother
needs proper treatment. This might sound
simple but it’s the truth. I find many
people waste so much time thinking of
what to do when the #1 focus has to be
getting either yourself (if you aren’t
stable ) or someone who
is not stable with bipolar disorder into
the right treatment plan.

Many times, people are looking for very complex
strategies on how to “handle” someone with
bipolar disorder that is not stable or how to
handle severe mood swings. The answer is generally
simple–it’s about the right treatment plan.

The first step is to find a good doctor. The good
doctor works to make a good treatment plan. After
that, everything else starts to fall into place.

Virtually all the success stories in all my
courses/systems below all started with getting
a good doctor and that person created a good
treatment plan.

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 bipolar disorder, don’t fall prey to
looking for super complex answers or strategies.
Remember the Occam’s Razor philosophy.

For many that I have talked to with bipolar
disorder who have struggled. By them simply
going to the doctor once a month, changed their
entire life. All they really needed to do is
show up with consistency.

If they would have done this from the time they
were first diagnosed, they would have not wasted
years and years of their lives.

Well I have to take off for the day. Have a great
day and catch you tomorrow.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

Hi,

Here is the current Bipolar Disorder news.

Make sure you take a look. I really work hard to put
it together for you :).

To see the news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews341

There’s some really interesting news stories this week.
Take a look at them. Also, write me some feedback by
visiting my blog below.

Here are some of the headlines:

Your child may not be crazy after all: bipolar diagnosis not for …
DO> This is really shocking

Teaching an Old Drug New Tricks

Man killed by police had bipolar disorder, family says
DO> This is terrible!

Hartley — mental issues often misunderstood
DO> I have been saying this for years.

Charlotte Church opens up about mum’s overdose
DO> It’s about time, people talk about this

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews340

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

==>>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

Hey,

How’s it going?

It’s almost Labor Day weekend in the US. I didn’t
even realize it was here. Anyway, I am working
all through the weekend. Why? Because I like
what I do.

Yesterday I got an email from someone
and it said:

“I can’t believe my husband wants to
divorce me. He has bipolar disease
and is acting really crazy. He screams
and yellls at me all the time for
no reason. I can barely take it.
I tried to talk to him for months
to stop.

Dave, why does he does he do and
say such mean things?”
-Pam

Take a look at that again. I want
you to read it and try to guess what
the 3 letters that spell trouble
are?

Guess and then scroll down for the
answer…

Scroll after you have the answer…

It’s why? Why is deadly I think with bipolar
disorder. I think it can seriously drive
a bipolar supporter AND a bipolar survivior
crazy.

When you start asking:

why do I have bipolar disorder?
why did my loved one say this or that
why did my loved one do this or that
why is bipolar disorder such a nasty illness
why do people with bipolar disorder say such mean
things

Why is a word that just makes you feel depressed
because with most of the questions there really
are no answers.

Ever sit and start thinking “why this and
that.” You never can come up with answers
and it makes you feel depressed.

It’s like when a girlfriend broke up with
me some time again. I would sit for days
wondering why she did. There was no explanation
that I could come up with. Especially since
I am such a cool guy :).

Anyway I stopped asking why she broke up
with me and started asking what I was
going to do since she was gone. I then
moved one how I was going to get a new
girlfriend.

Make sense?

I think that people can get paralzed focusing on
why and it creates major problems for them.
This lady Pam you can see is focusing on the
why way too much.

I focus on the how. What’s that mean? Well
I focus on how to correct the problem.

You see with bipolar disorder, a person
can live a perfectly normally life with
the right treatment plan.

Instead of asking why? Ask how do I get
myself or my loved one on the right
bipolar treatment plan.

I know sometimes you may read my material
here and say, “What the heck Dave? That’s
so simple and not useful. Easy for you
to say! Thanks for nothing.”

Seriously I am really telling you what
to do.

If you look at my course/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?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net

You’ll notice that it’s all based on how
tos. I don’t tell long sad stories of
how bad bipolar disorder is. I focus
on how to handle virtually all the situations
you will come across whether you have
bipolar disorder, are supporting an adult
or supporting a child/teenager.

The situation with my mom turned around
when I started asking how instead of
why.

I actually have to take off for the day
but I want to leave that with you to think
about.

I want to say another thing. I want to make
it clear that I use to focus on the why
and then I transitioned to focusing on the
how. I think that it happens with everyone
dealing with bipolar disorder. It just takes
some longer than others.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

==>>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

Hey,

What’s new? I actually got a super late start today
and I have to kind of speed things along. I have
to leave work early today because tonight I am
volunteering.

Where do I volunteer? I volunteer at a group
that helps those with various mental illnesses
such as bipolar disorder, depression, borderline
personality disorder, schizophrenia, etc.

Actually as a side note, it’s very rare that
someone with or caring for someone with
schizophrenia comes. hmmm. I wonder if
that’s a marketing problem.

Anyway, tonight I am sure that I will
have a new list of things to talk about
and cover.

Okay let’s jump into today’s topic.

It’s actually as a result of talking
to someone that works for me. We
were talking about all the natural
treatment scams that are promoted
for bipolar disorder. There’s a bunch
of them.

Then the person who worked for me said
to me an incredible alternative therapy
that most people don’t think of and
many don’t even think it’s natural.

You know what it is? It’s therapy.

Why is it shocking? It’s shocking
because people don’t really consider
it natural.

Now before you hit delete and get
mad and don’t think this is as exciting
as I do…read on.

I never really thought of therapy as
natural either but it is. Think about
it. What’s unnatural about therapy?
Nothing. And best of all it works,
and works well.

My mom never use to go t therapy but now
she does. That was part of her plan. Part
of her bipolar stability equation. I must
say, my dad and I have clearly seen
that my mom does really well when she
is regularly going to therapy versus
when she isn’t. No question about it!

I am not sure why therapy doesn’t get
more promotion. I think because drug
companies don’t make any money off of
it. Neither do most doctors. I find that
some doctors feel therapy competes with
them in a strange way. That’s SOME
not all doctors.

I discovered how important and successful
therapy AND medication was and I write
about it in my guide called:
My Findings: Vitamins, Herbs, and Alternative
Therapies for Treating Bipolar Disorder.

Many people have gotten it but if you want
it, visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/alternativetherapies/

Anyway, during my research and the doctors I paid
to research it was clear how important therapy
was and is. BUT in my opinion, it must be used
in conjunction with medication. But let
me say for the 1000th time:

I am NOT a doctor, therapist, lawyer,
or other kind of professional. These are my
opinions. You should check out everything
I say from A to Z. I am just providing
opinions not giving medical advice.

Note I am no longer going to add that I am
not a dog catcher like some have asked
before. I think it’s pretty clear.

Anyway, I will say this about alternative
and natural treatments for bipolar disorder,
you MUST tell your doctor about them and
you MUST work with your doctor when you
introduce them. Period.

Many people hide stuff from their doctors.
If you hide stuff from your doctor, you are
a fool. And you are asking for big, huge
problems down the road.

In my opinion you should clear EVERYTHING
with your doctor. My mom learned this the hard
way. She was kind of doing stuff and the stuff
she was doing was making her less and less
stable. As a result, she runs everything
past her bipolar disorder doctor.

Anyway, I really encourage everyone with
bipolar disorder to seriously look into
therapy. It has tremendous benefits. And
I mean tremendous benefits.

In my courses/systems below, I have
done so many interviews with bipolar
supporters and bipolar survivors
that believe therapy helped make a
key difference.

If you want more information, please visit
the links 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

But I really want you to think today
if you haven’t considered therapy
that it has tremendous benefits. If you
haven’t considered it, visit your doctor
and speak with him her.

If you are a bipolar supporter, talk it
over with your loved one. If you loved one
is an bipolar disorder episode, make a mental
note and when he/she is more stable, remember
to mention it.

Lastly, I want to say to the people who think
therapy is a waste of money because you are
paying someone to listen to you talk to them,
it’s totally not true.

I really hope that some people on my list,
post some comments on the benefits of therapy.
If you have a comment, please post it.

Anyway, I have to run. Have a great day
and catch you tomorrow.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

==>>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

Hi,

How’s it going? Hope your Tuesday is going well.
Actually some people it’s Wednesday and I think
some people it’s Monday. Well hope your day is
going well. It’s really hard with over 100,000
people on the list now:)

Anyway I got a rather alarming email:

“Hey Dave! I love your information and
thanks for it. It’s been really helpful
to me. I should have written earlier
and said thanks. We found an incredible
doctor that has helped my son. This
doctor is great like I think you say
your mom’s doctor is great. I am so
happy. She is the best and we could
never find anyone else. She’s the only
good doctor that has helped. I hopes
she stays a doctor forever.”
-Jane

Do you know why this email is so alarming?
I want you to really think about it
and then scroll down for the answer.
Think about how I think and what my philosophy
is. I know that some will get it right
but many won’t.

So think now of the answer and then scroll.

Did you think of it? NO cheating. I will catch you 🙂
Scroll down…

Have you answer? Scroll down..

Okay there are a lot of issues here. The first
being Jane has ONE doctor and no backup doctors.
Jane doesn’t think she could get another doctor.
She couldn’t have used my doctor finding system
in full because it’s almost impossible to not
have a whole lot of “good” and “great” bipolar
doctors to choose from.

If you are interested in my doctor finding
system, it’s in any course/system 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

It’s about 40 pages long and a audio
material.

Anyway, finally Jane is assuming
the doctor will practice forever…not going
to happen. No doctor will stay in practice forever.

Let me tell you a story. When I was supporting
my mom, she had a terrible doctor. He was a total
joke. My mom told me how he would fall asleep
during their appointments. When my mom was
in bipolar episodes it was super easy for her
bipolar disorder to run circles around him.

Anyway, she got really sick, then went to the
hospital and then went to the bipolar outpatient program
where no one helped her. I then had to invent
my doctor finding system because my mom was
kicked out of the program because insurance ran
out and she needed a new doctor.

My dad went to the phone book and looked and
called 3 people. Nobody picked up. He left messages.
No one returned his calls. He said standing in the
kitchen, and I quote, “I guess there just aren’t
enough doctors to go around.”

I was thinking, “What the heck? That’s a bad
attitude.” I knew there were great doctors
but you have to find them.

Anyway, invented my doctor finding system so
highly qualified doctors would contact a person
instead of a person contacting the highly qualified
doctor. It was a strange concept that people at
the outpatient program laughed at and said that
“this will never work.” It did.

Okay so my mom’s current doctor contacted me
and said she could help. She was totally qualified.
Did I stop there? NO! I said to my self, “Self, we
need a backup doctor and I want the ability to
get doctors on demand….if her current doctor
quits, gets sick, etc, we will have backups and
if the backups fail we will know how to get more
super qualified people.”

So as it stands we have backup doctors and we
can easily start the doctor finding system again
to find someone new if we have to. No question
about it.

Jane on the other hand has one doctor. I would
suspect she used 20% of my doctor finding system
and landed on a great bipolar doctor. I would
guess she didn’t use the entire thing. She that’s
why she feel like she is lucky. I don’t like counting
on luck. I really don’t. I hate it. I work to create
systems and techniques that work based no effort
not luck.

Anyway, if you have just one doctor, ask yourself
“Do I have a backup and do I have a way to find a
backup?” If you do, great if not, watch out.

Hey I have to run and do some conference calls
in my consulting business. You have a great day
and I will catch you tomorrow. Oh I have some
great news for you. I have tell you tomorrow.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

==>>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

Hi,

How’s it going? I am kind of annoyed. My cell
phone isn’t working. I pay so much money
for a cell phone and it never works right?
Ever call Sprint customer service? It’s like
dealing with 100 bipolar episodes.

Anyway let’s talk about what we have to talk
about today.

I have been getting a lot of communications
(via email, phone, blog, letters in the
mail) about how do you know.

First let me say this. It’s a skill to
know what’s part of a bipolar disorder
episode or what can lead up to one
versus what is a person’s normal
behavior.

Today I am going to give you one technique
that you can use to help yourself figure
it out. This isn’t the only technique
but only one.

Here’s what you do. You get a blank sheet
of paper and you write down answers
to when you FIRST met the person that
you are supporting.

How did the person normally treat people
What type of language did the person normally use
How kind was he/she
Did he/she curse
Did he/she curse in a mean way towards you
Did he/she yell at you
Was he/she caring?

I think you get the idea. You write down
these answers.

Then step two is to envision the person
and what they were like when you first met
them. Spend at least 10 minutes thinking
about this.

Now you have a clear picture of the way
the person is and now you take this picture
and the information on your sheet and you
compare or juxtapose it against current
behavior.

If there is a big difference this could
be a sign the person is not under the right
treatment plan or currently in a bipolar
disorder episode.

When I first started supporting my mom,
I use to use worksheets and do a lot of
work to figure it out. But then it because
built into me and I know longer needed
my own self created instructions (the ones
that I just helped you make).

Today I can tell almost instantly what is normal
behavior for my mom versus bipolar behavior.

But I have a number of other means to figure
this out as well. That’s just one technique
I use.

I have more in my Bipolar Supporter Course.
If you have bipolar disorder I have information
in my Bipolar Success Course on what to do
when you feel yourself “going off track.”

You can get more information on them 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

Well I have to run. Have a great day and I
will catch you tomorrow.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

==>>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

Hi,

How’s it going? I have a really important bipolar
disorder lesson for you.

I think I am actually going to
start sending the Sunday daily email later in the
day so I have at least one day to sleep in :).

I’ll let you know what I decide.

Anyway, today I have to do a lot of driving
and I noticed that my oil sticker on my car
is almost matching the number of miles that
means that I have to change my oil. So I am
going in on Monday to get the old oil changed.
Sounds like fun, huh?

Let me tell you this story about my oil, my
car and how this relates to bipolar disorder.

Ready? Here we go….

Once upon a time. Just kidding.

A couple of months ago I heard this weird sound
in my car. It kind of ran strange as well. So I went
to the car mechanic guy. He looked at my
car and then he said “you’re low” on oil.
I said, “Hmmm. okay.”

I know nothing about cars. One time this
woman was broken down on the side of the
road. I pulled over to help her. This was
about 15 years ago before cell phones.
Her tire was flat. I said, “Hey I will
help you.” She said okay. I had no idea
how to do it.

I asked her to get the manually. It didn’t
make sense to me. She saw me struggling and
I think she was probably like, “What a sad
kid whose father didn’t teach him how
to change a tire.”

I worked on it for seriously hours. Finally
I thought the tire was on. I was so worried
that it would fall off, I asked the lady
to drive super slow and be prepared to lose
the tire :). She laughed. She did and eventually
we got to a gas station.

Actually that lady wrote a super recommendation
which helped me get into college.

Anyway back to the oil story. Sorry.

He said maybe you have a leak or something.

So he checked it out. Then he looked up
at me and start calling me stupid and
that I was going to ruin my car. Can you
guess why?

Well I kind of forgot well I kind of ignored
the sticker that indicated how many miles
that I had to come in to get my oil
changed. I seriously thought that it was
a ballpark figure. I didn’t know it
was so critical.

It worked all these years for me 🙂

Anyway I got the lecture of my life from
George the car mechanic. Saying how if I didn’t
change the oil when I was suppose to, it
could lead to huge engine problems, my
engine could stop working, it would cost
a ton to fix, the world would fall
apart, my children, if I had any, would
suffer in the future (just kidding).

Anyway, that got me to thinking about
bipolar disorder and something that
many do. First I am going to talk about
what S O M E, I repeat some, I don’t
want to get hate mail from the people
who don’t saying, “hey I don’t do
that stop labeling me”, people
do.

Anyway, the doctor says come in at
this time. They say okay. Then they
take the appointment card and kind of
discard it and say, “I’m doing fine
and will come in when I want.” OR
these people do keep the appointment
card but they never make the appointment.

They are constantly rescheduling and pushing
it back and eventually like some people and
going to the dentist, a really long time
passes before they are seeing the their
bipolar doctor.

I have spoken to people who do this and
like me with my oil they really don’t
think it’s a big deal. Just think of
how I USE TO (before George yelled
at me), my car is fine, I can wait
to get my oil changed even though
I am suppose to.

Some with bipolar disorder think, “Hey
I am fine, I don’t need to go to the
doctor.”

But this leads to seriously problems. Bipolar
medications can’t be fine tuned. The doctor
starts to forget about you (you want the
doctor to remember you and keep you as a
5 percenter NOT a 95 percenter).
Moods aren’t tracked as well and slowly
the system you created which involves going
to the doctor can start to break down.

It’s a big mistake people make.

On the bipolar supporter side, many supporters
actually encourage their loved one to skip
the doctor visit or they go along with a
loved one who wants to keep skipping
appointments. This is a really bad
idea.

I know for myself, when my mom starts skipping
doctor appointments or using excuses to push
them back, it leads to an episode most times.
I also have it on my checklist as a potential
sign of an episode. When my mom is doing well
she goes to the doctor when she is suppose
to. But if she tries to miss appointments,
then I know this could be a sign of a
coming bipolar episode.

In my opinion like how I now feel about
my oil, appointments should NOT be missed.
If you have to, you schedule another one
right away period. No matter what you have
to do. Even if someone has to wheel barrel
you or your loved one their.

In many of my courses/systems below, you hear
people who are interviewed who talk about
how too many missed bipolar doctor appointments
lead to trouble.

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

Don’t let this happen to you. I hope you
enjoyed me story. Oh, people ask me if
these stories are true. They are :).

I have to run. Have a great day.

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

==>>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

Hi,

How are you? I actually have to go really
soon. It’s 8:05am and Saturday. It’s raining
again in New Jersey. Anyway, I have things
to do and people to see today but before
I left I wanted to tell you a VERY important
lesson that few people talk about related to
bipolar disorder.

Why? I don’t know.

Let me tell you a quick story about what happen
to me. Last night I decided it was time. It was
finally time. What was it time for? It was time
for me to put together my kitchen hutch since
every day that I looked at it, it didn’t seem
to be putting itself together.

I had avoided it for several weeks. I HATE putting
things together.

But this time, I tried something different. Normally
it’s a total night mare. Normally I break part of
whatever I am putting together. Normally it takes
days and days and days. Normally it drives me
crazy–kind of like how bipolar disorder can.

Why was it so easy for me to put it together?
Take a wild guess and then scroll….

Don’t cheat. Did you guess and then scroll…

I read ALL the directions first, call the 800
number and asked questions and went in the right
order based on what the directions said.

As a result I was able to do it. Actually a friend
of mine Lindsey said before I was done, “Are you
like the typical guy that doesn’t read directions?”
I said, “umm, nope I read them all and that’s why
I am the world’s greatest furniture putter togetherer.”

Anyway, what the heck does this have to do with
bipolar disorder. This is super important. Okay
medication is the foundation of success. Period!

There are instructions for taking the medication. Many
people never read the instructions, call the customer
service line and ask questions, or do what the doctor
says. If you or your loved one has bipolar disorder,
it’s critical that the instructions on how to take
the medication are followed. If you have questions,
do not guess ask someone who knows like your doctor,
pharmacist or call the toll free 800 for the drug.

I advise reading ALL the information that comes with
the medication BEFORE you take it. Not some of it.
I bet that most people on my list have never done
this. I bet most bipolar supporters never even thought
of this. I never did at first but I do now. I use
to read my mom’s stuff when I had to (today
I live further away and I am a long distance supporter).

The big lesson here is to read. And if your loved one
is an episode and he/she has to take medication, you
should do the reading for them and do the question
asking. The bottomline is there is a ton of information
that has to be learned and most people are not learning
it and as a result the medication is not working as well
as it should.

It’s like my kitchen hutch, those that don’t read
the directions probably mess it up. Make sense?

I hope it does. I have to run, catch you tomorrow.

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

Your Friend,

Dave

P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/

P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com

Hi,

Here is the current Bipolar Disorder news.
I also wanted to let you know about the Bipolar
Disorder and Christianity resource that’s
here:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/spiritualjourney/

Anywas as for the news. Make sure you take
a look. We work hard to sort through a bunch
of junk to find the important bipolar
news.

To see the news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews340

There’s some really interesting news stories this week.
Take a look at them. Also, write me some feedback by
visiting my blog below.

Here are some of the headlines:

Local writer examines the ‘Strength of a Woman’

Ask Bing: How can I handle my bipolar boss?
DO> Very interesting article

Family: Death frees Boyd from struggle with bipolar disorder
DO> This is a pretty odd way to look at it.

Elie Wiesel’s Attacker Goes To Trial
DO> You can’t run from the long arm of the law.

Armed man said to be harmless
DO> Take a look what happens to some with bipolar
disorder and in episodes

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews340

Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Your Friend,

Dave