Hi,

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

You know I have a goddaughter, right? I know, because I talk about her all the time, right? Well, she’s two-and-a-half years old now. And cute as a button (I have to say that, she’s my goddaughter!) LOL Well, she has this dog. I don’t know if every little two-and-a-half year old little girl has a dog, but she does.

You would think it would be like a poodle, or another “girlie” type dog. But noooo… My goddaughter has to have a bulldog! I figure most little girls just brush their dog’s hair, pet them, try to dress them up, whatever, right? Try dressing up a bulldog!

Well, her favorite thing is chasing this dog around and trying to grab its tail. That’s all she wants to do with it is grab its tail and pull it! Well, needless to say, this doesn’t go over too well with the dog!

It reminds me of people. Nobody likes their “tail being pulled.” In other words, nobody likes being told what to do. Especially when it comes to bipolar disorder.

I know you care about your loved one or you wouldn’t be their supporter. And you want them to get better. Of course you do. Sometimes to the point of wanting to tell them what to do. For some people, that’s just natural. But it can lead to problems in the relationship. Just like with my goddaughter and her dog. Nobody likes being told what to do.

You’ve heard the expression, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.” Well, I heard it put this way: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. But you can make their food salty enough so that they get mighty thirsty!” In other words, instead of trying to make your loved one do something…Try to get them to WANT to do it for

themselves. Or, to go even further… Let them think it’s THEIR idea!

For example, think about the leading the horse to water by making the food salty idea.

If you’ve been having problems getting your loved one to go to see their doctor or psychiatrist… What about this idea? The next time they have to go, suggest that you go together, so that afterwards you can go out to eat at their favorite restaurant! It doesn’t take the sting out of going to the appointment, but it sure makes the idea more appealing, doesn’t it?

You can do the same thing with taking their medication. If you’ve been having a hard time getting your loved one to take their medication…Try suggesting that if they take their medication as prescribed, regularly, for a whole week, (and can prove it to you), you’ll take them out shopping and they can buy a special something they’ve been wanting, or whatever they want.

They may not want to take their medication, but they may be willing to do it for that special shopping trip!

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave