PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS
Hi,
How are you?
Here’s the bipolar news. Enjoy.
To read this week’s news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews437
Mania. A Short History of Bipolar Disorder
DO> Good article for those new to the disorder.
A normal life with bipolar disorder
DO> What are your thoughts on this?
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder originate from some common…
DO> Hmm. Interesting article, take a look.
Memoir is haunting tribute to bipolar mother
DO> WOW, powerful article.
Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents: a rocky road
DO> This is the truth for children with bipolar disorder
The Thinkers: She peers into the brain for cause of bipolar disorder
DO> Seems like they are on the right track, don’t you think?
For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews437
==>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information for allaspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
Hello Dave.
I have read alot of the info over the pass few months and y I must say, that this info has been very very helpful, to understand people with bipolar disorder.
My grandson has this disorder, but he has also had a
substance abuse disorder, for the pass 10 years appro.
he has been off and on the subtance abuse for a few months, and them on the drugs again.
he recently came home after being away for almost 18 months. He got tired of the terrible situation in was in
and I decide to help him recover. he went to the
doctor for help, and they gave him medication which
he was taking, bgut I suspect he stopped after 2 weeks, and he behavior became unacceptable. I told him he had to split. he packed all his clothes and left home, without saying a word to anyone.
we haven’t heard from him, and I know he has NO MONEY.
I don’t want him coming back here, he must fine
some assistance. DO YOU HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS
THANK YOU
CHARLES.SAND
Dave,
I have been reading your newsletters for about two years now. I have recommended your course to friends. I am a supporter of an 18 yr. old daughter, diagnosed BPII at 16. I look forward to the BP News every Friday.
What happened to the news this week? There is a big mistake. Almost all the links to the articles go to articles from last week’s news. Can this be fixed?
Thanks,
Jennie Piers
Hi Dave
I feel lost! Im exhausted! Im scared! Those are just a few of my feelings right now. I have been with a man for over 2 years and from the begining I knew he was bi polar but he wouldnt admit it and saying those words around him was taboo. We now have a 7 month old son and I have 2 daughters from a previous marriage. After coming to the relization himself he has saught help only to turn it down again. He has been told he should be hospitalized. He wont go. As I said Im lost I dont know what to do. We are living with family because he cant keep a job. Buying your course is not an option for me but I do need HELP!!!
Melissa Mae
To MELISSA: I understand your great anxiety at this point in time. I only wish your partner could have gotten help before it became a necessity. If you are a praying person, then pray that the Lord will give you a sign as to how to help this situation. I’m sorry you have an infant to take care of now; that complicates matters considerably. Is your partner a danger to himself or others? Is he violent towards you or the baby? If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, perhaps you ought to call the police or the nearest Community Mental Health clinic and schedule an appointment for YOURSELF. If your partner absolutely REFUSES to go for treatment, there’s not an awful lot you can do, short of leaving. If you have any PERSONAL questions you’d like to ask me – or further information – I can be reached at: Slmsmc@aol.com. Take care, and try NOT to be afraid. I will pray for you and your baby, and try to answer any of your questions.
What’s the deal with the article about people with mental illness getting a reprieve from bad debt?
I believe if people are over 18 and qualified to apply for a loan, then they have the same responsibility to 1)keep current on their payments, or 2) stay in contact with their lenders, and follow through with resolving any problems.
I believe the same goes for everyone, whether or not they have a mental illness. It could be that someone is in a manic episode, and that influences a poor choice.
Regardless, that person is responsible for the consequences. To argue otherwise suggests that people with bipolar disorder have no free will, that the illness “makes” us do things we can’t control.
I have seen quite a lot of discontent in public opinion. Folks complain that those of us who have bipolar disorder use the illness as an excuse to cover mistakes, character flaws, or things other people don’t like about us.
How disturbing is it that we have agencies dedicated to getting us off the hook? Pile on the stigma?!
And I notice what a bank rep said. Refuse someone a loan just because of a disability, and they violate the ADA. But now, if they GIVE that person a loan, their feet are to the fire.
They’re in a bind, aren’t they?
I see that people with mental illness can get into a mess with their finances. And symptoms can be a factor.
But if we get ourselves in debt, I don’t think we are being “taken advantage of.” I think we need to step up. Do something to chip away at the problem, anything but play victim.
To JANE: I don’t claim irresponsibility for refinancing my mortgage on my condo. What I DO (and AM) is trying to work with my Lender to diminish what I owe on that loan. For backstory, I bought the condo with CASH from the sale of my apartment house. BUT – due to irresponsible behavior, reckless use of my credit card, and impulsive buying (thinking I HAD to for some surveys I was doing) – I had to take out a First mortgage on the condo. My credit card debt was putting me in the “poor house” so to speak, and I had to pay it off or face the consequences.
I hope now to continue paying my monthly mortgage for another six months, when I’ll turn 62 and qualify for a Reverse Mortgage, at which time I will pay off what I owe.
YES – I WILL say that the NEED to take out a mortgage was based on “symptomatology” of my bipolar. My boyfriend TRIED very hard to restrict the use of my credit cards – but I wouldn’t listen – I “knew it all.” Now, I’m in an untenable position. Right now, after paying the IRS, VA Dept of Taxation, my mortgage, my condo fee, and 2 credit cards – I have $145 left for the rest of the month. That is ALL I have left, with many more bills coming due.
HOWEVER, I AM being PROACTIVE with my debts, and working with my debtors to work through lowering my payments. and being creative monetarily with money needed for essentials, like groceries. I TRIED to get Food Stamps – but my Case manager said I earned “too much” to get them!! And this, after showing her my debts. I guess you have to have LESS than I do – or NOTHING – to qualify for government assistance…
YES. I was stubborn and misinformed as far as the use of my credit cards was concerned, and feel definitely that some of that use was a symptom of my bipolar. BUT – rest assured, I WON’T go back THAT path again!! If I haven’t learned my lesson by now – I never will.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to EVERY ONE!!
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Hi Suzanne,
I couldn’t tell for sure if you took offense to my message.
If so, I’m sorry.
Please let me clarify that I am NOT making a blanket statement about everyone with bipolar disorder or every situation.
My problem is with this agency, and the fact that they protray people with mental illness as victims of those who loan to them.
Obviously you have gone to great pains to resolve your financial situation, and it’s an ongoing, frustrating thing (to say the least, right)?
I just don’t like the “victim”/”rescue” picture they are painting.
Lots of people assume we use the illness as an excuse already. I just think it’s a step back for these folks to go to the press with a story about how we are being “taken advantage of.”
When I get into a problem with money, regardless of WHY it happened, it’s pretty hard to pick up that phone! Who finds that easy to do?
But I just meant that by making that call, I stop feeling like a victim. And I stop looking to someone else to make that call for me.
So please know, if the message seemed harsh, it was not meant to be. It just gets to me when people think of me as a victim.
Best of luck continuing to deal with your financial situation. Sorry you are going through it.
🙂
J
To JANE: No, I didn’t take offense by your explanation that SOME bipolars play the victim when it comes to applying and signing their names to documents they ultimately don’t understand, like mortgages. Now, I KNEW what I was signing and why. What I was trying to explain is HOW I got into that “fix” in the first place.
To say I was in an “episode” while I was using my credit cards to finance what I THOUGHT was a legitimate reason, is probably NOT too far off the mark. I was under a LOT of stress at the time (yes, I’m playing the “excuse” card), and spending the money on “plastic” seemed “right” at the time. I fell for ALL the F*REE trials/samples, which ultimately were NOT “free” at all. When the bills came due, I was charged sums in the range of $188/month on SEVERAL such “tials,” thus leading to the overextension of my credit cards.
Where I “think” you’re a little off-base is in saying SOME of us bipolars CAN/DO use our illness as an “excuse” for reckless spending and overextension of our credit cards. Although I barely bought anything for myself (remember, I was replying to survey sites), I had absolutely NOTHING to show for my spending!! To say I feel STUPID is to put it mildly. I am of sufficient brain-power to see where I made my mistakes and now I’m working my butt off to rectify them. Looking back, I can only wish I HAD partaken in “retail therapy” instead of the way I went about using my “plastic!”
I agree with you that you can’t “lump” all bipolars together as “one.” But – the symptoms Dave has listed occasionally on his blog – increased sexuality, lack of sleep, racing thoughts, indiscriminate spending, etc. – apply SOMETIMES to all of us. I’m just saying – I’ve been there, done that. But I am trying VERY hard to make up for my mistakes, and “picking up that phone” doesn’t get any easier. But beating myself up for my indiscretions doesn’t help anyone, especially ME. With a little help from my friends, I’m able to hold my head up high, and become responsible once again.
Thanks for the “heads-up” on responsibility; you are REALLY an encourager. Keep up the good work!!
Rock on, Suzanne! 🙂