Hi,

How are you today? I hope you are having a good day.

Have you ever gotten so caught up in dealing with your or your loved one’s bipolar disorder that you forget to do anything else? If you have ever experienced this, then you know that it can make life exhausting and sometimes even make you think that things are hopeless.

There are some things you can do to improve your outlook, and to bring back the energy you need to deal with all of your life, regardless of whether it is related to bipolar disorder or not.

Try to remember that you are a whole person, and that you have many needs. (This is true for all of us.) One of these needs is to be around those we love and care for. Another need is to have time away from them so that both of you can have a break.

Another need is to be productive, and to do things that have a purpose. So what can you do to be productive?

The most obvious answer, but not the only answer, is a job. Working can be a great thing when a person is able to. It can give them a break from the rest of their life, and it often helps them to appreciate better the time when they are not working.

It helps them to accomplish something, and to have feelings of self-worth. It brings in money to do the things that are needed, such as paying rent and buying groceries. It gives the person a sense of independence and self-sufficiency.

Work can be a wonderful thing, but sometimes a person is not able to work because they either have bipolar disorder that is currently unstable or for one of many other reasons.

There are other things that can be done to be productive though. These things can either be done in combination with work, or by themselves.

One of these things is education. The most obvious way to get education is through school of some sort. There are many different types of schools for adults, ranging from 4-year universities and graduate school down to junior colleges and trade schools.

Depending on things like interests and levels of stability, different kinds of school may be more appropriate than others. Always take these things into consideration before choosing a course of education, because it is awful to have to quit something you have started because of poor planning.

There are other forms of education as well, such as seminars, reading books, and even talking to someone about a topic that they know a lot about. If you are always on the lookout for something new to learn, then you will always be learning new things.

I used to hear sayings about learning one new thing every day. It is a good place to start, but most of us can handle learning more than just one new thing in each day, so why not try to learn more? This can even be a good way to put your energy towards educating yourself about bipolar disorder.

Another good thing, both for people with bipolar disorder and their supporters, is to socialize. Now I am going to say something that may shock some of you. There is nothing wrong with taking a break from the ones you love to go out with friends or family and have fun. In fact, it can even be good for you to take a break.

How many times have you told yourself that you need a break badly? Take the chance to make plans with friends and take your mind off things. You can go to the movies, or the park, or your friend’s house. You can talk, or play video games, or drink tea.

It all depends on what you and your friends want to do, but the important thing is that you spend time with them, and give yourself the break you need and deserve. That’s right, I said deserve. Whether you are dealing with bipolar disorder in yourself or in your loved one, you have put enough time and energy into taking care of that side of things that you deserve a break.

Another thing that you can do is take up a hobby. This can be done with your loved one or supporter, or with your friends, or even by yourself. They even have groups in the community for most of the common hobbies, so you might look into joining one of them when you decide what hobby to take up.

There are many different kinds of hobbies. They range from bicycle riding to knitting to collecting items to bird watching. There are creative hobbies, like scrapbooking, painting, and beading. There are interactive hobbies, like drama, dancing, and playing an instrument in a band. There are musical hobbies, everywhere from listening to music, to singing or playing an instrument; even to critiquing music. Some people write, or photograph, or draw. Others play sports or learn martial arts.

Whatever hobby you pick, make sure that it is something you will enjoy doing often. As strange as this may sound, beading or bicycle riding can help you to cope with you or your loved one’s bipolar disorder. It gives you something to do that is productive and takes your mind off of things.

Even simple things, like washing clothes and making dinner, can help you to not become overwhelmed, discouraged, or even depressed. Focusing on one thing for too long can do that to a person, regardless of whether they have bipolar disorder or not.

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever gotten depressed or distressed because you were too focused on one thing? Maybe that one thing was bipolar disorder, or maybe it was something else.

Regardless of what it was, it would have been a good thing to focus at least a little bit on something else for a change. Believe it or not, this can be a good coping technique, both for someone who has bipolar disorder, and for their supporters.

What do you think about this? Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave