Hi,
How’s it going? Last night was volunteering at a group
that supports those with mental illness. When I was
there, I noticed there were a whole lot of people
off track. Even though I know that support groups
generally attract those that are least functioning
with bipolar disorder and those supporters who
are having a hard time, it’s always a harsh reality
to see it up close and live.
I felt bad for a number of people there because
they were suffering. Some were way off track.
One of the situations I saw there that stands
out in my head this morning was the huge mistake
people seem to make with treatment. I call it
treatment jumping.
What the heck is treatment jumping you might
be asking. Well here is what it is. It’s
when you or your loved one with bipolar disorder
gets on one treatment plan and then you jump
to another treatment plan WITHOUT following
instructions from a doctor. You wind up making
your own decisions because you “feel” it’s the
best thing to do.
The bottom line is that you have to give any
doctor time to figure out what to do and how
to do it. You can’t expect any doctor to come
up with the right combination of bipolar medication
in a few days or few weeks.
WARNING!
Now there is a balance between you right to get a
new doctor and request new treatment if it’s not
working. I realize that. BUT, many people simply
start one treatment. Then stop. Then jump to
something else like herbs or something. Then
they go to a different doctor. Then jump to
another doctor with giving him/her time
to find the right combination of medication and/or
other things. Then a person jumps to something
else and eventually months turn into years and
a whole lot of time is wasted.
There were MANY treatment jumpers in the room
last night. And it wasn’t just the people with
bipolar disorder. Many supporters were encouraging
loved ones to jump treatment. I spoke to one woman
who said, “We have been to 8 doctors in the last
year.” I said, “really? that’s a ton.”
She said to me, “None of them know what they
are doing.” I informed her how it took my mom’s
doctor who is great several months to get my mom
ALMOST stable. I went on to say if you have been
to 8 doctors in 12 months that’s 1.5 months
each doctor has to help your loved one. That’s
not enough time at all and doesn’t make any
sense.
I then said, that the person should spend time
to find ONE highly qualified doctor and realize
it’s going to take many months to figure out
the right combination of medication. I said
how you have to give it time and if you jump
from treatment plan to treatment plan it just
delays things because each doctor has to start
over and learn about the patient and that takes
time.
The person got mad at me and walked away because
I wasn’t telling her what she wanted to hear.
Hmm. But she wasn’t the only one, there were many
others that all were supporting, encouraging or
actually personally treatment jumping. This is a
HUGE mistake I see people make time and time again.
I think it’s because people don’t realize that it
takes time to develop the right treatment plan.
I took my mom about a solid year to get stable.
If you got any of my courses at:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
You’ll notice I have a cd called “My mom’s story.”
This cd goes over from a to z how long it took
my mom to get stable. I included that cd because
I wanted people to get an idea of how long it
would take for stability to be gained after a major
bipolar disorder episode. I noticed that when I was
supporting my mom, NOBODY would give me an idea
of how long it would take. Without knowing I started
to think things were going badly after only 2 months
but then I just decided we must be on the right track.
I am glad that I did. If we started treatment jumping,
my mom probably wouldn’t be stable today.
Well, I have to head to work. Have a great day.
Your Friend,
Dave
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.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
Dave, I repaeat my previous question, how did you get my name and medical status.
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DEAR DAVID OLIVER!!!
07-25-2007
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
YOU ARE DOING A WONDERFUL THING WITH ALL THE INFORMATION YOU PUT OUT INTO THE WORLD FOR BI-POLAR AND ALL THOSE THAT NEED SUPPORT OR EDUCATION ABOUT BI-POLAR….REGULARLY. FREE OF CHARGE…YOU ARE TRULY AN INSPIRATION!
I AM BI-POLAR. I HAVE HAD A ROUGH TIME OF IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS…IT ALL ENDED AT A PIT OF BANKRUPTCY, LOSING MY HOME, POSSESSIONS, BUSINESS, AND WORST OF ALL….FOR QUITE A WHILE….MY MIND…..AND SOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE.
I HAVE BEEN RE-BUILDING IT ALL. FINANCES ARE TIGHT…BUTI AM RE-BUILDING MY BUSINESS…AND JUST MOVED FROM A “ONE ROOM” SECTION 8 STYLE SITUATION INTO A 2 FLOOR STYLE TOWN HOUSE RENTED CONDO….
I HAVE BUILT A HUGE SUPPORT SYSTEM OF PROFESSIONALS TO HELP KEEP ME ON TRACK AND HAVE ASPIRATIONS OF LIFE AND SUCCESS AGAIN…(I AM 50 YEARS OF AGE AND STARTING ALL OVER.. HOWEVER…SOMEHOW…BETTER IN MANY WAYS…ALL OF MY PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED AND I AM A BETTER PERSON FOR THE NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE…
MAINTENANCE IS THE KEY…& I AM VIGILANT…
YOU HAVE HELPED ME ENORMOUSLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
I HAVE FORWARDED YOUR E-MAILS RE-SUBJECTS TO MANY OTHERS, WHO LOVE YOUR WORK,, APPRECIATE IT…AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS…WHO UNDERSTAND ME BETTER BECAUSE OF IT”…
IT IS A BIZARRE ILLNESS…. WITH MANY TWISTS AND TURNS….
SOME HOW…YOU HELP MANAGE TO HELP SMOOTH OUT THE PATH A GREAT DEAL.
WE SHOULD GET YOU ON OPRAH!
GREAT JOB!!
WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT…I WILL BUY YOUR BOOK/RESOURCES FOR THOSE WITH BIPOLAR ILLNESS….
GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL OF YOUR HELP…
COSMIC WIZARD
Dave – You are so right when you talk about treatment jumping. Once you find the right MD, getting the correct medical regime is a very time consuming process. But as a supporter, I can say, there is nothing like watching the improvement once your loved one gets onto the correct medicationand stabilizes. My daughter has been struggling for years, and only within the last year has been diagnosed with BD. She is now stable, working and beginning to take responsibility for herself. Even I know that all this could change any day, I would like to bottle this feeling I have and remember it when things go out of control so I remember that with some tweeking and review of what went wrong and how to fix it, peace will again be restored!
Thank you, Dave for all the work you have done and passed along.I have gained a great deal of insight and support throuh my involvement with your program!
Dave,
I was diagnosed when I was a teen with manic depression, treated for awhile and then told I was okay and taken off the meds. Then around 2002 I suffered a breakdown and was admitted to the hospital and told (again) that I had bipolar. I was kept in the hospital for about 2 weeks and placed on different medications. I did outpatient therapy for awhile and was again told that I was okay and taken off the meds. I go through episodes where I feel useless, no desire to live, (although I could not go through with ending my life), extreme anger where I just explode on those I love; some pretty serious mood swings; trouble sleeping, staying asleep; difficulty with concentration-staying focused. With everything that I’m reading that you’ve sent me since I signed up with you, I believe that I do have bipolar and now after reading all of your emails am realizing that it is extremely affecting my life and my job. I want to thank you for all of your information and I will be scheduling an appointment with my doctor. You know, it’s kind of, well I can’t say funny, but anyway, my husband has been telling me that he thinks I need to see the doctor about this and go on disability. It is affecting my entire life…aches and pains, not wanting to get motivated, wanting to sleep all day, missing a lot of time from work, etc…I always brushed him off, but now because of you, I am seeing things more clearly. THANKS!
Dave~ .Reply to the e-mail this A.M. I have had been through 2 docs and the third is wonderful. I have been seeing him for years now.
My doctor and my therapist have diagnosed me with ADD years ago my doctors and I along with my therapist have decided until now to address the ADD. We’ve been talking about it for 3 months now.
I feel good about our decsion.
They have encouraged me to keep in close touch with them if I have ANY concerns.
I am happy with my decision as The ADD has been a hinderance.I have been wanting organize my life,go to school,I never did graduated High school,.I cannot focus. I know this will Sound juvinile. My Therpest asked me why I could not Graduate. I replied. “I did not know HOW to learn” Silly I know.
My ADD has hindered me. I am so thirtsy for knowlede. I love history, Renasiansse(sp)art. and I have many other interests.I read a Ton .If you were to ask me what I just read I could not tell you.I could not put in words.It kills me. Because I would love to share and have a nice conversation .
I have trouble keeping up with conv. because I feel so uneducated.I can’t find the words they are in my head ,I just cannot get them out in the right order. My friends are mostly social workers , a bioligist, a Doctor. I know they would NEVER judge me and some I went to Highschool with.I am Very open with my illness and they are incredibly supportive.I couldn’t ask for a better goup of pals :o)
AND my family will greatly benefit from a mother with some self esteem.
I am being very cautious and trying not to get my hopes up..I’ve been through hell and back since I was a child.If I have a chance some problems for a chance to better my life.IT IS SO WORTH IT!!
I accept I am Bipolar/ADD and I am going to do everything in my power to do what I can to make my life liveable,enjoyable,for myself. And also be realistic!
I have 2 young children and a wonderful,supportive,husband to think of also. They are my inspiration.
I hope you do not consider this “Treatment Jumping”. I know you aren’t targeting one specific person. I just wanted to share.
Again Much research a good,Trusting Doctor/Therpast.Lots of questions, loved ones input.Like I said It took us 3 mo. to go with the treatment to make sure I was going to keep stable and my concerns.
If anyone
has tried anything similar,Please I’ll take any advise or stories.
Thanks,
Thinking of all,
Tonya
thank you for your emails they givr me hope as i wait for a job sponcership job to come to you country to be with my loved one it gives me comfort thank you very much
thank you very much. this info will be a great help to me and my husband.
Hello Dave , I wanting to write you and say i have been through the ringer with so many doctors..no one knows what i have first they say i have bipolar 2 then cronic depression then borderlione personallity…i was also told I have A.D.D ….MY LIFE HAS NOT BEEN GOOD . been through abuse of all kinds and abandantment from my dad. plus my family does things with out telling me …and when they do tell me the desition is already made…i feel like i am treated like a child…eather way i act its wrong in there eyes . i have 3 kids and it seems my brain cemistrey changes they say…
so if you have any advice i would love to hear it thanks
Hi David my bipolar husband name is david too. I just wanted to tell you that i have really enjoyed your articles , i was really confused and wanted a support group to belong to to try t find some answers . I can not afford to get on the circle but i will continue to read the articles and i share some of them with david. just letting you know to keep on writing you and your mom’s story because it does help us that cant afford to get on the support groups that cost money, i would like to know on that didnt cost anything so that i can get more help.
Dear Dave thanks so much for your work in this area. Its people like you and my exwife and sister that make this trip thru hell bearable.
Hello David I can’t thankyou enough for your support my fiances name is also David and we have been together now for several months. I love him very much and he has this condition, however he is very stable but there are times when he goes under depression and I give him all the space he needs. He stated to me recently that it use to take him days sometimes weeks to get over his depressed state. But now it has taken him less than a day and sometimes even hours. We will wed soon and I know that he is my soulmate. Thankyou kindly for your words of wisdom and advice, being that of a person who knows first hand how to cope with this condition.From your mothers eyes.
sincerely yours
Tess