==>>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 almost made a huge mistake yesterday.
This mistake relates completely to
bipolar disorder and there’s an
important lesson.
Let me tell you the story.
Yesterday I got up in the morning
super early to go to the gym.
It was really, really, really cold.
I got in my car and turned it on.
Then I heard a beep starting. I was like
“what’s that?”
I saw this thing on the dash board. It’s
a thing I have never seen. I thought maybe
the car was cold and it would go away.
After a few minutes, it didn’t not.
It was really annoying. Then I was like
“Geeze, I have to get the manual.”
But I decided to NOT do it until
I went into and go out of the gym.
I have to allow one hour to eat
after I do cardio so I figured I would
fool around with the car and then
afterwards eat.
After I worked out, I got in the
car and how to find the manual in the
glove compartment box.
I looked at it. Then I saw that
the thing or signal was for
“tires low in air.”
I was wondering, “How could that
happen.”
So then I was like, well maybe the
signal will go away. Maybe it’s
wrong. What could be the worst
that could happen.
So I thought about it.
Then I decided to go and get
it checked out at a gas
station.
I went to one. They wouldn’t check
my air. Since I didn’t want to or
trust that I would know how to do
it myself, I moved one to someone else.
I found one quickly and he said, “man,
your tires are really low…You could have
really messed up your car if you kept
driving.”
I was like “oh.” So I got some air
and moved one and now my car is fine.
Then I was thinking how people with
bipolar disorder see signs and do
NOTHING at all.
-They don’t call the doctor
-They don’t call the therapist
-They don’t think about what would happen if
an episode occurred
They just do nothing and wait. A earlier
sign turns into a nightmare.
This is the course that most people take.
It’s sad but true.
With my dad, he did this for so many decades.
He told me he would see my mom was going into
an episode but never take any action. Just hope
it would be okay. It almost never was.
99% of the time it’s much easier to deal with
an episode sooner rather than later. When you
see signs, you have to take action.
In my courses/systems 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
I talk about all the things that go along
with handling bipolar episodes. There’s way
too much to type out here.
Anyway, this is a great lesson. Think long
and hard about bipolar disorder. How many
bipolar episodes have you seen signs
for and done nothing and they turned into
super episodes and you could have caught it?
It amazes me how doctors don’t really stress
this with bipolar disorder. BOTH bipolar
supporters AND bipolar survivors MUST
take action when the signs are seen.
You can’t just put it off like we did
in our family for so many years.
Well I have to take off. Don’t forget to
on Monday evening I am sending out information
on my coaching program. Check your email at 5:00pm
EST.
Talk to you tomorrow.
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL HERE
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
I am VERY good at watching out for early warning signs of my daughter, now 19 going into an eposide. However, her psychiatrist doesn’t want to listen to me. I am just her mother. She must know more about herself than I do.
This last visit I went in with her and explained that she had gone out on a drinking spree (she doesn’t drink heavily when not manic), was having trouble sleeping, and was biting my head off every time I opened my mouth (she is semipolite when she isn’t manic). Her last Lithium level was only .2. All he would do was repeat the Lithium level and see her in three weeks. He had even told her on the previous visit (her first with him) that she didn’t have to take the Seroquel anymore because it was only to help her sleep.
I think she is taking her Lithium again, but she is still hypomanic. At this point she could remain fairly stable or a slight stressor could push hsr over the edge. I don’t know anything though, I’m just her mother.
I really liked this email. It’s challenging for me personally (I’m Schizoaffective, bipolar type) because I generally feel like I have nowhere to go to get help until I crash.
I can always see the signs of my husband going into a manic episode. The problem is getting him to the doctor at that point. He feels good and doesn’t listen. So, the real challenge is getting him to comply, go to the doctor when those around him see the signs, and take his medications AS PRESCRIBED.
LAST MONTH I WAS EXHIBITING SIGNS OF MANIA. MY WIFE WAS ON TOP OF BECAUSE OF DAVIDS MANY E-MAILS ON WARNING SIGNS. SHE AT ONCE CALLED MY SHRINK AND HE HAD ME TAKE MORE LITHIUM AND SEROQUEL. IN A SHORT TIME I WAS OUT AND ABOUT.IT REALLY IS FRIGHTNING FOR MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN. I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE HELP THAT I RECEIVED FROM DAVID OLIVER. james
Dave, I can not tell you how many times we have turned to your info to understand things. We have a dilema now that is not covered in any information that we have though. Missing person..my son was in the hospital and they put him on the drug, geodon. We had already told the doctors it did not work for him, in fact the last time he was in the hospital they put him on it and he ended back up there coming off of it. It had a terrible reaction with him. He became very aggressive and violent, (when he is well he is the most gentle and kind person you could ever meet, anyway he took off and we have not seen him since. We have gone through every channel we know. We had him on a missing report when he first disappeared and they pulled him over in Va. (we live in Ga.) He told them he was fine..which we know is not true, but he had broke no laws so they could not hold him. Yes they had all the info about his disease (homicidal, suicidal, schizoaffective bipolar. Anyway we got a phone call from a pay phone in washington, d.c. someone had told us he was going to have a talk with the president :(:( I have not heard you speak on the subject of missing people with bipolar. Was hoping you might have any suggestions. Thank you for all you do jcprayer
David, I’m so thankful for your “ministry”. Your emails have been so helpful to me as I deal with my spouse who is bipolar. I have rocked along for 12 years counting on him to take care of himself. There’s only been a few times that I felt I needed to “interfere” in his treatment plan. Your emails have opened my eyes after what I call a “big episode”, prompting me to better educate myself to help us both. I have knowledge of many through my client base and realm of friends that deal with this disorder. Most of us aren’t doing a very good job handling our situations. We have become so dependent on the doctors which see our loved one about every 2-3 months, medication and then relying on the person with bipolar disorder to seek extra help when they feel the need. How much better I hope it will be as I better educate myself. Thank you again for your pursuit in educating and supporting us all through your blogs and other materials.
David, I’m so thankful for your “ministry”. Your emails have been so helpful to me as I deal with my spouse who is bipolar. I have rocked along for 12 years counting on him to take care of himself. There’s only been a few times that I felt I needed to “interfere” in his treatment plan. Your emails have opened my eyes after what I call a “big episode”, prompting me to better educate myself to help us both. I have knowledge of many through my client base and realm of friends that deal with this disorder. Most of us aren’t doing a very good job handling our situations. We have become so dependent on the doctors which see our loved one about every 2-3 months, medication and then relying on the person with bipolar disorder to seek extra help when they feel the need. How much better I hope it will be as I better educate myself. Thank you again for your pursuit in educating and supporting us all through your blogs and other materials.
Hey, Dave! I can do you one BETTER. I was driving 45 miles from where I live to a wake for the father of a very good friend, when I ran over a bunch of trash in the road. Shortly thereafter, a red light went on on my dashboard, and I heard really FUNNY noises. I thought I had picked up some of that trash, so continued to drive. Then, I saw smoke come out of the hood of the car! As I was about 25 miles from where I was going – and it was a Friday and no gas stations were open, I kept on driving. As I approached a McDonald’s in my Mom’s hometown, I had NO power steering, and barely limped into the parking lot! Fortunately, I got a lift from my cousin to the wake, and back home. The following day, my boyfriend came 150 miles to help me with my car. Thanks to AAA, my car got towed back home. Found out – my radiator was demolished lol. On that fateful trip, I didn’t even have my cell with me. Think of what could have happened on the way to the McDonald’s if I had been left stranded in the “middle of nowhere!” THAT was a lesson to me – obey the red light!
Right now, I feel as if I am going into “something.” It’s NOT hypomania, though I giggle when something is funny (so NOT me), and I’m dizzy and have “brain fog.” I’m chalking it up to the new medication I was given 10 days ago, the Neurontin, and only hope when I stop taking it tomorrow, when I get my morphine for pain, that this odd feeling will go away. Otherwise, I AM treating it as a “red light,” and contacting my psychiatrist or therapist about the odd feeling. Yes – we bipolars have a sixth-sense when “something” is not right; it’s just that sometimes, we can’t communicate it even to ourselves, much less a caregiver.
I also have a VERY bad cold, and with the new med, feel perfectly AWFUL. The combination of the two is debilitating at most. I KNOW I don’t “feel right” or at least, “not normal,” but don’t know what to do about it tonite. Perhaps when I’m back on my regular pain medication, and get over this cold, things will get back to “average.”
EVERYBODY – watch out for the “red light.” It’s there for a reason, and we should ALL look for it before it becomes a disaster…
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors, and those who love them. My prayers are with you.
When I lived with my daughter, there were signs of a coming storm. Now she is 37 and has lived for years only with her daughter, who is 16. Now Heather (my granddaughter) has run away for the 4th time because she just can’t take it anymore. And she’s a good kid: loves family,National Honor Society.
Without taking up alot of room and going into all the detail, let me just say I think my daughter has gotten worse over the years instead of better. We both have spent so much money on doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists, and other mental health professionals. We could never find anyone who could put all her symptoms together into a meaningful diagnosis, much less effective treatment!
Only 2 years ago when she was hospitalized for cutting her wrists for the 2nd time (she’d used pills before) did a doctor diagnose bipolar, but they kept changing her diagnosis: unipolar, major depressive disorder, mood disorder NOS, etc. My other 2 kids and I are convinced she has bipolar &/or borderline personality disorder or a combination.
The problem is that we all live hours away from her. We cannot leave our spouses and jobs to go live with her! My heart is in shreds! I think many people are in our situation and don’t live near their sick loved one. So I’d like to hear more from your readers about this dilemma.
But regardless, I so much appreciate the section in your manual about finding good doctors! I plan to write up my letter and start researching possibilities today! BECAUSE!: good doctors have to be the springboard for any recovery!
Thanks, Dave, for all you do!
Dorothy
Hi David, when my dog found me at work I knew I was going to be laid off- that was a sign. Flipping someone off is a sign. I do not see it coming, cant get the meds right, I have seen alot in 43 years, dont care to see any more- how is that for a sign? Thanks David, sorry i am in a funk., Karen
A very useful reminder.It is so useful to have emails like this circulated. I think there should be more information provided by governments so that people would know about these things. We did not know my mum was ill for most of her life. On 1 occasion only I got suspicious there was something ‘strange’ going on with her.Then I just forgot about it as it passed.Otherwise I thought she just had awful character. Then came the time when I could clearly see there was a mental problem, but I still had NO IDEA what to do and where to turn and the GP just prescribed something to help her sleep. I just waited for it to pass, untill it got so bad she threatened to jump out of the window and was totally uncontrollable. The doctors who came to take her to hospital said we should have turned to them long ago.
Information and learning to use it and apply it in practice are soooo important! Courage and determination – I wish I had had more of these when my mum was still around.
I sometimes catch myself trying to ignore the signs of my friend becoming manic… Instead of reacting properly I sometimes just become annoyed with him for behaving the way he does, I become annoyed with the situation – “why do I have to deal with it again?” sort of thing…
I’m 29 and my doctor feels I’m Bipolar 2. I was handling life sort of fine till he put me on Abilify. I had a reaction to it that screwed up my life, big time. I’m on Geodon now and it seems to work much better then the anti-depresents did. Is Bi polar 2 much different then Bi polar 1?