Hi,
Happy Labor if you are in the US and Celebrate it!
Okay…
There’s this old lady, and it seems like her favorite saying is: “Well, it’s not the be all and end all of everything, you know!” And it sounds funny, the way she says it. And she says it all the time!
About everything! You should hear her – it’s so funny! Lol And she’s so predictable, you can almost see it coming. Like when someone says something, like when they’re complaining about something, there she comes! You just know she’s gonna pull out her favorite expression! And…yep! Sure as rain, she does! But she does have a point. Like with bipolar disorder. It really isn’t the be all and end all of everything. I know it may seem like it sometimes. But it doesn’t have to be. That’s one of the things that I talk about to people – how you shouldn’t let your loved one’s bipolar disorder take over your whole lives. And I’m not saying that’s easy. Because it isn’t – it’s hard to take back the control from the bipolar. I’m just saying that it can be done, and that you should do it. That way you won’t be so overwhelmed by the bipolar disorder.
I mean…I know of one couple who don’t go anywhere or do anything. They are so overwhelmed by the bipolar disorder and it has so taken over their lives that they just don’t make ANY plans.
That’s because they live in so much fear that they might do something and the bipolar would get in the way. So they just do nothing. Well, that’s no way to live. To live in fear like that. And I don’t want you to live like that. So you need to take the control back. It’s true that there are some things you have no control over. Like you have no control over the fact that your loved one has bipolar disorder in the first place. Or the fact that it has no cure. But you do have control over the fact that it can be managed, and you can help them manage it. You don’t have control over the fact that they will sometimes go into bipolar episodes. But you do have control over the normal periods in between those episodes. And that’s where I want to talk about taking back your
power. It’s during those times that you can do the things that you want to do. The things that the episodes kept you from doing. It’s during those times that your loved one can make their best progress toward stability and recovery. And you don’t have to be afraid that the bipolar will interfere if you want to make plans and go out.
You can do anything you want during normal periods with bipolar disorder. As long as you continue to avoid your loved one’s bipolar triggers and stressors. And in this way you won’t let the bipolar be the be all and end all of your lives.
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
that is good advice.that is sort of what i`m doing. of thor my situation is not that bad.i do alot with friends and he don`t seem to mind.i guess as long as he don`t have to go. dorothy
Hello all! My gf/wife was burried in house a few years ago at 2 years, more a less. She did not go out to do anything at all, well, just quicky to foodstore and fast back to house. or just really fast go walk with our dog just get dogs “doings”. That time was hard both of us. she really burried inside. but now on she is more or lass active.. at least he do go out and go to work. yes, he has been working about 7 months now, and she seems to like it, at least she say so. But that job is also a bit stress full job. So, that also make her mood swings bit more worce. And I do support her work as much as I can. Sometimes she thanks me to that support, and others times.. well.. lets say.. not so much. Working in those mood swings made harder, I agree. So, I say, if moodswings are not so often and hard, please try to find some activities to yours loved ones what fits those swings. it not really need to be just job (those helps financial issues, when him/her get eufora or hype mood) but just some activities and to you, as a supporter, get some breathing moments, and it keep releations much healthier.
ps. Thanks Oliver this site, it gets us thoughts and ideas what to do and that I am not, as supporter, alone in this.
That’s the question, after all is said and done – how do you take it back??? The control, episodes, experience. Love your advice this Wednesday at 9:37 am. That’s new work for me and I’m very excited to start working on something that is oh so necessary.
Bringing your life back to the “original” way it should after that (old lady’s saying)
by the way where I come from (one of the islands) and Old Lady is a Wife
I am well acquainted with the Job story…..sometimes it just beste to tune out all those that “seem the closest to us but are the most lethal”
All is Good and I say that with this sound AHHHHHHHHHHH!