Hi,

How are you? I hope you are doing well. I must
say, I did a FASCINATING interview with a former
drug dealer who has bipolar disorder. I want
to stress again FORMER drug dealer.

This 60 minute interview was incredible. This
guy knows his stuff when it comes to bipolar
disorder.

One thing he talked about was about was
catching bipolar disorder before it goes
into a full blown episode

I have never really thought of that term
or concept. BUT, that’s what I do with
my mom. At first I see if she is going
to catch her own bipolar disorder episode
and if not, I will step in if I know
what’s going on. My dad is suppose to do
the same thing but isn’t really on top
of things.

Anyway, this particular person was telling
me, something I totally agree with,
that you can catch many episodes but then
there’s a point where the episode is to
far along to stop it and it has to run
it’s course.

He indicated that the key to his
successes with bipolar disorder was to
see a great doctor, work with him/her
regularly, take medication and go
in for tune ups regularly and go to
a therapist AND having one or more
solid supporters around you.

This person has to get a number of
“tune ups” with his medication. He said
that he learned a while ago that his medicine
is not set in stone and he has to go in
for regular visits to his doctor.

It was interesting to hear how important
he thought therapy was. This particular
person is 6′ 5” 260 pounds with two
black belts. He’s obviously a tough
person. I told him that some guys
think therapy is for woman or for wimps (which
I do NOT). He laughed and said it’s not
and it’s for smart people and those
that want to do well with bipolar disorder.

There are many people that think therapy is
for wimps. It’s crazy. BUT this guy is no
wimp. I am told that he is like a one man
army if need be. HE goes to therapy and loves it.

I must say it was an amazing interview.
This person is from the south, really quiet,
soft spoken and you just would never know that
a) he had bipolar disorder, b) he was a former
drug dealer c) he had so many strategies on how
to manage bipolar disorder.

I really enjoyed the fact that he stressed how
it’s possible to have bipolar disorder and have a
normal life. He says he has a normal life. Meaning
a life like everyone else.

In all my course/systems:

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

My goal is to teach things that help a person
have a normal life. I think that in the mental
health world, many people just think that
those with a mental illness can’t have a normal
life.

I know there are some that maybe can’t. But I haven’t
met any people like that. Even the worst people that
I have met there is hope for. AND I notice the worst
most unstable people become stable and productive
when they get proper treatment and follow a proper
plan.

Without a proper plan and treatment my mom would
be totally unstable and unable to be lived with. She
would be probably homeless.

I must say, I have a lot of friends with mental
illnesses and also many people who work for me
now and they all have normal lives. But 90% of
them use to have nightmare lives that were
NOT normal. They weren’t normal because they didn’t
follow a good system.

Always remember if you are supporting an adult,
supporting a child or have bipolar disorder yourself
the goal is to be in a situation that doesn’t require
24 hour a day monitoring and there is a normal life.
I think a lot of people forget this.

The person that I interviewed said, that was always his
goal.

Which points out something important as well. The power of
goal setting and focus. The person I interviewed set a goal
and focused on it and realized this goal. I notice that many
people who are caregivers of those with bipolar disorder
or have bipolar disorder themselves do not have clear
goals related to any of the disorders they are dealing with.

You have to start setting goals. When I started with my
mom, my goal was to help her become independent of me.
I accomplished this goal. I still support my mom but
she is not totally dependent on me.

As for the interview it’s going to be part of a new
course that I am working on that not coming out
for a long time. BUT I may include it as part of the
Bipolar Inner Circle next month if people are interested
in that.

And if there is enough interest, I would ask this
person to go on a teleseminar where he would do a live
presentation and then take 30 minutes of questions
at the end. This would be for those in the Bipolar
Inner Circle as well.

If you are interested in this, drop me an email at
feedbacktodave@mentalhealthworld.net

Hey I am still moving. It’s a total joke. I am the
worst mover in the entire world. I had a giant box
of stuff and everything fell out the bottom when I walked
with it. I looked like a fool in front of my new neighbors
:).

Hey have to run. Talk to you tomorrow.

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