Hi,

There was a movie out a long time ago called “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” and it was a comedy (pretty obvious, huh?). It was just all about all the craziness in the world. And if you really think about it, I guess, there really is a lot of craziness in the world today. Things are happening that 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago, you never thought in a million years would happen. But they are. And it’s crazy! Things like this wouldn’t happen in our grandparents’ time.

Or even in our parents’ time. But it’s happening in our time. Sometimes it seems like the world is spinning out of control. It can seem like everyone around you is crazy sometimes! Being that you’re so surrounded with bipolar disorder because of your loved one having it, it can probably

even sometimes seem to you like everyone has bipolar disorder. I mean, I even saw a commercial the other day with Mark Harmon in it, who plays Gibbs on NCIS, urging people with bipolar disorder to get help. He said that some people can go even 10 years suffering

needlessly with symptoms before they get diagnosed. That’s true.

But after you’re diagnosed, one of the biggest problems is accepting that diagnosis. Then, even after you’ve accepted the diagnosis, you still have to learn to cope and deal with your disorder on a daily basis. And that’s a fight in itself. And if you’re a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder…That fight can sometimes seem overwhelming. It can sometimes feel like that’s all you ever talk about…It’s all you ever think about…It’s all that ever concerns you. But don’t you ever think: “There’s got to be more to life than bipolar disorder!” I’m sure you do! Even if it’s just in the back of your mind. And if you do, don’t feel guilty about it. It doesn’t make you a bad supporter. It just makes you human.

Sure, there’s more to life than bipolar disorder. And there’s more to your life than just being a

bipolar supporter to your loved one. You shouldn’t feel as if your whole life is taken over by their bipolar disorder. If you do, it’ll make you, well, downright crazy! It can even make you feel as if you’ve “caught” your loved one’s bipolar disorder, as some supporters have told me they feel. So the only way to deal with it is…You have to have a life outside of your loved one and their bipolar disorder.

For one thing…Most supporters of a loved one with bipolar disorder work a job outside of the home. This gives them a break from their loved one and helps them with their sense of self and gives them good self-esteem as well. It helps them to be around people who don’t have bipolar

disorder, too. And it helps to be in situations that are not influenced or even surrounded by bipolar disorder as well. So if you don’t have a job outside the home, you might want to consider getting one.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave