Hi,

I got this email:

Hi David,

I just read your email and it reminded me of me years ago. I don’t get that way anymore. I have a great psychologist. I have a new psychiatrist and I think he is a keeper. I really don’t like psychiatrists but I know if I have a good one I will be OK. I have had bipolar for 37 years. I know everything you say is true. I think it is great the work you and your staff do. I hope with

you and your staff that no one else will have to spend 37 years never knowing what tomorrow

will bring…” Sincerely, sandie

———————————————————————————————————————

Sandie was writing in response to a horrible hate mail (email) I had received, and she said some other stuff, but I just wanted you to get the gist of her email here (I didn’t want it to seem like I was bragging or anything, I wanted to get to the point of my story here).

In the email I had gotten that she wrote about, the guy had gone on and on about what a terrible

person I was and how I was ripping people off and how I was so rich off other people and I wasn’t helping anyone, etc. etc. I mean, none of that is true, of course — I’m only saying that so you can maybe understand more what Sandie is talking about.

But that’s the point of my whole email. This guy who had written me, I believe, was writing

all that stuff because he was off his medication. Only someone with bipolar disorder who is off his medication would write that kind of stuff.

See, like Sandie said…”it reminded me of me years ago. I don’t get that way anymore. I have a great psychologist.” Sandie is stable now, because she is following at least one part of the Bipolar Stability Equation – getting a (great) psychologist (or psychiatrist and/or therapist).

Without following the Bipolar Stability Equation, even the most stable person with bipolar disorder CAN go into a bipolar episode! So what happened to this man in the other email

CAN happen to your loved one, too! Remember, the most important part of the equation

is taking your medication. For that part there is no exception, no room for give or take. Taking medication for bipolar disorder is crucial to stability. So, if you take medication out of the Bipolar Stability Equation, your loved one CAN go into an episode.

The next thing is therapy. You can choose the TYPE of therapy your loved one takes, but if

they do not see a psychiatrist, psychologist (as Sandi said), therapist, or other kind of mental

health professional, they CAN go into an episode.

Your loved one should also have a good support system. Of course, they have you, but there should be other people in their support system: family, friends, coworkers (if they still have a job), other volunteer workers (if they do volunteer work), other support group members, a priest or pastor, other people in their church congregation (if they go to church), another caregiver, etc.

If not, your loved one CAN go into an episode.

They should also be taking care of themselves. This is another part of the Bipolar Stability Equation.

This includes things like eating a healthy diet, exercising, and sleeping right (8-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night).

These are the most crucial parts of the Bipolar Stability Equation. If any of these things are NOT done, your loved one’s “house of cards” will topple, and they CAN go into a bipolar episode.

However, there are also other things that make up the Bipolar Stability Equation as well, and will help to maintain your loved one’s stability.

They should also have outside activities, and do things that are productive, things that make them feel good about themselves.

One of the things I recommend is a To-Do List. They should start slow, with only a few things on the list, otherwise they will feel overwhelmed. Then they can expand the list. Getting outside and doing things keeps them from being so isolated, which is one of the key triggers to a bipolar episode, so make sure that your loved one does some outside activities as well. Send them on

some errands – this will help make them feel useful, and get them out of the house.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave