My car, my oil and the important bipolar lesson learned

==>>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 have a really important bipolar
disorder lesson for you.

I think I am actually going to
start sending the Sunday daily email later in the
day so I have at least one day to sleep in :).

I’ll let you know what I decide.

Anyway, today I have to do a lot of driving
and I noticed that my oil sticker on my car
is almost matching the number of miles that
means that I have to change my oil. So I am
going in on Monday to get the old oil changed.
Sounds like fun, huh?

Let me tell you this story about my oil, my
car and how this relates to bipolar disorder.

Ready? Here we go….

Once upon a time. Just kidding.

A couple of months ago I heard this weird sound
in my car. It kind of ran strange as well. So I went
to the car mechanic guy. He looked at my
car and then he said “you’re low” on oil.
I said, “Hmmm. okay.”

I know nothing about cars. One time this
woman was broken down on the side of the
road. I pulled over to help her. This was
about 15 years ago before cell phones.
Her tire was flat. I said, “Hey I will
help you.” She said okay. I had no idea
how to do it.

I asked her to get the manually. It didn’t
make sense to me. She saw me struggling and
I think she was probably like, “What a sad
kid whose father didn’t teach him how
to change a tire.”

I worked on it for seriously hours. Finally
I thought the tire was on. I was so worried
that it would fall off, I asked the lady
to drive super slow and be prepared to lose
the tire :). She laughed. She did and eventually
we got to a gas station.

Actually that lady wrote a super recommendation
which helped me get into college.

Anyway back to the oil story. Sorry.

He said maybe you have a leak or something.

So he checked it out. Then he looked up
at me and start calling me stupid and
that I was going to ruin my car. Can you
guess why?

Well I kind of forgot well I kind of ignored
the sticker that indicated how many miles
that I had to come in to get my oil
changed. I seriously thought that it was
a ballpark figure. I didn’t know it
was so critical.

It worked all these years for me 🙂

Anyway I got the lecture of my life from
George the car mechanic. Saying how if I didn’t
change the oil when I was suppose to, it
could lead to huge engine problems, my
engine could stop working, it would cost
a ton to fix, the world would fall
apart, my children, if I had any, would
suffer in the future (just kidding).

Anyway, that got me to thinking about
bipolar disorder and something that
many do. First I am going to talk about
what S O M E, I repeat some, I don’t
want to get hate mail from the people
who don’t saying, “hey I don’t do
that stop labeling me”, people
do.

Anyway, the doctor says come in at
this time. They say okay. Then they
take the appointment card and kind of
discard it and say, “I’m doing fine
and will come in when I want.” OR
these people do keep the appointment
card but they never make the appointment.

They are constantly rescheduling and pushing
it back and eventually like some people and
going to the dentist, a really long time
passes before they are seeing the their
bipolar doctor.

I have spoken to people who do this and
like me with my oil they really don’t
think it’s a big deal. Just think of
how I USE TO (before George yelled
at me), my car is fine, I can wait
to get my oil changed even though
I am suppose to.

Some with bipolar disorder think, “Hey
I am fine, I don’t need to go to the
doctor.”

But this leads to seriously problems. Bipolar
medications can’t be fine tuned. The doctor
starts to forget about you (you want the
doctor to remember you and keep you as a
5 percenter NOT a 95 percenter).
Moods aren’t tracked as well and slowly
the system you created which involves going
to the doctor can start to break down.

It’s a big mistake people make.

On the bipolar supporter side, many supporters
actually encourage their loved one to skip
the doctor visit or they go along with a
loved one who wants to keep skipping
appointments. This is a really bad
idea.

I know for myself, when my mom starts skipping
doctor appointments or using excuses to push
them back, it leads to an episode most times.
I also have it on my checklist as a potential
sign of an episode. When my mom is doing well
she goes to the doctor when she is suppose
to. But if she tries to miss appointments,
then I know this could be a sign of a
coming bipolar episode.

In my opinion like how I now feel about
my oil, appointments should NOT be missed.
If you have to, you schedule another one
right away period. No matter what you have
to do. Even if someone has to wheel barrel
you or your loved one their.

In many of my courses/systems below, you hear
people who are interviewed who talk about
how too many missed bipolar doctor appointments
lead to trouble.

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

Don’t let this happen to you. I hope you
enjoyed me story. Oh, people ask me if
these stories are true. They are :).

I have to run. Have a great day.

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

  1. Dave I red the article about Omega-3’s and am interested in finding out what the right dosage would be for bi-polar disorder. I read all of your posts and e-mails they have been a tremendous help. I also order and received “How to stop a divorce…”, funny thing is, is that I am the one who is bi-polar and I do not want a divorce. I just want to get better. Thanks so much

  2. It always seems like the day I need to hear some humor, I find it intwined in your email of the day. Good lessons and good fun. I am going to my boyfriend’s family reunion today and until this morning it hasn’t affected my BPD much because I have been monitoring myself pretty well. But for some reason, I woke up this morning and started to talk myself right into a panic attack. When I feel like that sometimes I get on my computer to get out of my head. The first thing I read in the morning is this email if I’ve gotten it. Today’s made me smile so much, I forgot what I was panicing (spell?) about, now my daughter is taking a tubby, my clothes are in the dryer, my dishes are done, and I will be ready to go to the reunion calm and confident. Anyway, I spent a lot of years going to and avoiding appointments w/ my doc, especially my med doc, and as a result I constantly felt like a yoyo inside. I never put two and two together until many many years later. My meds have helped me level out for nearly 6 solid months and I recognize what it feels like to feel good! I want to KEEP IT! I wouldn’t be going to any reunion today if I was still hanging on to the yoyo affect. No Hate Mail Here! 🙂

  3. Hi, Dave! Your article on bipolar disorder is of tremendous help for people like me who are nurses by profession. It gives us insights on how to deal properly with people who have that kind of disorder. More power to you.

  4. Nice analogy. Listen, I need to exchange the bipolar course I ordered for the Teenage one. Can I still do that?

    I have a granddaughter who lives with me and.. oh my! I need some help.

    I am a software eLearning designer, not the Granny that I knew, but the 2007 edition.

    Still, given my education, background, experience in raising 3 non bipolar sons, and several others, I need help/support in finding out how best to interact with her. How do I bring out the best in her?

    She is dearly lovs, and missed. Sometimes I don’t feel like I know who this person is that lives in my house.

    Regards,

    Gayle

  5. Hi Dave, I had laughed a lot this morning, because I know how it feel that you’ve got a problem with your car and had annoing, but funny experiences. So I’m agree with you about Bipolar Disorder and actually I know that whith a little help you can make it. I had been proudly almost 3 years under treatment without any episode. Thanks, Dave.

  6. Dear David,

    Thanks for the email. These emails really help me. I am bipolar. I have gotten so bad with my bipolar not being treated I can’t stand myself anymore. I am getting treatment again. I go to the doctors tomarrow. My problem is… My husband, whom thinks I am normal and shouldn’t have to medicate. He doesn’t understand bipolar and thinks I use it for an excuse. I feel like we are heading to a divorce if I don’t “fix” myself. We are already at the point of not talking to ea. other because it starts fights. what do I do to help him understand this isn’t a joke?

  7. Hi Dave,
    I like your stories they are comforting. I actually have bipolar disorder, I’m not a supporter. Well I guess I am a supporter to the people that I know who have it, ‘cus we’re all in the same boat and can relate.
    But your stories and helpful advice make me feel less alone.
    Thanks for being such a good person and taking the time to do all this.
    I signed up because I wanted to figure out a way to help the people in my life understand me a little bit better and not be mad at me when I am freaking out. I think all this stuff will really help.
    Thanks so much again?
    Also is there any way I can email you with some questions sometime?
    If not it’s ok. I understand you must be inindated with responses from all of this stuff.
    Have a good day! You are a huge help!

  8. Also I know what you mean about the whole oil changes relating to bipolar disorder.
    I am actually going thru that right now.
    I haven’t been on medication in awhile, like over 6 months and I am coping but barely.
    I just get happy and I think everything is fine and that I don’t need help.
    I hate having to take meds and I want to do it holistically but it never works and I can’t commit to drinking those disgusting herbal concoctions every day. I tried and I just get sick.
    So I am trying to find a doctor who will treat me for free or for very little money. I was in a car accident a couple of months ago and that is a whole differet story but I am broke.
    I really need to find a place that will help me.
    Do you know of any such places. I live in San Diego.
    Thanks again for being great!

  9. haha well i think i needed some humor after working my ass off all this weekend…thx god i survived and i didnt rip any of my custumers head off XD.
    Thx mate for posting all this stuff, great analogy and hilarous i just saw it on my mental tv lol… well im a proud bipolar guy and well it helps but whut can i do if i cant afford anymore my doc and my meds?
    At least for now is smoth with me and no episodes…
    i elarn alot liek youre articles! help me alot not matter than no meds no doc

  10. Hey, Dave – No matter you don’t know how to fix a tire – you read the directions – and – you help “fix” people!!

    I learned the hard way that if I don’t follow my psychiatrist’s and therapist’s directions, I fall into trouble. The only way I would miss an appointment with either is if I lose the appt card, and haven’t written it on my calendar/to-do list. I found that the only way to stay “episode-free” is to have a regular check-up, just like your car. It’s the truth that these professionals can notice the slightest deviation from the norm, when even I can’t discern a change.

    Just to remind your bipolar readers – I have been full-blown manic episode free for thirty years! I work at it – I take my meds religiously, I eat well, and I catch up on sleep if I’ve had less than 8 hours for two days in a row. We have to be a WILLING partner with our mental health professionals if we want to succeed in attaining “normalcy.” My therapist gave me this wonderful mantra which I have memorized: “You are NORMAL; except when you have an episode.” Boy – did THAT free me when I thought I was always going to be that “crazy widow in the big house.”

    Fellow bipolars: KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENTS. Only your doctor knows for sure if you need treatment BEFORE it’s too late.

  11. hi dave,

    been reading your articles, its great and most helpful even to non-bipolar disorder persons it can be of great help for our daily lives.
    i just wonder a lot beacuse i have not seen a person with bipolar disorder in our place or maybe it was not daignosed as such.
    thank you so much for sahring your articles.

  12. Dave I read you e-mails all the time and just wanted to let you know how much they help. I have a 9yr old granddaughter with bipolar and I want to be helpful & knowledgeable about this diease. I knew by age 5 there was something wrong.I worry about her and my daughter and the rest of the family especially when she has a full blown episode. My daughter gets it from all sides and I am basically her only support. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Gin

  13. It’s so true what you are saying about the need to take your meds and keeping doctor’s appointments. Even more true is the need to build up a good working relationship with your doctor so that you can discuss anything about your meds. Many bipolars quit their medication because they are afraid of something about their drugs (usually side effects). If you have a good relationship with your doctor you can air these fears and get them dealt with. You really need to feel your doctor wants you to have the highest quality of life possible despite your condition. When you trust this is the case, then keeping up with the drugs is no longer an issue.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *