Bipolar Supporter Blog

Hi,

How’s your day going?

I hope it is a good day for you.

They say that life experiences change people.

Remember Hurricane Katrina?

Those people’s lives were forever changed by a natural disaster.

It was a horrible life experience for them.

But now they have a chance to start over and make changes.

Divorce changes people.

Have you ever known anyone who got divorced (or gotten divorced yourself)?

Then you know that divorce definitely changes people.

Two people that may have been in love at one time now may hate each other, or at least have nothing good to say about each other.

They’re different people now.

They may be bitter.

Changing careers can change a person as well.

They may have to adapt to a whole new way of doing things than they did at their other job.

And aging definitely changes people.

All their life experiences combined change them from who they were at one time to who they are now.

We are all the result of our life experiences.

Good and bad.

Having children, for example.

Somehow, being responsible for a small baby changes people.

For one thing, it makes them more serious and responsible.

They want to be a good parent, so they change into one.

Other experiences change people, too.

Finding out that you have an incurable disease can really change you.

Like bipolar disorder.

In my courses/systems, I discuss how a person changes when they’ve got bipolar disorder.

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

But what I do in my courses/systems is encourage change for the better.

Okay, let’s talk about the down side first.

Your loved one may become a different person because of the disorder.

They are definitely different when they go through episodes as opposed to when they are in a normal period.

If your loved one gets depressed, they are not the same person you usually know.

They may be sad, lose interest in things, feel helpless and hopeless, or even talk of suicide.

Of course this is a bad experience.

If your loved one gets manic, they also experience changes.

They may be more energetic and/or be excessively happy, which sound like they would be good things, but for someone in a bipolar manic episode, they aren’t.

They may become very impulsive, do risk-taking behavior, and make bad decisions.

So a manic episode is a bad experience as well.

However, let’s look at the other side of the coin.

Yes, bipolar disorder does change a person, but sometimes it’s for the better.

For one thing, now you have a reason for why your loved one said and did the things they did.

Bipolar disorder can make a person more determined.

Many people refuse to let the disorder rule their lives, so they do what they can to be in control of it instead of it being in control of them.

Bipolar disorder can make a person take more responsibility for themselves.

Many people, bound for stability, will make the necessary life changes to insure that stability.

They will take medication, go to see their doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist on a regular basis,

learn stress reduction techniques, eat a healthy diet, get better sleep, exercise, etc.

Bipolar disorder can also change your loved one into someone who may have been a pessimist

before, but now is an optimist, believing that they can recover from the disorder.

All our life experiences change us.

But it’s up to us whether they change us for the better or for the worse.

How has bipolar disorder changed your loved one?

How has bipolar disorder changed you?

Hi,

How’s it going?

I hope you are fine.

I was talking to this woman and she told me this story about her daughter:

The girl was going to be in the school Spelling Bee.

She studied for weeks and weeks and weeks.

She knew how to spell some of the hardest words in the English language.

She would study so hard sometimes that her mom would find her asleep with the study guide still in her hands.

It was all she thought about for many weeks.

Then the big day came.

The day of the Spelling Bee, the girl was ready.

She had studied her heart out, and was confident that she would win.

She made it to the very last round, and then…

(scroll down for rest of story)

Keep scrolling…

Almost there…

She misspelled one of the easiest words she could have gotten.

She lost the Spelling Bee because she had studied TOO hard.

She knew all the hard words, but missed out because of an easy one.

As a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder, you can try too hard, too.

In my courses/systems, I’ve tried to make it simple for you to learn how to be a good supporter:

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

But you can still try too hard and, like the little girl studying for her Spelling Bee, you can miss the easy parts.

For example:

You might be so educated about bipolar episodes, yet miss out on the daily encouragement that your loved one needs from you.

I guess what I’m saying is, don’t overlook the small things.

They are just as important.

Don’t try so hard to be the perfect supporter that you make yourself sick, either.

Some supporters do that.

They try too hard to be the perfect supporter.

They give so much to their loved one that they don’t take care of their own needs.

When a supporter tries too hard in that way, they can make themselves sick.

You have to take care of yourself first.

The little things.

Like eating healthy, exercising, and getting good sleep.

Like having your own support system.

Like having friends and a social

life.

Like having your own interests.

Like having fun.

You have to take care of your own health (physical and emotional), because what if you get sick and can’t take care of your loved one?

It is possible to try too hard to be a good supporter.

Just remember the small things, while you’re trying to fight the big things.

Remember that the simplest, but most important thing you should do is just support your loved one.

Do you struggle with the big things sometimes to the point of forgetting the small things?

It’s easy to do.

How have you handled some of these things?

Hi,

How are you?

I hope you’re doing well today.

Let me tell you (you already know) – there is a lot of fear in this world.

People fear all sorts of things –

Spiders…

Dark places…

“Monsters”…

The future…

Losing their loved ones…

Dying…

Losing their job…

Being alone…

I’ll tell you, there are a lot of psychiatrists making a lot of money off people’s fears!

I was talking to a man the other day who has bipolar disorder.

I asked him what his greatest fear was with bipolar disorder.

He told me it was change.

He said he is mostly stable, but his moods can change at any time, and that scares him.

Let me tell you, this guy is 6’5” and weighs 240 pounds.

You would think that nothing would scare him.

But here he is with bipolar disorder, and he is afraid of change.

That’s why, in my courses/systems, I spend so much time talking about stability. Because the more stable you are, the less you have to fear.

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

Many people fear change.

They get used to things being a certain way, and they get comfortable.

Then something changes, and they are thrown off course.

That’s what happens with bipolar disorder.

You and your loved one could be the most financially secure people in the world…

BUT…

One manic episode can wipe out your finances.

You and your loved one could be the closest couple in the world…

BUT…

One episode of rage can cause a rift between you.

You and your loved one could have the most successful business in the world…

BUT…

One depressive episode can destroy your loved one’s ability to manage that business.

But let’s go back to one thing that this man told me.

Something which I think is key to his problems.

He said he was “mostly stable.”

It’s only when you reach full stability that you lose your fear of change.

Because, for the most part, you can trust that you aren’t going to go into an episode.

You don’t have to fear the changes that an episode brings.

You don’t have to worry about your relationship with your supporter.

And if you’re really stable…

You won’t even fear a change in medication, should that become necessary.

You’ll just realize that that is a part of life with the disorder.

And if you’re really stable…

You won’t fear if you have to change your doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist.

You’ll just realize that things happen beyond our control sometimes.

So the key to not being afraid of change…

Is STABILITY.

Are you or your loved one still living in fear of bipolar episodes?

The best way to fight that fear is to strive for stability.

Agree or disagree?

Hi,

How are you today?

I’ve been noticing all the things you can buy for a college dorm room in the stores lately.

It’s amazing, really.

Even mini-refrigerators!

And all kinds of space savers.

So it made me think about these students.

They’re going to college to further their education.

They are trying to better themselves.

Well, you may not be going back to college, but let me ask you this:

Are you continuing to better yourself?

Everybody has gifts and talents – things that they are good at doing.

A teacher, for example – not everyone can be one, and you remember the ones that were really good for the rest of your life.

If you have children, you want them to have the best education possible, so naturally you want a teacher who has a talent and a gift for teaching.

Well, teachers always have to work on bettering themselves.

They have to go for what’s called CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) so they can improve themselves as teachers.

People in general should try to better themselves, too.

But a supporter particularly – that’s why one of the things I teach in my courses/systems is how to be a better supporter.

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

You need to better yourself not just as a supporter, though, because that’s only part of who you are.

But you need to continually better yourself as a person, too.

Your whole life should not be revolving around your loved one’s bipolar disorder.

You should have outside interests as well.

You need to examine yourself and ask yourself, “Am I bettering myself?”

Then ask yourself, “How can I better myself today?”

When you better yourself, you can reach further goals.

You can enrich your life.

You will grow as a person.

What do you enjoy doing? You can start there.

It can even help you and your loved one financially.

Many bipolar supporters (as well as survivors) start their own home businesses.

It helps with the cost of bipolar disorder, if nothing else.

Do you like dogs?

Maybe you can become a dog walker.

Are you good with children?

Maybe you can start a home babysitting service.

What are you interested in?

Do you like to read?

Join a reading club at your local library.

Do you like to help other people?

Maybe you can volunteer your services to help others.

Or maybe you would like to go to (or go back to) college to take a course or two.

All of these are ways that you can better yourself.

Bettering yourself is a way to increase your self-esteem as well.

People who do this are always growing.

And that’s definitely an advantage if you’re supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder.

Are you continuing to better yourself?

In what ways?

PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS

Hi,

Here’s the bipolar news.

Enjoy.

To read this week’s news visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews445

Mental Health Consumers Lose Vital Advocate

DO> Take a look, this really true. He was for mental health when most didn’t care.

Swing me high, Swing me low but don’t ignore me

DO> Great article for an overview of living with bipolar disorder.

Troubled Ex-Journalist Finds New Calling in Helping Others

DO> Great way to turn something bad into something good.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Children

DO> Great article talking about important

Donuts owner makes changes in effort to calm controversy

DO> Do you think this is a big deal or not?

BREAKING NEWS: DA Rules Deadly Police Shooting Justified

DO> Do you think this killing was okay?

For these stories and more, please visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews445

==>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.bipolarcentralcatalog.com

Your Friend,

Dave

Hi,

How’s it going?

I hope it’s going well for you.

You know, when people go through certain experiences, they gain something.

A person who goes to college gains a good education.

A person who trains for it can gain a good career.

A person who gets married gains a partner.

A person who has children gains the experience of parenthood.

But when people go through other experiences, they lose something.

A person who experiences a divorce, loses their partner.

A person who gets cancer loses their health (and, sometimes, even their life).

A person going through today’s economy can lose their job.

Then that person can lose their financial security as well.

Which can cause them to lose their home, too.

When someone we love dies, we definitely lose something.

And when someone gets bipolar disorder, they lose some things as well.

Sometimes they lose their ability to take care of themselves…

They can lose their rational thought.

They can lose things due to episodes and their consequences.

They can lose trust from their supporter.

They can lose their self-esteem.

They can lose their self-trust.

They can lose friends and family.

They can lose their job.

And they can lose their stability.

In my courses/systems, I talk about all the effects that bipolar disorder can have on a person.

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

But what about you?

You suffer right along with your loved one.

You can lose your freedom.

You can lose your job.

You can lose your home.

You can lose your friends and family, too.

On the other hand, you can gain some things.

You can gain pride from being a good supporter.

You can gain a sense of closeness with your loved one.

You can gain a goal (stability for your loved one).

You can gain a sense of self-respect because of your new role.

BUT…

Some people lose something very important.

They lose their peace of mind.

It may be hard for you, having to deal with your loved one’s episodes, but you still need to hold onto your peace of mind.

Reminding yourself that they’ve made it through before can help.

Remembering that you’re fighting this battle together can help, too.

There are some supporters who are very negative.

They are always, as the saying goes, “waiting for the other shoe to fall.”

Instead of gaining the enjoyment of their loved one’s normal periods, they focus instead on their fear of the next bipolar episode.

These supporters have lost their peace of mind.

Looking towards the future, to your loved one’s stability, should help you keep your peace of mind.

Being a positive person will help you as well.

And trusting that things will work out for the best is the best way to hold onto your peace of mind.

Have you lost your peace of mind because of bipolar disorder?

Or have you managed to hold onto it in spite of bipolar disorder?

Hi,

How are you today?

I hope you’re fine.

It’s hard not to think about the economy these days, as everywhere you look, every newspaper you read, every radio you listen to, and everyone you talk to, is all about it.

We hear about businesses closing down.

About people losing their jobs.

About people losing their homes…

Even having to go through foreclosure or bankruptcy.

There is no doubt that the state of our economy is not a good one.

But you don’t have to let this discourage you.

The people who are still making it through the recession are people who have had to change their way of thinking.

They’ve had to make some hard decisions, but they’ve done it.

Some have had to completely change their lifestyles.

Some have had to ask for government assistance.

Some have had to depend on family and friends for help.

Some have even started home businesses to try to keep an income, or have had to take a second job.

It’s the same with bipolar disorder itself.

Just like the state of the economy is a fact that you’ve had to adjust to, so bipolar disorder is a fact that you have to adjust to.

It does mean making life changes.

But just as people are adjusting to the economy, so you can adjust to bipolar disorder.

For example, you have to deal with your loved one going into bipolar episodes.

They act different when they’re like that.

And you have had to change your life around because of it.

In my courses/systems, when I talk about learning how to manage bipolar disorder, I teach about some of these lifestyle changes, and how they are a necessity.

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

But just like people have a choice in how they deal with our poor economy, you also have a choice in how you deal with your loved one’s bipolar disorder.

When someone loses their job because of the economy, it can be considered a setback.

But then they have a choice:

They can sit back and feel sorry for themselves and complain about the government and the economy, which won’t get them anywhere but angry and frustrated.

OR…

They can take it in stride and find another job/career or source of income.

Like with bipolar disorder, there will be setbacks in your loved one’s recovery.

They won’t be episode-free forever.

But sitting back and feeling sorry for yourself and complaining about having bipolar disorder won’t get you anywhere but angry and frustrated.

You just have to accept that episodes are inevitable, and they will happen.

You can’t let these setbacks discourage you or your loved one.

Yes, episodes will happen, but your loved one can still achieve stability.

Sometimes it may seem like one step forward and two steps back, but just like in life, you still have to keep plugging away at it.

Don’t let setbacks discourage you.

Recovery is still possible, even with bipolar episodes.

Just don’t give up.

Hi,

How are you doing today?

I hope you’re doing well.

You know, there are many people who have written about how life is a journey.

But I wanted to share with you something that Michele, who works for me and has bipolar disorder, wrote about bipolar disorder being a journey.

She writes:

“The road to recovery is more of a

journey than an actual destination.

You will never fully “arrive,” for

there is no cure. But you do have a

choice in how you make your journey.”

———————————————————————–

Aren’t those words of wisdom?

It’s certainly a positive way of looking at the disorder.

Michele is a very good worker for me, and I enjoy working with her, because she has such a positive attitude, which you can see by what she wrote.

She’s a good example of someone who controls the disorder instead of the disorder controlling her.

In my courses/systems, I talk about how you have to make choices, and that those choices have to be good ones.

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

It’s like what Michele said:

You have a CHOICE in how you make your journey.

Many people, when they’re diagnosed with bipolar disorder, think of it like a death sentence.

They let that color their whole approach to the disorder and, even, their lives.

But I’m always telling you, aren’t I, that part of recovery is in your attitude.

The success stories that I have from people are from positive people.

Their attitude helps them to manage their disorder.

See, some people don’t think they have a choice in things.

Like bipolar disorder.

When they’re first diagnosed, they think that just because an episode influences your thoughts and causes you to make bad choices, that it will be that way all the time, and you can never trust your own choices at all.

But that’s not true.

Bipolar disorder can be managed.

And there are more times without episodes than there are with episodes.

Of course, during an episode, no major decisions should be made, but I’m not talking about that.

I’m talking about the fact that YOU have some control over bipolar disorder.

YOU have control over your attitude.

YOU have control over your decisions.

Like Michele said, YOU have a CHOICE.

She has the attitude that you need to reach recovery.

By looking at it as a journey, you realize that it will take time.

You won’t be as disappointed with setbacks.

Because in the journey of life there are setbacks, too.

But they don’t stop you from continuing on your journey.

You learn from your mistakes, and hopefully won’t repeat them.

It can be the same with dealing with bipolar disorder, whether you have the disorder or are supporting someone who does.

It’s up to YOU how you make this journey.

The important thing to remember is that you DO have a choice.

You CAN choose to have control over the disorder instead of letting the disorder control you and your life.

What do you think about what Michele said?

Do you agree or disagree?

Hi,

How’s it going for you today?

I hope you have a great day today.

I actually have a ton of work to do so I have to get moving pretty quick.

Let’s jump into today’s topic.

I hired a firm to help me with a major problem I had with my website.

Well, this firm fixed SOME of the problems I had, but I later found out that if I had used a different solution it would have saved me a ton of time and money.

The reason why I went to the first firm is that I was uneducated and didn’t take the time to learn about the problem.

I just trusted the first so-called expert that came my way.

You can’t just blindly trust everything you hear or see.

With bipolar disorder, you have to be educated.

You have to become your own expert on the disorder.

I educate people through my courses/systems, but I also tell them to never stop learning about bipolar disorder.

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

You might even have to get a second opinion.

Doctors are just people, and they can make mistakes.

Question your doctor.

Question the experts.

You also will have to use your own judgment.

Sometimes even trust your own gut feeling – that if something doesn’t “feel” right, it may be wrong.

You do have to have some faith but many times, people just blindly follow experts without questioning.

Even with me, question ALL that I tell you.

Look hard at what I am saying.

Compare it to other information you find.

Bipolar disorder is an individual disease.

Although it has its own symptoms, and everyone who is diagnosed with the disorder is diagnosed by those symptoms, they still are different in different people.

Also, your loved one may have more than just bipolar disorder.

People can have more than one disorder at a time.

So if your loved one has some symptoms that are outside the bipolar symptoms, question it.

Another thing is too that bipolar disorder can change.

Your loved one may have been diagnosed with (and have symptoms for) one type of bipolar disorder, and then later on show symptoms of another type of bipolar disorder.

If so, question it.

Then question your loved one’s doctor about it.

Don’t just think it’s all in your head.

And always keep learning.

Even the experts don’t know everything there is to know about bipolar disorder.

And each person with the disorder is different, as well.

You have to learn to deal with (and help manage) your loved one’s bipolar disorder.

The more you know, the better it will be for both of you.

You also have to learn how to be a good supporter to your loved one.

The books and experts don’t teach you that.

That is something you need to learn on your own.

You can get some advice from other people, like maybe people in your support group, but ultimately it is your own judgment that you’ll be using.

Many things associated with bipolar disorder come by way of trial and error.

You need to use your knowledge base, but you also need to use your common sense.

Use whatever works with your own loved one.

Have you ever read or heard about something associated with bipolar disorder that just didn’t seem right to you?

What did you do about it?

PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS

Hi,

Here’s the bipolar news.

Heading off to the gym now.

Enjoy.

To read this week’s news visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews444

Free Training Help People Talk to Reporters

about Mental Illness

DO> Interesting concept

The Bipolar Diet by Sarah Freeman

DO> What do you think of this?

Some Conditions Misdiagnosed as Bipolar Disorder

DO> This is a major problem in mental health

The Bipolar Journey:Living With Bipolar Depression

DO> Looks like a good in depth description of Life with Bipolar Depression.

For these stories and more, please visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews444

POST RESPONSES TO THE NEWS HERE

==>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.bipolarcentralcatalog.com

Your Friend,

Dave