=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <=
Hi,
How's it going today?
Hey I am going hiking this morning
so I have to go really quick, okay?
Anyway, I heard the saddest story about bipolar
disorder the other day.
This girl had bipolar disorder, and she went
off her medication. She was stable on her
medication, and was even going to see her
therapist and psychiatrist regularly.
She was ok for awhile, but then she started
to get unstable, and then went into an episode.
Then she committed suicide.
The thing is, it's not that I'm immune to hearing
stories like this – I'm not, I still feel sad every
time I hear one – it's just that I hear so many
of these stories, and I'm not surprised, because
I know that 1 in 5 people who go off their
medications are probably going to kill themselves.
But anyway, about this girl.
When they talked to her friends and family,
and asked them why she killed herself, they said
that she had been telling them that she was
feeling very overwhelmed by everything lately.
So that made me start thinking about something
I want to talk to you about today.
Feeling overwhelmed.
Whether you have bipolar disorder or not, you
can still feel overwhelmed sometimes.
But there are things you can do about it.
I know this may sound corny or over-used, but
take things One Day at a Time.
That's one of the things I talk about
in my courses/systems as part of
managing bipolar disorder. You take
things as they come – you don't dwell
on the past, and you don't worry about
the future. You just deal with today.
NEW
LEARN THE SECRETS OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WITH
BIPOLAR DISORDER?
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarmastersystem/
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 can’t handle more than just
this one day (many people choose not to). Some
people can’t even handle that, and have to do it
one hour at a time (or one moment at a time).
And that’s ok, too. You can build from there.
With bipolar disorder, I call it:
One Bipolar Step at a Time
I got the idea from this movie I watched
once with Bill Murray in it called “What
About Bob?” where Richard Dreyfuss
played this psychiatrist who was treating
Bill Murray for these really big fears about
everything.
I mean, this guy was afraid to get out of
the elevator and walk into his office!
He was so overwhelmed by everything.
So the whole idea of the movie was this
concept called “Baby Steps.” He taught
him how to do everything one step at a
time, or by doing everything in baby steps,
and building up from there.
And eventually Bill Murray’s character
was able to overcome his fears and not
be so overwhelmed by everything anymore.
It was a funny movie, but you could take
a lesson from it.
So…
One Bipolar Step at a Time
The idea is not to do too much, or you’ll
be overwhelmed.
For example, say you’re keeping a To-Do
List as part of how you’re staying productive.
If you have too many things on that list,
and you don’t get them all done today, that
might overwhelm you.
Instead, make a smaller list, and you won’t
feel so overwhelmed. In fact, by completing
the things on your list, you’ll feel a sense of
accomplishment at the end of the day.
Then, in steps, as you can, you can add
more things to your list.
Another example would be if you wanted
to go back to work (first of all, I would
advise not doing this without your doctor’s
okay).
In order not to be overwhelmed, start with
a small, part-time job with just a few hours
a week. Don’t try to tackle a full-time job
right away. It may be more than you can
handle, and do you more harm than good.
If being productive is what you’re worried
about, set a long-term goal, and then your
One Bipolar One Step at a Time would
consist of the short-term goals you would
set and take to reach that long-term goal.
You can do the same thing with projects.
You would decide on a big project you want
to do, then do it a little bit at a time, like
the long-term and short-term goal idea.
If you’re wanting to learn how to take on
more responsibility as part of managing
your bipolar disorder, then start with smaller
responsibilities (One Bipolar Step at a Time),
so you don’t get too overwhelmed, and then
build to larger responsibilities.
If you’re in a bipolar support group, you don’t
start with running the group right away,
you start with setting up the coffee, see what
I mean?
Now, here’s my biggest point with the One
Bipolar Step at a Time idea:
If you’ve been in an episode, and now find that
you have consequences to pay as a result of
things you did while you were in that episode,
you might be feeling very overwhelmed by it.
Take it One Bipolar Step at a Time.
This is very important to your stability.
If you have people to ask forgiveness from and
relationships to repair, take it one person at a time.
If there are consequences to pay (like paying
traffic tickets, for example), do them one at a time.
Do not let yourself get overwhelmed.
What do you think of this idea?
FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME
Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
===>> Great Resources For You <===
Get Your Own Subscription To This Newsletter
Want your own copy of these daily bipolar
emails sent to you for F.ree? If so, visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/register3
Get More Help On Bipolar Disorder
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.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
View Past Daily Bipolar Emails For F.REE
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/
Get Audio Information On Bipolar Disorder For F.REE
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