Bipolar Supporter Blog

Hi,

I just came back in from a meeting. I wanted to send
this out really quick.

I saw a number of questions about the
Spiritual Journey devotional journal over here:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/spiritualguidesale

A bunch of people have a few more questions about
the Spiritual Journey and bipolar disorder.

I got Michele Soloway, the author, to write a simple and
comprehensive response.

She writes:
“Just because you’re not “religious” doesn’t mean you won’t be
inspired by the daily readings in the Spiritual Journey
Devotional Journal. People don’t have to go to church every
Sunday to pray and believe in God. “Spirituality comes
from the heart, not a building or a service,” says
Michele. What’s most important is that God
believes in you as much as you believe in Him!
And that’s one of the points that I make in my
devotional journal.

You also don’t have to have bipolar disorder to read
this spiritual guide. Although I have bipolar disorder,
these inspirational readings will appeal to any
Christian supporter who is trying to help their loved one
manage their bipolar disorder.

The readings address such basic questions about faith and
God and bipolar disorder – questions that all of us are asking
ourselves who are struggling with the disorder. Questions
such as, “If I am such a good Christian, why do I have
bipolar disorder?” or “If God loves me so much, why hasn’t
He taken away my bipolar disorder?”

The Spiritual Journey is written in a very easy-to-read
format, just like one friend talking to another friend.
It is based on my own spiritual journey with
bipolar disorder. You’ll find every daily reading an
inspiration and a help, whether you’re a supporter or
a loved one with the disorder. Not only are there
readings each day, but the guide comes with a built-in
journal to write down your thoughts and feelings each day,
so that now you have them both in one place.”

Okay that’s it.

For more information on the on the devotional visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/spiritualguidesale

Thanks. I have to go back to the meeting. Talk to
you tomorrow.

Dave

PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS

Hi,

How’s it going?

I’ve been in California for one day. I forgot
to bring my charger for my laptop so
I have to go because I have only a little
battery left.

Hopefully I can get a new one.

Anyway, here’s the current bipolar news.

There’s some really interesting news stories this week.
Take a look at them. Also, write me some feedback by visiting my
blog below.

Here are some of the headlines:

Tim Smith leaving Eels to battle bipolar
DO> Very interesting. What do you think?

A glimpse into a bipolar mind
DO> Good article.

‘Calling mentally ill names adds to stigma’
DO> I totally agree, do you?

For these stories and more, please visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews374

==>> Get 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

Your Friend,

Dave

=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <= Hi, How’s it going? I just got back from the gym and I have to
get moving. I have to catch my plane to California.

I am leaving at like noon. I am not packed. I have
to hurry.

Before I leave, I wanted to tell you about
something. I have to hurry. Sorry.

Well, I am really excited about what I’m going
to teach you about today!

It’s called THE MIRROR EXERCISE

This is a GREAT exercise, for both
survivors and supporters – even for
people who don’t even have
bipolar disorder!

I read about it in a book called The
Success Principle, by Jack Canfield.
You might know him from all his
Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Anyway, The Mirror Exercise is based
on the principle that we all need
acknowledgment but the most
important acknowledgment is the
one we give ourselves.

It has to do with exchanging negative
thoughts to positive thoughts, as well
as positive affirmations, both of which
I go into extensively in my courses
and systems:

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

The way you do this exercise is that just before
bed, you stand in front of the mirror and, as
Canfield says, you “appreciate yourself for all
you have achieved during the day. “

He says to start with a few seconds of looking
directly (eye-to-eye contact) at yourself in the
mirror.

Then address yourself by name and begin
appreciating yourself OUT LOUD for the
following things:

Any achievements –business, financial,
educational, personal, physical, spiritual,
or emotional.

Any personal disciplines you kept –
dietary, exercise, reading, meditation,
prayer.

Any temptation that you did not give in
to – eating dessert, lying, watching too
much TV, staying up too late, drinking
too much.

————————————————–
Maintain good eye contact with yourself
throughout the exercise to get the best
impact.

When you’re finished, wait a few seconds,
then say to yourself in the mirror,
“I love you.” For some, this is the hardest
thing to do, but it will get easier with
practice.

The trick during this last part is to not
just turn away from the mirror feeling
embarrassed or thinking of yourself or the
exercise as stupid or silly.”

Canfield says to do this exercise for a
minimum of 3 MONTHS.

I’d like to see someone try this for
3 WEEKS! and tell me if it makes a
difference for them.

Any takers?????

Hey, I have to run, talk to you tomorrow.

PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL HERE

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.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

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

Hey,

I am just getting my stuff ready for my trip to
California. I was checking my email and had
some questions about the Christianity and
Bipolar Disorder spiritual guide that I
sent out at:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/spiritualguidesale

Some people have been wondering about
the Spiritual Journey devotional journal
and what it’s about, who it’s written for,
and other such questions, so I Michele Solway
the author of it (I am NOT the author) to
explain a little more about it.

She wrote me:

“Many people read 30-day devotional
materials to inspire them and also keep
journals. So the first thing that makes
this spiritual guide different is that you
get both in one place – the journal is
included right in with the devotional!

Another point I want to make, and this is
an important one. There is a difference
between spirituality and religion. The
reason this devotional is so appealing is
that you don’t have to be any specific
denomination of religion to be inspired
by its daily readings.

Whether you go to church or not, you will
definitely enjoy the content of this guide.
Spirituality comes from the heart, not
attendance at a building every Sunday.
That’s the second thing that makes this
spiritual guide so special!

The third thing that makes it so desirable
to people with bipolar disorder is that it
answers the tough questions – questions
that people like us have secretly been
asking ourselves for some time.

Questions like, “If I’m such a good
Christian, why do I have bipolar
disorder?” or “Do I just not have enough
faith?” or “If God loves me so much, why
hasn’t He taken away my bipolar
disorder?” or “Am I doing something
wrong – is there something I’m not doing
as a Christian that God wants me to do
that would take my bipolar disorder
away?”

The point is, that God loves you just the
way you are. God is a God of love. Yes,
there is a reason that you still have
bipolar disorder. It could be that you are
an inspiration to others because in spite of
the fact that you have the disorder, and
because you are a Christian, other people
watch your example to see how much
faith you have and use that faith to
manage your disorder. Then, they see
that they can, too. Have you considered
that?

That’s only one of the topics that this
wonderful spiritual guide covers. It
encourages you in your faith and in your
relationship with a loving God who uses
your bipolar disorder to help and inspire
other people, and to help you cope with
your disorder.

You need this spiritual guide. You need
it to build your faith. You need it to
manage the spiritual side of your bipolar
disorder. You need it to remind you that
God loves you very much. And He
knows what you’re going through, and is
there right by your side. He believes in
you!

Let me guide you through a spiritual
journey like you’ve never been on before,
and I promise that you will emerge even
stronger in your faith, and more prepared
to manage your bipolar disorder than ever
before!”

Okay it’s Dave again. That was from Michele
the author. If you have further interest, please
visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/spiritualguidesale

Thanks and talk to you tomorrow.

Dave

=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <= Hi, How’s it going? I am leaving tomorrow so I have
a whole lot of things to do.

I am going to San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco
and a few other places visiting various business
people and organizations to help this organization
grow and continue to grow.

Okay, on to today’s topic.

I’m going to tell you up front that I may get
hate mail for taking a stand on this, but I have
to do it anyway.

But I just want to tell you that even though
you have a write to take your own stand,
and you even have a right through the 1st
amendment of our constitution, I have the
same right to say what I want to say, too.

I don’t like to get hate mail, and no one else
would either, so just take that into
consideration, ok?

With all that said, let me just say what I
wanted to say today.

If you have bipolar disorder, and you don’t
take medication for it,

YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.

So, ok, I know I am going to get some
hate mail, I understand that.

But maybe others will open up their
eyes and in those cases maybe I will
actually save some lives.

Because it is TRUE!

If you have bipolar disorder and you
won’t take your medication, or you
don’t even believe in taking
medication, YOU WILL DIE!

Especially if you have been on
Medications before and then you
go off those medications.

One example (and there are so
many others) is Michele’s sister.
She was on medications for her
Bipolar disorder. Then she went
off them, and 8 months later, she
killed herself.

I know that some of you are
already saying to yourself,
“Yeah, but that’s not ME.”
And I say, “Yeah, but it COULD
be you. And it WILL be you if
you stay off your medication!

When you first go off your medication
it stays in your system for a while and
it may seem as if you’re still ok without
taking it. But this is only fooling you.

The fact is that after a while, the
medication effect will wear off, and
YOU WILL CRASH!!!

AND THEN YOU WILL BE EVEN WORSE
THAN BEFORE!!!

And all that time you thought you were
fine, but you were actually getting worse
and worse.

See, when you are first put on medication,
the doctor gives you a small dosage, and
gradually builds you up to the higher
dosage he/she wants you to be on to
control your bipolar disorder.

Then the medication reaches a level
In your system. If you stop taking your
medication, the level will stay there
for a little while, but then will slowly
go back down to where you started in
the first place.

So you might think you’re fine, but you
Are actually WORSE! I have had people
on the phone that swear they are okay
but are totally out of their minds but
thinking they are fine.

So I have to take a stand, even if it
means hate mail.

WITHOUT MEDICATION FOR YOUR
BIPOLAR DISORDER, YOU WILL DIE!
Medication is the primary therapy
for controlling bipolar disorder.
Without it you will die. It is that
simple.

I’ve had too many people call me
and write to me asking to be taken
off my mailing list or off the forum
because their loved one went off
their medication and killed
themselves.

I know. I know this is true because
real people have told me this is true.

If you are even considering going off
your medications, DON’T!

Or if you already have, GO BACK ON
THEM!

In my courses/systems, I go over all
the reasons that people give for going
off their medications, and the top
reason is because of the side effects:

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 the side effects CAN be managed!
Just ask your doctor! Side effects should
NEVER be a reason for going off your
medication.

Others have stopped their medications
because they believed they no longer had
Bipolar disorder. THAT IS A LIE! Once you
have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder,
you will ALWAYS HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER!

Yeah, that’s another reason I will
probably get hate mail, because I know
of some people who actually believe they
have been cured of the disorder.

But the TRUTH is, THERE IS NO CURE
for bipolar disorder, and these people
are just plain believing a lie, and if they
don’t go back on their medications, they
WILL DIE!

I know I am taking an argumentative
stand on this issue, but I believe I am
telling the truth.

Unfortunately, some of you will take
an opposite stand, and that is very,
very sad.

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.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

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

=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <= Hi, How’s it going? I am just getting ready to take off for
the gym.

Before I did, I wanted to ask again, if
you had an experience with something called
the Tickey to Work program.

If you already wrote me thanks. If you know
any one, please forward this email.

I am looking for people to write me about
how it was or is for them.

This is for writing me about ticket to work
ONLY. Yesterday like 100 people wrote me, “Dave
I know you are busy but I need to talk to you”
emails. Realistically I can’t write and phone
100 people in a day.

To talk about bipolar disorder AND the Ticket
to work program please write me at

feedbacktodave@mentalhealthworld.net

Okay…

I read a quote the other day that really
made me think:

“Our lives improve only when we take
chances – and the first and most difficult
risk we can take is to be honest with
ourselves.” – Walter Anderson
(Editor, Parade Magazine)

Wow. Isn’t that profound?

So many people go around in a
state of denial. I talk about this
in my courses, because a lot of
people, when they’re told that
they have bipolar disorder, go into
a state of denial, saying that they
don’t have it.

Check out my courses/systems below:

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 really hard, as a supporter of a
loved one who you know has bipolar
disorder, to be with them when they
deny that they even have the disorder.

That’s one of the biggest areas I go into
in my courses, because as a supporter
you need to be understanding of the
stages they go through before they will
accept their diagnosis.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, in her book
On Death and Dying, describes 5
Stages of Grief, and only the last one
is acceptance, and they apply not only
to grief, but to bipolar disorder as well.

The 5 stages of grieving are: denial,
anger, bargaining, depression, and then
finally, acceptance.

So denial is the first, where they don’t
believe they even have the disorder.

But then they finally arrive at
acceptance, and at that point they
should be like the quote at the beginning
of this email.

But you know what? So should you.

Because for ALL of us, we only improve
if we take chances, and if we become
honest with ourselves.

If your loved one becomes honest
with themselves, then they can accept
their diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and
then they can start learning how to
manage it, especially if they get one of
my courses which will teach them how
to do it.

But if you can accept your role
as the supporter of someone who does
have bipolar disorder and especially
if you get the supporters course, then
you can learn how to help them.
The biggest surprise is that you can
learn to help YOURSELF!

Yeah, cause you need help just as much as
your loved one does. Even though all
the attention seems to be on your
loved one, you do need as much help.

But the first step for both of you is that
you have to be honest with yourselves.
And like the quote says, it is a risk.
It sure isn’t easy! We sometimes don’t
like to look at what we see in the mirror.

But you know what? Once we can do that,
change is a great thing! Our lives begin to
improve! We can do things we never thought
we could do before!

Like with your loved one’s bipolar disorder.
Think about it. When they were first told,
you may have thought it was like a death
sentence or something.

But here I’m telling you that it is not only
NOT a death sentence, it is a chance
to GROW, to CHANGE! And that is a
positive thing.

It’s all in how you look at it.

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.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

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

Hi,

I have some good news for the many people who
have asked me for resources related to
Christianity and Bipolar Disorder.

I have gotten many requests over the last
two years but I really didn’t have a resource
to point people to. Now I do. It’s actually
by Michele Soloway and everyone that has
gotten a copy loves it.

If you have an interest, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/spiritualguidesale

Thanks.

Dave

=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <= Hi, How’s it going? I need your help read on please. I hope you are doing well. I just got back from the gym. Yesterday was a really difficult day for me.
I had a whole lot of problems with a bunch of people
that work for me. I don’t know why but yesterday
was probably the worst day ever in terms
of different people’s different disorders
all creating problems on the same day.

Hopefully everyone will be okay today.

I did however get sucked into wasting a
whole lot of time arguing with several
people about absolutely nothing.

I guess I kind of forgot about the nature
of the illnesses that I am up against.

With now 12 people who work for me that
have bipolar disorder, I do have to remember
this.

One of the most difficult things with bipolar
disorder is that the disorder causes people
to do and say things that will ultimately
lead to their demise. It’s really strange
when you think of it. There is no other
disorder outside of a mental illness where
the illness or disorder causes a person
to say things and persuade people into
things that will cause total destruction.

Even though it’s difficult, I continue
to hire those with bipolar disorder and remember
the good and try to forget the bad.

Just because yesterday was one of the worst
days ever, this mean that I get all mad and
throw my hands up in the air and quit.
No. I actually spent a lot of time reflecting
on what went wrong yesterday and how I got
sucked into arguing. It will NOT happen again.

Okay, with that said, on Thursday, just so
you know, I am going to California on a business
trip. I have a whole lot of work to do
across several of my businesses and also
specifically with this organization for helping
people dealing with a mental illness. I have
to meet with several people.

Anyway, I am leaving on Thursday.

PLEASE HELP ME

I need some help.

I am looking for people that are in something
called Ticket To Work.

If you are, please email me your experience–
how’s it going, how you like it, has it helped.

Email me at feedbacktodave@mentalhealthworld.net

If you have no idea what I am talking about, just
ignore this.

If you know anyone, please forward this email to
them.

Okay let’s move on. I brought up this
topic before and since a lot of people
are writing me with problems, I wanted
to bring it up again.

Yesterday I reread something I read when I am having
a hard time. It’s by M. Scott
Peck, M.D., from the book The Road Less
Traveled. The thing about it is that it was
written in 1978, but it is still as true
today as it was back then:

“Life is difficult. This is a great truth,
one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth
because once we truly see this truth, we
transcend it. Once we truly know that life
is difficult – once we truly understand and
accept it – then life is no longer difficult.
Because once it is accepted, the fact that
life is difficult no longer matters.”

————————————————–

Wow! Don’t you think that’s powerful?
I sure do.

Especially when you’re living with
bipolar disorder. Just living life in
general is difficult enough, but when
you throw bipolar disorder into the
mix, it can seem practically impossible
sometimes, doesn’t it?

We’ve talked about truth and bipolar
disorder before, but not in this way.
What Dr. Peck is talking about is
accepting truth in such a way as to
rise above it once we understand it
and accept it.

So the key is to accept the truth,
Like accepting the truth of having
bipolar disorder, because once you
do, the next thing you have to do
is learn all you can about it, so you
have the knowledge you need to
rise above it – to make that
knowledge work for you, instead
of against you. In fact, that’s
one of the things that I teach
in my courses/systems:

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

I like the way Dr. Peck says that
once we truly understand and accept
that life is difficult, then life is no
longer difficult. I mean, he doesn’t
say that anything changes or anything,
I mean nothing changes in your life
except your attitude towards it!

Just like I’m always telling you –
It’s always in the way you look at
things – you can look at them in a
negative way (then you’re defeated)
or in a positive way (then you’re
positive and proactive).

If you believe that your life is
a mess just because you or a loved
one has bipolar disorder and it has
just ruined your life, then you will
become a self-fulfilling prophecy,
and bipolar disorder probably will
ruin your life.

But if you look at it as a challenge,
that you’re going to overcome,
look at it like you are going to beat
it, no matter what, then that will be
your self-fulfilling prophecy, and
you will beat the bipolar disorder.

I think what Dr. Peck is saying is
that YOU are responsible for how
you look at life. You have a
CHOICE. You can look at it like
it’s really difficult, or you can look
at the very same life and understand
and accept it and life is no longer as
difficult as you thought it was.

That’s the way you need to look at
your or your loved one’s disorder.

As Dr. Peck says, “[then] the fact that
life is difficult no longer matters.”

What do you think? Do you agree
with him or not?

When I started this organization, I really
didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to
build. It’s been a massive project. I can see
why no one else has done it. Even drug companies
with millions upon millions of dollars to invest
in things, haven’t been able to figure out how
to reach and help as many people as me.

It’s been difficult. I constantly remind myself
that life is really difficult and you have to
deal with it. Agree?

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.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

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

=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <= Hi, I am sorry this is really late. A bunch
of things came up today.

Anyway, the other day I was talking to someone who
works for me about Michele who works for me.

Michele has a list BEFORE she goes to
the doctor.

Lt’s talk about the list. This is
something I think everyone should
do, and I talk about it in some of my
courses and systems, since I think it
really helps when you have to see
your doctor:

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 know how sometimes when you
have to see your doctor, and he/she
asks you how you’ve been, or what’s
wrong, why you’re there, how long
you’ve been feeling like this, etc.?

And you freeze up, or just can’t
remember dates, or whatever?

And then you get embarrassed, and
the doctor is looking at you for t his
information, and he can’t really treat
you without this information, because
he really does need to know how long
this condition has been going on, but
you can’t remember… and now you’re
really stressing out…

Well, you know what I’m talking
About, don’t you?

It’s awful! And it happens to a lot
of us, bipolar or not.

Well, Michele came up with this
Idea for a list.

You make up this list before you
have to see the doctor. Actually,
she starts hers way before she
sees the doctor – she starts it and
starts tracking things as soon as
her problem or condition starts
happening.

She told me I could say this, even
though it’s embarrassing, but an
example of this is that she has
problems with constipation. She
said it was ok for me to say this
because it’s a common problem
with people who are taking
medication for their bipolar
disorder.

And sometimes it is really,
really bad, and goes on for
days at a time. And sometimes
it gets so bad that you have to go
to the doctor for it. And the first
thing the doctor is going to ask is
when the problem started.

And you can never remember
when. So she always writes down
the day it started, so she can tell her
doctor. She writes down everything
she tried on her own to help stop
the constipation, and the day she
tried those remedies as well, so she
can tell the doctor that.

And all this goes on her list, and she
can just show it to the doctor, so
she doesn’t get so embarrassed
having to tell the doctor all this
information and having to try
to remember all the dates and
everything, especially because
constipation itself is such an
embarrassing condition (but so
common for people who have
bipolar disorder).

Anything else that is important
for her to tell her doctor, Michele
also puts on her list. This way,
her attitude when she sees her
doctor is more confident.

Everything her doctor will want
to know, like a list of the
medications she is currently on,
with names of the medications,
dosages, and when she takes them.

Also, any other problems or
conditions you are concerned
about would go on this list. Any
questions you might have about
anything, especially things you might
forget before you get to your
appointment.

This way, you just hand your doctor
your list and he/she can go down
your list and address all your
concerns.

This is also how you can tell a good
Doctor from a bad doctor. A good
doctor will be willing to go over your
list with you and will appreciate the
fact that you even have a list.

A bad doctor will act as if you are
bothering him/her and taking up
their time, as they have more
patients to see and this will take up
too much of their time.

But try Michele’s method –
it works for her, see if it works
for you! Then let me know what
happens.

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.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

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

==>>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,

I’m really concerned about something,
and I think you need to know about it as
well.

You know I volunteer at several places
where there are people with bipolar
disorder, like support groups and such.

Well, sometimes I like what I hear, and
then I bring that information to you,
because I think you can benefit from it.

But what is really bothering me today,
and I think it’s been building up and
I’m surprised I haven’t brought it up
before now, is something that I’ve
noticed happens at some of these
meetings that is NOT a good thing.

I’ll tell you about it:

It’s when people who have NO clue
about bipolar disorder give advice on
it – even though the advice is sincere,
it is still sincerely wrong! Now people
can truly get hurt by this advice, and
that makes me mad!

For instance, one person at the support
group meeting said, “My friend told me
that since I seem to be doing so much
better, that I should stop taking my
medications.” Then other people
say, yeah, my friend said the same
thing… and before you know it, this
one comment is controlling the whole
meeting, and it is a totally FALSE
thing – a LIE!

Then, when I try to tell them that
that comment can’t be true, or that
it could hurt them, or at least that
they should check with their doctor
before going off their medications,
they ALL look at me like I’m some
crazy person!

Know what I mean?

Or they say their friend told them to
stop working and get on disability.
Another person said that their friend
said that another friend said that they
should take this supplement on the
market instead of their medications,
that it worked for their friend’s friend!

In my courses and systems, I teach
the difference between the truth and
myths that are out there 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

But I ask myself, where are these
people getting this stuff? And how
come people are believing it?

Really, sometimes I just want to walk
out of these meetings and just keep
going. But then I remember why I am
there – to help.

And sometimes that help is just to
tell them the truth about what their
“friends” have been telling them.

In my courses and in special reports,
I expose the myths behind the
supplements and supposed “cures”
for bipolar disorder. Unfortunately,
there is still no cure, no matter what
you may hear at a support group
meeting.

Even though these people are well
meaning, always check with your
doctor before you do anything like
taking a supplement instead of your
medications just because you heard
“a friend of a friend of a friend”
says it works.

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