Bipolar Supporter Blog

Hi,

Hey, what’s going on?

I hope you are doing well.

I have 1 million things to do today.

I seriously need to start going to bed earlier.

Starting next week I am going to. I won’t even
lie and say this week because it can’t happen.

The older I get the more sleep I need 🙂

Okay, Today’s email is a pretty serious one, because
of what’s on my mind and my heart, and what I
want to share with you.

It’s because of the following email that was
sent to me:

Dave, I really need help. We are in bad shape.
My son has bipolar disorder. Please help us.
Steve
——————

You have no idea how much an email like this
just breaks my heart. I get SO many emails
just like it, every day. And I want to help each
and every person, believe me! There are some
days that I only get 4 hours of sleep because I
spend so much time helping everyone else.

Don’t get me wrong, I am certainly NOT
asking for pity here. That would be the last
thing I would ever do. But I do want you all
to know that I treat each and every email with
heart and all the understanding that I have in
me, because I know where you are coming
from, because I went thru it with my mom for
so many years.

I know bipolar. I know how it can take over
your life. I know how much pain it can cause.
I know how alone you can feel.

Believe me, I can so identify with the man in
this email. I have been there! I feel his
pain!
And he is coming to me for help, as SO
many of you have, and still do on a
daily basis.

Unfortunately, I can’t help everyone.
There is only one of me. But it is that
desire to help everyone that motivated
me to write my courses in the first
place, and to offer them to you:

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

Now, believe me – I am accused all the
time of being money-hungry, or of being
in this only for the money, and other
comments like that, just because I charge
for my courses.

Please understand – If I could, I would
offer every single course, Special
Report, manual, etc. f.ree of charge to
everyone who needs it! Because I
KNOW that you need what I have
written! I KNOW you need this
information!

But, unfortunately, at this time I just
can’t do that. I truly, truly wish I
could. The best I can do is to make it
all as affordable as I can. And to offer
some things f.ree, like these emails.

I hope at least these emails are helping
you. I try to make them as informative
as possible.

The man in that email said, “We really
need help…please help us.” The best way
I can help anyone is thru my courses.
Because the best way I think anyone with
bipolar disorder or a supporter of a loved
one with bipolar disorder can be helped is
thru knowledge – thru learning as much as
they can about the disorder.

Steve, if you’re reading this, I sincerely
hope I have helped you. My heart goes
out to you.

I do spend a massive amount of time more
than 50% of my day doing this even
though I am not suppose to. I send daily
emails, do videos, special reports, etc.
to help as many people as I can. But,
I am getting to the point as we approach
200,000 people who have subscribed,
I can’t individually help people anymore.

I do struggle that I can’t help everyone.

It’s very stressful. I actually had to talk
to people in a similar situation to ask how
they handle it. They said that I have to help
as many people as I can but not hurt myself.

Over the last 6 months, I have been working
18 hours a day every day. Zero time off.
If I wasn’t younger, I would be in trouble.

But I have to hire more people and slow down
other wise, I won’t be any good to anyone.

Know what I mean? I just wanted to write so
you weren’t mad at me.

Think that I am wrong for saying this?

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? What’s new? I wanted to tell you something that
happen to me yesterday that was really
alarming.

I have a big BIPOLAR LESSON for you today.

It’s a wake up call.

Okay the other day I wrote you an email
about how my feet were bothering me–
they felt like I was being stabbed in
them. The fact that I thought that
was a potential sign of diabetes.

I vacillated between going to the
doctor and having them checked out.
At first I thought, “oh, let me wait
a day or two.” Then I thought, “I sure
will be a hypocrite since I tell people
dealing with bipolar disorder they
must take immediate action when they
see signs and symptoms of something.”

So I decided to go to the doctor and
get my feet checked out. I don’t go
to the doctor at all. I go to places
to monitor my liver enzymes, cholesterol,
blood pressure, etc. Since I body build
non competitively, I like to measure these
things to make sure that everything is
a-okay.

Anyway, to make things fast, I normally
pay out of pocket when I get these tests
done at like a place that specializes in
doing these things and doing them fast.

With that said, I never go to my primary
care physician. I hadn’t gone in a long
time. I really forgot who it was.

So I remembered, I went to the person.
I told them about my feet.

I spoke to the doctor. He was a super nice
person. We talked about mental health as
well and the fact that I runt his organization.
He asked me for marketing and advertising
tips.

Anyway, he said that I probably have foot
trauma because I am in good shape, I have a
super structured eating plan with virtually
no sweets. He said however he would test me
for diabetes and other “stuff.”

I said that sounds good to me.

So I did the tests and had to wait for the
results.

Something alarming happened….

My mom called me yesterday and said, “Hi,
your test results came back negative?”

I was like, “huh?” She was like, “the doctor’s
office called me and said your results were
negative.”

I was like, “huh?” And then it hit me,
the doctors office called my mom and gave
her the test results. I was immediately
super mad.

Not only is this against the law because of
privacy laws but I was never called with the
results.

In my mind, I should have been:

called with the results
I should be able to get a copy
I should get numbers and names of the tests
for my records
I should be asked “how are you feet?”

NONE of this was done. I was so mad.

Even my mom was like, “why are they
calling me? How did they get my number?”

I was thinking as well, “what if I had
a serious disorder, would they just tell
anyone?”

So anyway, I called and I was super mad.

Someone answered and I said, how someone
called my mom like I was in grammar school
or high school to give my test results.

She then cut me off, and said, “hold
on.” She came back. Then she said,
hold on again. And again.

I was so annoyed.

Then she said that basically that’s the
number she had for me. I said “impossible.”

Then I said, “look let’s say you did, so
you told someone other than me about the results?”

She said, “umm, well, hold on.”

So then she came back and told me it was a mistake
she was sorry and they wouldn’t have told negative
results if there were negative results.

I told her that wasn’t the point.

At this point, she was giving me an attitude.

I asked her if she was planning on getting
the right number. She said, “umm, yes.”

I gave her my number and asked for a break
down of the results. I asked how come I didn’t
get them faxed to me. How come no one asked
how my feet were. I asked her how come
no one explained the test results to me.
I asked her what kind of system she thought
this was. I asked her question after question.

I asked her one final question, “do you think
with the attitude you gave me this is good
for a patient?”

She said, “I am sorry, blah, blah.”

I said, “tomorrow I will be done for
my results on paper and see what
you have in my file since you already
have wrong information–which was my
mom’s number (the one I never gave).

I was super mad the entire day about it.

Then it hit me how I had to send out a message
to you.

In my courses/systems below, I talk
about how it’s important to find the
right therapist and 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

I have an entire system to find a doctor
and therapist who can help either you or
your loved one.

However one thing many overlook is the importance
of finding a doctor and therapist that are
good at running a business and hire the right
people and have the right systems in place.

The doctor that I went to for my feet was
a nice person. He sounded like he knew
about doctor stuff. He however obviously is
a bad business person with bad systems.

His receptionist and nurses are running
his practice into the ground probably.

He doesn’t even know it. He might not
know it until it’s too late.

So let’s assume he is a great doctor.
If he has bad systems and staff no matter
how good he is, it will hurt or ruin patient
care.

It’s the same thing with doctors for bipolar
and therapists.

If they are great but have no idea how
to hire the right receptionist, pay their
bills on time, organize their office, not
lose medical releases, keep track of which
medications patients are on, etc. the patient
is doomed.

I have heard it time and time again. The doctor
is knowledge and super nice but his office
is a disaster and the patient suffers.

Let me warn you today.

If you find that either you or your loved one
is going to a doctor that is very disorganized,
forgetful, has massive turn over with receptionists,
etc. this is a bad sign and you have to consider
finding someone who is a good doctor with bipolar
disorder AND knows how to run a business right.

And if you are a bipolar supporter, if the doctor
hates talking to you, working with you, getting
input from you for whatever strange reason, you
should consider other doctors if possible.

Know what I mean?

Let this email serve as a reminder of how important
this is.

Finally I am going to write the doctor I went
to about what happen and how it’s dangerous.
It will be a courteous letter. I don’t have
to do it but hopefully he will take notice
and do something about his office. Otherwise
he will have an uphill battle building a practice.
Plus he runs tremendous legal risks.

I, however am moving on. I want a doctor who
knows how to run a business today, explains test
results to the person who gets the tests, allows
you to get a hard copy, asks how you are doing,
knows how to hire the right people, etc.

What do you think of all of this?

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 hope you are doing well today. Yesterday someone called my
call center service about something
they wanted to order. So I got a
note from the call center
and called the person.

He was surprised that I actually
called him. I do this sometimes
when I have time.

Anyway, we got to talking
and he asked me a bunch of questions
about bipolar disorder.

I wound up talking to him for like
one hour.

He was a really nice person but he
really got a whole lot of miss information.
He actually was a bipolar supporter I think.

Anyway, he was told many wrong things
about bipolar disorder that are simply
deadly. The kinds of things that if someone
followed them, they lead to almost certain
death. I am not being dramatic. I almost don’t
even want to write some of the things he
thought. I don’t want people to take it the
wrong way.

I felt that it was my duty to explain what
I knew to be the truth.

So that’s why I spoke to him for so long.

But it reminded me about another daily email
that I once sent before…

I think I have found out what the
#1 bipolar killer is:

I think it is IGNORANCE.

Think about it.

Webster’s dictionary says that
the definition of ignorance is
“being ignorant.” And the
definition of ignorant is:

“destitute of knowledge or
education.” See that?

Destitute means poor. Actually,
really poor. So someone who
is ignorant is “really poor in
education or knowledge.”

I don’t know about you, but
I always thought an ignorant
person was someone who was
just stupid.

But now I realize how that’s
just a really mean thing to think
about someone who is ignorant,
because it’s not that they’re stupid,
it’s just that they DON”T KNOW!

In all my courses, I stress so much
the importance of KNOWLEDGE:

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 I am always
stressing the value of knowledge,
how I’m always preaching about
how important it is to keep
educating yourself about bipolar
disorder.

That’s what all my courses are
all about! That’s what all my
emails are all about. That’s what
all my newsletters are all about.
That’s what my website is all
about. That’s what *I* am all
about!

I want to educate you about
bipolar disorder. I want you to
learn everything you can learn
about the disorder, so that you
can master it instead of it mastering
you. (Sound familiar?)

Ignorance, by definition meaning,
NOT KNOWING, can lead to a
person not taking their medication
or the right medication because they
don’t know what to tell their doctor.

Ignorance can lead to a person committing
suicide because they DON”T KNOW
what else to do!

Let’s think about that. Ignorance leads
to people NOT KNOWING what to do.

Can you see how serious that can be
when you’re dealing with bipolar
disorder?

Now do you see why I’m always
preaching about you getting as
much knowledge about the disorder
as you can?

Why I’m always telling you that
next to medication that knowledge
is the next important thing to
recovery from bipolar disorder?

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

It’s true. The fastest route to the
life of stability is to gain knowledge.

Knowledge is the opposite of
Ignorance.

There are websites on the internet
that promote TOTAL lies about
bipolar disorder. These people say
things that if followed with CAUSE people’s
deaths.

I have spoken to these people and honestly
they have no clue. They are not evil people
just completely misguided folks.

But the problem is, they spread things
and then people spread what they heard
and then like the guy I spoke to today,
get information that is totally wrong.

Information that is potentially deadly
if followed.

Don’t be ignorant, do your research
AND check out what I say too. If
I say stuff, thinking about it, research,
check me out, does what I say make sense?

If I am ever on a conference call, challenge
me. I love it. Why? Well I have carefully thought
about everything that I say and recommend and
I never make any claims to be a doctor or
therapist.

I have seen sites were people suggest that
they are doctors when they are not.

Anyway, I have to run, don’t let
ignorance get the best of you or else.

Choose knowledge not ignorance.

Bipolar disorder really kills through
lack of knowledge or ignorance

Which are you going to choose?

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 hope you had a great
Easter if you celebrate it.

I didn’t do much. I actually went over
to my mom and dad’s house to eat.
I didn’t eat to much because I am
lowering my body fat so there are many
things that I can’t eat right now.

So know chocolate for me.

Oh and another thing. I am actually
thinking about volunteering in another
organization. It’s an organization that visits
people in the worst possible psychiatric institutions.
People who get no visitors. People who never will
be released probably. People who really have
severe mental illness. I am not talking about bipolar
disorder. Illnesses there really aren’t ways to manage
it. Illnesses with no real name.

My accountant says that I don’t have time for this
kind of stuff. He is kind of down on the entire mental
health thing. He says that I need to work hard in
things that maximize roi and in his mind that’s
not mental health it’s my other businesses.

I don’t agree with him but his job is to look out
for me.

Anyway, I am pretty sure that I am going to
start volunteering for this organization and help
them get the word out. The person who runs it
is a incredible guy with bipolar disorder. He thought
of the idea a while ago and wants to spread it all
over the country. I am not sure how much I can
help with that because I am super busy but
I can show up in various places and visit people.

Anyway, I think this is a great organization. I think
that someone has to help the people that have no help
at all. You see if you are on my list, you are either helping
someone or helping yourself. There are people that can’t
help themselves. AND they have no one to help them.

They have severe and I mean severe mental illness
and it’s really sad. But you can’t forget about these people.

So I am strongly considering volunteering with this
organization. I just have to figure out how to find
the time.

Hmmm.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about
something super important today.

I call it….

FRUSTRATED EXPECTATIONS

I know it’s a big deal to some, if
not most of you, for two reasons.
number #1, because I’m a supporter
myself, and I know that I have
frustrated expectations, and
number #2, because so many of you
have written and called me and tell me
the same thing.

So what are frustrated expectations?
Exactly what it says! No, don’t send me
hate mail because I’m treating you like a
dummy, I’m not, believe me. I just want
you to follow along with me. And remember,
I’m one of the people I’m talking about!

See, we bring something to the table –
being supporters of a loved one with
bipolar disorder, we bring to the table
all our fears, hurt, anger, resentments,
loneliness, all our negative feelings…
And, yes, our expectations.

Then those expectations aren’t met.
They’re frustrated.

Why? I’ll tell you why.

Because most of us, looking back,
never expected to be where (and who)
we are at this point in our lives.

We were sold a dream way back when
that did not include taking care of a loved
one with bipolar disorder, and everything
which that includes, especially our time and
emotions.

No one told us how difficult a JOB this
would be. And you know as well as I do
that this really is a JOB. One that probably
none of us signed up for.

Now, again, don’t send me hate mail,
because I’m not saying that you have to
do this and resent it as a job because
you don’t want to do it or don’t love your
loved one or anything.

I know you love your loved one and do it
and don’t get paid or anything and would
do it even if you never made a red cent.
But that’s not what I’m saying here!
Please hear me out before you make
a judgment call.

In my courses/systems, I talk about being a
good supporter, and I do talk about it as if
it were a job, one you have to train for:

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

Because when you really look at it, it
really is. And you may be your loved
one’s only supporter, and that puts a
lot of pressure on you.

And you may not have anyone to talk
about this to. So you may be holding a lot
of feelings inside you. And part of this may
be what I’m calling frustrated expectations.

Maybe your loved one wasn’t always like
this. Maybe they have only recently been
diagnosed with bipolar disorder (which
explains why they have been behaving
the way they have been).

But now you are facing a future with
bipolar disorder in it. You are looking at
a loved one who is going to always have
this disorder, and you are going to have to
live with it.

You may have had hopes and dreams that
you will now never be able to have fulfilled.
Your whole life may have changed now.

So…now you have unfulfilled frustrations.

What do you do about it?

You have to ACCEPT IT.

I know that sounds simple. It IS simple.

But it is NOT easy!

No, it isn’t easy, but its something you have
to do if you’re going to continue being your
loved one’s supporter. You cannot let this
build up and stay inside you, hoping that
someday things will be different, because
that is NOT a realistic expectation.

You have to put away your unfulfilled
frustrations forever, and deal with the
new reality you are facing now.

I know this may sound negative, and I don’t
mean for it too, really I don’t. You know how
much of a positive person I am, and how I
always try to encourage you to be too.

But what it is is REALISTIC! You must be
realistic. Face your future together with your
loved one in a realistic way.

So this is NOT negative! Your loved one can
still become a healthy, happy, successful
person with bipolar disorder, with your
love and support.

And you can have NEW expectations!

They just have to be REALISTIC expectations.

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? Happy Easter if you celebrate it. I hope you are doing well and have
a great day.

There other day, Thursday, I had
this situation.

I woke up and my feet felt really
strange.

It felt as if someone was taking
a pin and poking them. Then
as the hours went on, it felt like
the pins turned into knives.

Then my feet started to really
hurt. I thought it was kind of like
my foot was asleep for a while.

I thought it would go away.

It didn’t.

Then I start thinking about it.
The more I thought about it, the more
it seemed to get worse.

I started getting worried. I kept thinking
that maybe something was SERIOUSLY
wrong because it was so strange. Plus
it felt like my feet were cutting.

I thought maybe it will go away.
Then I though, maybe it won’t.

Then I started to wonder if it was
something really serious.

I know that “pins and needles” can
be a sign of diabetes. At least that’s
what I thought.

So then I went on with my day, kind of
ignoring it, hoping it would go away.

Then I thought to myself, “wouldn’t
it be hypocritical if I didn’t go
to the doctor and I tell people
dealing with bipolar disorder,
to take action immediately when
signs and symptoms are seen?”

Then I sat in the library parking
lot for a few minutes and decided
to go straight to the doctor and
drop everything.

So I went there. They asked lots
of questions and took blood for some
tests.

Since I am in really good shape, he didn’t
think it would be diabetes but I would
have to wait a few days for the results
of the test.

He felt that it was “foot trauma” possibly
since I went to NYC the other day for
that meeting I told you about. While
was there, I did a ton of walking, my feet
were soaking wet, and I didn’t have on good
walking shoes (obviously).

In addition, I started doing twice as much
walking on the treadmill. The doctor thinks
that this all combined may be the problem.

So we will see. The big bipolar lesson is
about taking immediate action when you see
signs and symptoms that aren’t right.

Many people do not do this—both bipolar
supporters and bipolar survivors.

In my courses/systems below, I talk about
how important this is.

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

If you see signs and symptoms and you don’t
take action, lots of bad things occur.

The bipolar episodes get worse and worse.
It’s MUCH easier to “catch” a bipolar
episode before it ramps up into an actual
episode or even like a super episode.

Not to mention when you catch the episode
early, all the normal bipolar damage doesn’t
occur—like destroyed finances, lost job,
lost friends, destruction, etc. You know
what I mean.

When I asked my doctor about people
who have to get their feet amputated because
of diabetes, he said, “Dave, the people know,
they just don’t do anything. You aren’t
just fine one day and then the next day your
feet have to be amputated because of diabetes.”

NOTE-I guess with diabetes your feet can get
really bad and have to be amputated. I am NOT
a doctor and really know little about diabetes and
I am not offering any medical advice. I am just telling
you want I heard.

Anyway, the doctor said, that people ignore all
the signs over a long period of time and finally
it’s really extreme.

I told him that I did “stuff” in the area of mental health.
He was surprised and of course knew someone who had
bipolar disorder.

I told him about how you have to “catch” bipolar episodes
before they get out of control.

He said there are many illnesses and disorders that people
can easily control if they catch them early enough. He said
however, unlike what I teach about taking action and
going to the doctor, people who it will go away by almost
magic.

I told him how with bipolar disorder, it’s the same thing.

I remember so many times over the years, my dad would
simply ignore my mom’s episode and hope that somehow
it would just fix itself. It NEVER did.

Don’t ever forget this important principle with bipolar
disorder. This goes for whether you are a supporter or
you are a bipolar survivor.

Does this make sense?

Let me know.

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? Well today is Saturday, day before Easter. Hope you have a great day. Actually yesterday I had a little bit of a
scare—well it’s still kind of a scare.

I had to go to the doctor for something.

I am going to probably tell you tomorrow.
There’s a great bipolar lesson.

Anyway, let me jump into today’s topic
because I have to take off to go to the gym.

One of the things that people write to
me about a lot is conflicts between them
and their loved one, and ask me how they
can solve them.

Now, right up front, I’ll tell you what I
tell them. I’m not a therapist or a family
counselor , and I advise them to see one.

But I do offer suggestions, as I do in my
courses/systems, on how to handle
conflicts in a bipolar relationship:

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 can eliminate many areas of
conflict just by having good
communication between you and
your loved one.

By good communication I mean
that you have to be clear on what
you’re saying. Both of you have to
be able to tell the other person
exactly what you are thinking and
feeling, without the other person
feeling defensive or getting angry.

Supporters can also set limits on
what language and types of behavior
they are willing to tolerate and not
tolerate from their loved one. For
example, they can say that they
won’t tolerate their loved one
yelling at them, and that is a
boundary that they won’t allow
their loved one to cross. Then
they have to stick to that.

Their loved one might say that
they are willing to talk about
everything except some sore
spot, and their supporter will
have to respect that boundary
and not cross it.

Communicating like this has
several benefits. for one
thing, it can help the two of
you to feel closer to each
other, as it opens the door
to a closer relationship
instead of fighting.

For another thing, it reduces
confusion, since you both
know the rules going in.

It also eliminates nagging,
cross words, criticism, and
arguments.

Another one of the good
Things is that it will give you
peace of mind, instead of
that feeling of walking on
eggshells all the time.

In this way you can offer
unconditional love and
support to your loved one
instead of fear, and you will
want to spend more time with
them.

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 YOUR FRIENDS

Hi,

I hope you are doing well.

What a day I had yesterday. Two people
who have bipolar disorder and unfortunately
aren’t taking an medications created an
absolute nightmare for me.

I was really frustrated dealing with
what these people did. I must say
I can see how many a mental health
organization has closed it’s doors.

This field is unlike any other field
when it comes to potentially abuse
individuals.

I am going to write more about it probably
tomorrow and the big bipolar lesson that I
learned.

With that said, here’s the bipolar news.

Make sure you take a look. It takes a lot
of time to put the news together so please read it.

To see the news visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews370

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:

Dealing with bipolar disorder is a constant battle
DO> Very good article.

‘Mood swings’ could be a sign of bipolar disorder
DO> Absolutely. Must read.

Road to recovery
DO> Very interesting, what do you think?

Love Rollercoaster: Dating With Bipolar Disorder
DO> I actually did an interview on this subject.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews370

==>> 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

Hi,

If you are supporting a loved one with
bipolar disorder then you must learn how
to avoid the bipolar doomsday scenario.

A Bipolar Doomsday Scenario is when a loved one
goes through a Bipolar episode which has an
exceptionally destructive effect on friends and
family.

The final outcomes of Bipolar Doomsday Scenario
may range from a major disruption of a relationship
between a loved one and his/her set of friends and
families, to the entire destruction or separation of
a family and/or friends.

For more information visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolardoomsdaysale

I have special offer for the first 75 people
or before Monday, March 24, 2008.

Thanks.

Dave

=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <= Hi, I read something interesting this week,
and I wanted to share it with you, see
what you think about it. 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?

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? Hope you are doing well. Yesterday my blog was broken.
For some reason, every now and then
it just breaks down. Sorry if
you were trying to read or post on it.

It’s back up now.

Hey guess what?

I am actually going to a meeting
in New York City today.

Before I leave, I want to talk about bipolar
disorder and negative emotions,
which might surprise you, since I’m
always so positive.

But there is a negative side to
bipolar disorder, as you know.
But if I do talk about the negative
side, you know I must have a
positive side to go with it, so just
bear with me and we’ll get to that.

Let’s take a look at the negative
emotions first, some of the
emotions you’ve felt, whether
you are a survivor or a supporter:
anger, fear, guilt, hopelessness,
helplessness, resentment, sad,
cheated, worried, frightened,
and many other negative emotions
these are just a few that come
to mind.

If you are a supporter, then let’s
just be honest. I’m sure you are
feeling now, or felt in the
beginning, “I didn’t sign up for
this,” or something like that,
unless you knew from the
beginning that your loved one
had bipolar disorder.

If you have bipolar disorder, you
may even be feeling the same
way. You may be feeling just as
confused as your supporter that
you are feeling such negative
emotions.

Does it help to know that these
are just NORMAL?

Maintaining any relationship is
difficult in itself without adding
bipolar disorder to the mix, and
then even more so by adding all
the negative emotions to it.

For supporters, it’s almost worse
than for the survivor. You didn’t
ask for this. You may be thinking,
“This is not MY illness,” and yet
you must live with it day after
day.

The emotions this thing
stirs up can be horrendous.
Yet, as a good supporter, you
have to keep these emotions
inside of you.

Keeping all this stuffed inside
can build up and make things
worse with your loved one,
because unless you talk to them,
they have no idea how you are
feeling. And if they don’t know,
they can’t do anything about it.

In my courses/systems, I talk
about how to communicate
with your loved one and go
into things you should say
and not to say, both when they
are in an episode and when they
aren’t:

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 main thing I want you to
know is that it is normal to feel the
way you do. I’ve talked to many
supporters who have shared with
me the same thing, and they thought
they were alone, too, as you probably
do.

Well, you are NOT alone!

And it’s ok to feel the way you do.

The point is, what are you going to
do with all these negative emotions?

You can keep stuffing them until they
simmer inside you and boil over like
a hot pot of water and eventually
spill over onto your loved one.
That’s your choice. It’s a negative
choice, but it’s your choice.

You can talk to a therapist about
it. This way at least you are getting
these emotions out and talking to
someone about it. This is a better
choice, but still not the best choice.

The best choice is to wait until your
loved one is not in an episode,
and hopefully in a good mood, or
at least in an open-minded mood,
and talk to them about your feelings.

Make sure you use positive statements,
affirming, supportive statements,
like, “You know I love you, but…”
or “I’ve been supportive throughout
this whole thing, but…”

Then your loved one will be more
likely to listen to what you have to
say, without getting angry or
defensive.

For those of you who have tried
this method, I’d love to hear
from you, as I’m sure other
readers would.

I’d love to hear some
success stories, so let me know
what has worked for you.

I am off to my meeting in New
York. Talk to you later.

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