Bipolar Supporter Blog

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going?

Hope you are doing well.

Boy I sure did eat a lot over the last couple of days
but it’s good because I have lost 9 pounds and I do
NOT want to. I am actually under my target weight
so I am going to try to gain weight over the next month
or so.

Well enough with that.

I wanted to talk about something that’s a major
secret to bipolar success and success in general.

It’s something that has taken me a long time
to figure out.

It’s something that has helped me tremendously.

It’s something that helped my mom tremendously.

It’s something that has helped so many people
but people don’t really talk about it.

What is it? It’s called personal coaching.

I have been mentioning this over the last
few days.

I totally believe in personal coaching. I
actually have hired and used many coaches.

Right now I have 6 coaches. I think some
people think that I figure it all out myself.

My mom has 4 coaches. It might sound odd
but coaching is the way to cut down on
how long it takes to reach a goal.

Here is an article that I wrote that talks
about the benefits of coaching. Take a look:

Benefits of Personal Coaching

Personal Coaching is a general term that is used in
the specific fields of: business, executive, life,
career, and interpersonal relationships. It is also
used to differentiate this coaching process from the
more popular type of sports coaching; although, both
Personal Coaching and sports coaching do have the
same origin, and are similar in many ways.

Personal Coaching involves more of a relationship,
however, than does sports coaching, and is defined
and designed in a relationship agreement between a
coach and their client. This relationship is based
on the client’s expressed personal interests, goals,
and objectives.

Personal Coaching is a learning process. The Personal
Coach can use reflection, inquiry, requests and/or
discussion as ways to help the client identify
his/her business, personal, and relationship goals.
Then they can develop strategies and form action plans
intended to achieve those goals.

A Personal Coach provides a way for clients to be
held accountable to themselves, which benefits the
client by monitoring their progress towards the
success of their action plans. Together, the coach
and their client implement and modify the plan as
they go, working with what best suits the client’s
needs – business, executive, life, and career – as
well as dating and interpersonal relationships.

A Personal Coach acts as a “human mirror” for clients
by sharing an objective, unbiased, outside perspective
on what they are observing about their clients.
For example, a Personal Coach can teach specific
skills and insights which can empower the client
to reach their personal goals. Finally, a Personal
Coach can encourage the client to celebrate the
achievement of those goals.

Clients are the ones who are responsible for their
own achievements and successes. The Personal Coach
may assist, but it is the client who actually takes
action; and although the Personal Coach is in the
role of assistant, he/she never does more than the
client. Therefore, a coach cannot and does not
promise that a client will attain specific goals
or perform any specific action – they can/will only
coach them towards the achievement of those specific
actions or goals.

Personal Coaching is not therapy or counseling.
However, the client may see other mental health
professionals to meet their needs through those
specific methods, if necessary. The Personal
Coach recognizes his/her limitations, and will
refer the client for other professional services
as is ethically required.

=======

Coaching is super important especially
with bipolar disorder.

In 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

many told me that the feel like when
they are reading the documents or listening
to the audios, I am talking directly to
them.

The reason is, I worked hard to put it
all together and I know what you need
to learn when dealing with bipolar
disorder so the fact that you feel
the material is in harmony with you
is no surprise.

The reason why I am starting a coaching
program is because so many people said
that they wanted to get my courses/systems
and also work one on one with me.

I have met a whole lot of people that
have a great doctor, therapist and coach.
For the most part it’s a life coach.

I have only heard of one coach that specially
deals with bipolar disorder. I guess I will
be the second one 🙂

Like I have said, I didn’t have a structured
program so I always said no.

At 5:00pm EST today, I am going to be launching
my program. Unfortunately I can only take 20
people. I don’t have any more time than that.
This way I can do a super great job with
a limited number of people.

I had a few coaches a while back that had
to many clients and really never were
able to focus on me. I don’t want my program
to be like that.

The other thing that I find with bipolar
disorder is that it kind of paralyzes people.
It causes them to be almost stuck doing
the same old thing over and over and over
again. For YEARS. I look at my dad. He seriously
got stuck for years. He really should have gotten
a coach or outsider to give him some advice.
He agrees with me today about this.

It’s interesting. My mom totally believes in coaching
and my dad kind of does. My dad is a believe in doing
it all himself and figuring it all out himself
which doesn’t make much sense to me.

If you are wondering what coaches my mom
has, I will tell you. She has a coach for
computers. A coach for working out. A job
coach and I am her coach as well.

Recently I have been kind of amazed how many
super successful people I know that had coaches.
Whether it’s in weight training, computers, going
to college, dance, bipolar disorder, business,
fishing, photography, etc, I know one or more
people getting coached.

I really find that people that want to figure
it all out themselves wind up never really reaching
their goals. It’s sad but true.

Anyway, if you want to work one on one with me,
for non medical and non legal coaching, please
check your email at 5:00pm today and read
about my program. Just remember I am limiting
it to only 20 people.

The details on the cost and how it works will
be on the page later today.

Hey I have to run, catch you tomorrow.

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

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going?

I almost made a huge mistake yesterday.

This mistake relates completely to
bipolar disorder and there’s an
important lesson.

Let me tell you the story.

Yesterday I got up in the morning
super early to go to the gym.

It was really, really, really cold.

I got in my car and turned it on.
Then I heard a beep starting. I was like
“what’s that?”

I saw this thing on the dash board. It’s
a thing I have never seen. I thought maybe
the car was cold and it would go away.

After a few minutes, it didn’t not.

It was really annoying. Then I was like
“Geeze, I have to get the manual.”

But I decided to NOT do it until
I went into and go out of the gym.

I have to allow one hour to eat
after I do cardio so I figured I would
fool around with the car and then
afterwards eat.

After I worked out, I got in the
car and how to find the manual in the
glove compartment box.

I looked at it. Then I saw that
the thing or signal was for
“tires low in air.”

I was wondering, “How could that
happen.”

So then I was like, well maybe the
signal will go away. Maybe it’s
wrong. What could be the worst
that could happen.

So I thought about it.

Then I decided to go and get
it checked out at a gas
station.

I went to one. They wouldn’t check
my air. Since I didn’t want to or
trust that I would know how to do
it myself, I moved one to someone else.

I found one quickly and he said, “man,
your tires are really low…You could have
really messed up your car if you kept
driving.”

I was like “oh.” So I got some air
and moved one and now my car is fine.

Then I was thinking how people with
bipolar disorder see signs and do
NOTHING at all.

-They don’t call the doctor
-They don’t call the therapist
-They don’t think about what would happen if
an episode occurred

They just do nothing and wait. A earlier
sign turns into a nightmare.

This is the course that most people take.
It’s sad but true.

With my dad, he did this for so many decades.
He told me he would see my mom was going into
an episode but never take any action. Just hope
it would be okay. It almost never was.

99% of the time it’s much easier to deal with
an episode sooner rather than later. When you
see signs, you have to take action.

In 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

I talk about all the things that go along
with handling bipolar episodes. There’s way
too much to type out here.

Anyway, this is a great lesson. Think long
and hard about bipolar disorder. How many
bipolar episodes have you seen signs
for and done nothing and they turned into
super episodes and you could have caught it?

It amazes me how doctors don’t really stress
this with bipolar disorder. BOTH bipolar
supporters AND bipolar survivors MUST
take action when the signs are seen.

You can’t just put it off like we did
in our family for so many years.

Well I have to take off. Don’t forget to
on Monday evening I am sending out information
on my coaching program. Check your email at 5:00pm
EST.

Talk to you tomorrow.

PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL HERE

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

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going? I sure did eat a TON on
Thanksgiving. I mean a ton. So much
that I feel like I don’t need to eat for a
week.

I actually went to another Thanksgiving
yesterday. I have another big meal
tonight but I am probably going
to have very little.

The one I went to yesterday was with a friend
that had around 20 people.

One of the guys there was really interesting.
He was Greek and almost 70 years old.

He had a very interesting lesson that
we can use for Bipolar Disorder.

I sat next to him and he told me a whole
lot of things of what it was like to only
have a 6th grade education and come to
America and earn a living.

Today he is a successful business person
that owns several restaurants.

I was fascinated how someone who was
not formerly trained could learn how
to run a super successful restaurant
one. Actually not one but more than one.

I started to ask him “the secrets.”

Before would told me, he asked me what
I did and I told him about the bipolar
organization but I didn’t
think he knew what bipolar was.

He spoke with a heavy accent so I wasn’t
sure if I was really making sense to him.

He was one of the few people that really
didn’t say “hey I know what bipolar
disorder is.”

EVERYONE else that was there did. It was
amazing. Actually one girl their had
bipolar disorder.

He asked what it was. I tried
to explain calling it a “mental illness.”

He sort of got it.

I asked him if he was ever online.

He said, “no.”

He never uses a computer or the internet
so he doesn’t know about all this stuff.

So we got to talking about how he
learned how to run his restaurant businesses
and he told me.

He basically learned from a mentor
or other Greek people that taught
him and then he told me the key to
his success. Continued learning
from “hands on experience.”

He said he made many mistakes in
the beginning but he said, “I always
sat down and thought ‘what did
I learn?’ when a mistake was made”.

He told me how people spend
years learning about the restaurant
business. He said many never go
into the business because they
are “getting ready.”

He said he wasn’t against “book smarts”
but “experience beats studying in
a book.”

I told him how I teach people dealing
with a mental illness from practical
and real world experience.

I was telling how with bipolar
disorder the reason why people can
ask me the strangest most difficult
questions and I generally have an answer.

He asked “why?” I said because I have
practical experience either with my mom,
someone I was coaching or someone who
works for me with bipolar disorder.

He said to me, “very good.” That’s “very
smart.” He went on to say “text books
don’t work people do.”

It’s kind of funny. He had all these
“one liners.”

He provided a super great lesson for bipolar
disorder.

I got to thinking about why my material
is the way it is.

Meaning, my material is based on real
world experience and things people are
doing.

If you look at the 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

You will notice that ANYTHING that
is said or recommended comes from
experience or from people who are dealing
with a certain issue.

When I first got started, I noticed that
so many of the books that I read where
based on theory and written by people
who didn’t have bipolar disorder
OR never ever supported someone with
bipolar disorder.

There was only ONE book at the
time that was good and fully of practical
experience. I am actually working to
interview this doctor through a new
coaching program that I am setting up
and get it so he will answer questions.

Anyway, for some reason I totally related to
this guy on what it takes to be successful
whether you are a bipolar supporter or
bipolar survivor.

Being mentored by someone who has been
there AND practical experience as he
put it.

AND he said over and over that you
will make mistakes but you have to
learn from them.

This is the same with bipolar disorder.

It’s amazing to me how many people don’t
learn from mistakes or past bipolar
episodes.

Remember I always talk about the PEA.

QUIZ

What’s a PEA? Scroll down for the answer..

NO CHEATING

SCROLL DOWN

PEA is post episode analysis.

Anytime you have a bipolar episode, you
simply make sure that you sit down and try
to figure out what caused the episode.

Generally you overlap you or your loved
one’s bipolar stability equation that
I talk about my courses/systems.

You figure out what went wrong. People
love to believe stability with bipolar
disorder is like a lottery.

Well I have to take off and head over
to the gym.

Catch you tomorrow.

Oh, one more thing. I am going to be sending
out a message about my new coaching
program Monday afternoon. I am only
taking 20 people in this program. It’s
personal one on one coaching with me.

I have gotten many people for years
asking about me coaching them but I never
had a systematic program.

I have been coaching both bipolar supporters
and bipolar survivors for years now but with
no structured program. I do a lot locally
with people that I have met over the years
but many people want over the phone coaching.

Now I will have a program that allows a certain
number of one on one calls and also questions
via email. This of course will all be for NON
medical and NON legal coaching because I am
NOT a doctor, lawyer, therapist or other
kind of professional.

I can coach on a ton of other things. I will
have a website that describes it all Monday
afternoon.

Actually I have been coaching someone on
starting a simple business because she
has bipolar disorder and needs to increase
her income. Together we came up with her
teaching older people how to setup their
technology like ipods. She thought it
was “crazy.”

I told her people would pay for this
service. There’s no question about it.

I actually did the marketing material for
her as well since I am good at marketing :).

I am really excited because she has several
clients and she will easily be able to make $400
a month following my marketing plan.

She is going to do some classes I coached her
on so she should get up to her goal of an
e.xtra $800 a month.

I really enjoy coaching in this area and
many other areas related to bipolar disorder
like finding a doctor, dealing with the
episodes, making plans with money, etc.

Okay well make sure you check your email
at 5:00pm EST on this Monday.

Well I have to run. Catch you later.

PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL HERE

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

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/spiritualjourney

Thanks.

Dave

PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Hi,

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

I ate way too much yesterday. Actually I am
going to another one today at 2:00pm in
PA.

I won’t be eating that much for sure 🙂

Also, I wanted to thank all the people who
submitted application for the customer
service position I posted for the organization.

Okay with that said here is the current
Bipolar Disorder news.

Make sure you take a look at the news. I really work
hard to put it together for you :).

To see the news visit:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews353

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:

Living with the demons
DO> Great article

Dr. Phil may be faced with multi-million dollar lawsuit
DO> This is REALLY strange. Must read. What do you think?

Bipolar disorder: More than a punchline
DO> Interesting.

Support crucial in dealing with mental illness
DO> I have been saying this for years 🙂

More teens diagnosed with bipolar disorder
DO>Shocking article

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews353

==>> 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

==>>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,

Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it.

Hope you have a great day if you do.

What a day yesterday was. I had 11 very angry
people to deal with. It never fails. On
each holiday, a small group of people who
aren’t doing well with bipolar disorder,
lash out at me.

You know how holidays can be difficult for those
with bipolar disorder? Well imagine me 100,000+
people on a mailing list and some who have
my phone numbers. Some not on medicaton and
mad. Some who target poor me 🙂

So after spending hours on the phone, I got
it worked out with the angry people. I decided
today I will not even look at any emails
or check voicemails because last year
I had 3 people leaving me all kinds of
well hateful messages.

As a side note, I remmeber one person went
off his bipolar medications, called me seriously
20 times demanding I call him back and tell
him who signed him up to my mailing list or
else he was going to “get” and “report” me
to “the government.” He actually did and
I had 100% proof. But I had to bother
Andrea and Pascale (who handle
this kind of stuff) to get the proof.

Okay enough with the stories.

Well, I am going to make this quick because I have a whole
lot of things to do today. I actually have
to work today. I guess I work everyday 🙂

I have many new projects related to bipolar
disorder that I am working on. I will post
information on them over the coming weeks.

Okay again, today is Thanksgiving for US
people.

I want to give out some good pointers for
today if you are a bipolar supporter
or bipolar survivor:

-Try not to stress to much.

-Don’t argue with family members over
things that aren’t worth arguing about

-Change the subject, tell a bipolar white lie (
talked about in yesterday’s daily email),

-Remember if you have an emergency related
to bipolar disorder and you can’t find your
doctor or therapist. You can always call
911 or emergency services

-Have fun

-Eat a lot

-Don’t drink alcohol 🙁

-Exercise tomorrow 🙂

If you are by yourself today, you can
go and volunteer at a local soup kitchen
or homeless shelter.

I REALLY enjoy doing this. I am actually
going to do this much more in 2009. I
have met some of the nicest people in
these places. Plus you are helping people.

Or you can do productive things like read, watch
a documentary on TV, plan out your goals
for 2009, etc.

I know that there are many on my list that
don’t have anyone to eat with. If you were
local to me and I would invite you over.

Last year I talked about doing a big
group Thanksgiving for those that didn’t
have anywhere to go and were local to me.

Unfortunately I just ran out of time
to plan and can’t do it. Maybe next year.

With bipolar disorder alone I have 14 different
projects going on just right now not to mention
I have to do a lot of “holiday stuff.”

Speaking of holidays, there’s no question that
holidays can be tough with bipolar disorder. In
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

I talk a lot about holidays and how to
prevent and handle bipolar episodes that
occurring during them.

There’s no question that this time of year
is probably the toughest of the year. Between
now and like February. The middle of January
is tough as well. Most people don’t realize
this. I talk about why I think this is
in my course/systems above.

In January I am going to be sending out
more tips on what to look out for.

One thing that’s kind of cool is that some
people have been on my list for 2 years now
so they are following along so to speak.

Yesterday I had written about the fact my
brother has disowned my mom, my dad and my
self. Many people have written to ask why.

I really don’t know exactly. I think when
it’s all said and done, my brother is mad
at my mom for having bipolar disorder.

Then I think he is mad at my dad and myself
because we aren’t mad at my mom for having
bipolar disorder. I doubt he would admit
this but that’s what I strongly believe.

Anyway, there’s nothing that I can do.

Last year Thanksgiving was a nightmare. My
mom and dad waited to the last second thinking
my brother would invite us over. I knew he
wouldn’t. Well the last second came and
he never did. My parents were not prepared
and he had to go to a random place to eat
because we didn’t have any reservations.

It was only the three of us. It was kind of
sad because normally at Thanksgiving there is
like 20 people.

This year I am proud of my mom. She was
proactive and decided to make Thanksgiving
with my dad and to invite several people over.

If you are wondering if my mom is going into
an episode and cooking and inviting people
over because she is “manic” I believe the answer
is no. I already thought of that :). I checked
it all out and she is right in line with
all her “bipolar success variables” in her
“bipolar stability equation.”

I think it’s good. Here’s the way I look at
it. If my brother doesn’t ever want to talk
to us ever again fine. That’s his choice. My
mom shouldn’t sit around and dwell on it.
She should move forward and be proactive.

By her having her own Thanksgiving and inviting
people over she can be in control and instead
of being in the mercy of someone else. Plus
now there will be more people at Thanksgiving
making it similar to what my brother normally
would have.

I think this is a great idea and like I always
teach you, I checked it out with the doctor
and therapist to see what they thought.

Hey, that’s another important lesson. My mom
took her plan to her doctor AND therapist and
got their “okay.” My mom takes everything to
her doctor and therapist which is great.

Learn from her. She is doing great and has been
for a while. When you hear the things she is
doing, you should model them too.

Well hey I have to run. I have to do a bunch
of work before I drive to my parents house.

Have a great day today and see you tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will be sending out the bipolar news.

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

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and there’s one
lie that you might have to tell.

Let’s talk about it.

Here’s the deal. There is a type of lie
that I say is an okay lie to tell. I call
it “the bipolar white lie.”

It’s a good lie in a way. Now it’s up
to debate if you should ever use this
strategy.

Let me tell you about it however and
the story as to how I thought of this.

Okay when my mom first got sick in her
big bipolar episode. It was right around
Thanksgiving.

I was hoping and praying each night leading
up to Thanksgiving that my mom would be okay
and there wouldn’t be problems.

My brother wound up putting pressure on me
to make sure everything went okay (in my
head I was thinking, “how am I going to
do this?”

A few days before Thanksgiving I saw some of
my friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. Most
asked, “how are you parents doing?” I said,
“okay.” This was my first bipolar white lie.

Where they really doing fine? Hmm not really
but I just didn’t know what to say. I didn’t
want to say, “Well my mom is screaming and yelling
at me, I have no idea what she has, I am really
worried, I have lost 20 pounds, I am stressed out
beyond what you can imagine, etc.”

Then after Thanksgiving, even though Thanksgiving went
well and my mom didn’t really have an episode flair
so to speak but I was so worried and stressed that
I barely ate. So Thanksgiving for me was not good.

After Thanksgiving, I saw people around town and in
the gym and they said, “How was your Thanksgiving?”
I said, “okay” and changed the subject.

Now was that true? I guess you could probably said
it was kind of true but then you could argue it
wasn’t okay. I just didn’t want to get into it.

I find that in many cases when you have bipolar
disorder OR you are a bipolar supporter you have
to use what I call the bipolar white lie.

Some people have a strict code of never lying and
I wonder if they think that the lies I talk about
are really bad.

It’s similar to if you meet a person who is struggling
to lose weight. They lose like 1 pound every other month
and are on track to lose all the weight needed in about
12 years. When they ask, “how do you think I look?”
You probably respond, “good.” Now is that totally true?
Probably not.

I believe that white lies are okay. No sense in creating
problems by giving exact details to questions that
will produce even more questions.

I think however you have to really start to get
“your story straight” and to the point for Thanksgiving
related questions.

If you have bipolar disorder and had problems
you might have a few one liners about where you have
been, how you have been doing and some good conversation
changers so you can move past tough questions for yourself.

If you are a bipolar supporter and your loved one
has had problems, same thing above applies.

I really think this is serious and I think everyone
should sit down and map out what you think you may
be asked and quick answers.

Don’t make up big lies

Keep it short

Try to change the subject

Smile

If you get forced into deep questions remember you can
always say lines like:

Were doing okay.

Okay.

Things are improving

We are making a lot of progress

We are moving forward

The light is at the end of the tunnel

It’s been tough but things are getting better

Etc.

I think these are the best when dealing with
bipolar disorder. No matter what your situation,
the above lines should work well.

Make sense?

In my courses/systems below, I talk about how to
handle this even more. It can be a little complicated:

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 hope you don’t think badly of me
for telling you this but I get so many people that
are worried about how to face relatives or friends
during these holiday periods and don’t know how
to handle these types of questions.

There’s people that I have spoken to that
are SUPER STRESSED about Thanksgiving tomorrow.

One women said, I have been away from the family
for so long and I know people are going to
ask where I was.

She actually decided to tell the truth combined
with a positive message combined with changing
the subject.

She is going to say “I was sick with my
bipolar disorder, I am doing very well now,
so how are you doing?”

She has rehearsed this and now feels good
about handling what might happen.

I am actually heading over to my parents house
for Thanksgiving. I can’t believe that this will
be the second Thanksgiving my brother didn’t invite
us to.

Actually someone wrote me:

“Dave, are you going to your brothers
for Thanksgiving or is he still not speaking
to your family. My sister did the same thing
to us. I have been reading your emails for
more than a year and I remember you talking
about how he disowned you, your mom and dad.
That’s terrible. How do you deal with it?”
-Stanley

Tomorrow I will talk about this I think.

Anyway, have a great day. Catch you to tomorrow.

Have you ever had to tell bipolar white lies?
If so, please post a story for us on the bipolar
blog below.

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

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going?

I hope you are doing well. Hey it
was kind of interesting. I got a lot of
emails from people yesterday saying how
I should appreciate the snow because they
have never seen snow only on tv.

I guess you are right. I should appreciate
the snow.

I actually live in an area with four seasons
winter, fall, summer and spring and I do
appreciate that.

Actually there’s an important lesson for
bipolar disorder that I am going to be sharing
with everyone about where I live versus
where other people live.

I am going to be posting some videos online.
I just don’t know how :). I am not good with
all this technology stuff.

So, I have a friend who’s daughter’s boy friend
who is like 15 is going to teach it all to me.

There’s an important lesson here for bipolar
disorder. First, ask for help. Second, you
never know who can help you.

Anyway I will be posting this in a few weeks
and will send an email.

I am also starting a personal bipolar
coaching program because for like 2.5 years
people have been asking me over and over
again for one.

I always said no because I didn’t have one
setup. Then someone asked me to call him
to talk about how I can set it up. I really
appreciate that so I am going to be setting
one up in like a week or so.

I will send an email with the details.

Okay let’s talk about today’s topic.

Well, it’s almost Thanksgiving and
I wanted to talk about this interesting
conversation I had with a friend.

IMPORTANT BIPOLAR LESSON COMING UP

I have a friend that loves fortune
cookies.

Here’s the thing. He has a super strict
diet so he can NOT eat the future cookies
but he loves them.

If you go get Chinese food with him,
he will only get chicken and will insist
you give him your fortune cookies.
It’s kind of annoying 🙂

But he never eats them.

DON’T WORRY THERE’S A BIPOLAR LESSON COMING

I finally asked him why the other day.
And he said and this is a quote, “Dude,
whenever I read the messages inside,
a lot of the stuff comes true.”

I was like “what do you mean?” He said
that when he reads the messages inside
the cookies, that talk about how your
life is going to be, good things happen.

I asked him to give me examples. He said
this one time it said, “Something great
is about to enter in your life so pay
attention.”

He said that he was excited because he needed
something great to enter his life and then
he wound up getting a new job, which allowed
him to afford all his nutrition supplements
for working out and he met a girl he is
dating. And he said “dude she is really good
looking and okay with me being really big.”

He uses the word “dude.”

He said, “one cookie, three positive things.”
He told me how the cookies work.

It’s not just him. Many people believe in
fortune cookies and other things like lucky
charms.

Here is the important lesson on bipolar disorder.

There are many old books and now new ones
that are saying these days, you can bring
into existence what you think about and focus
on.

Now I don’t want to get way out in outer space
on you but I think it’s true.

I think this is what is happening to my friend.
He reads something positive. Then he expects something
positive. Then something positive happens to
him. It becomes like a self fulfilling prophecy.

The cookie because the thing that causes him
to start thinking positive. I would hate to see
if the cookies had negative messages because I think
if he saw a negative message, bad things would happen
because he would expect them to happen.

Now let’s translate this into bipolar disorder.
Let’s look at success people with bipolar disorder:

-They expect good things to happen

-They expect themselves to have good and bad days
but the expect everything will be okay in the end

-They expect that they can manage bipolar disorder
and be a success

Let’s look at success bipolar supporters:

-They expect good things to happen with their loved one

-They expect their loved one to have good and bad days
but have 100% confidence that the systems they setup
will be able to handle everything

-They expect that their loved one can handle bipolar
disorder and handle it well. They have confidence
that bipolar disorder can be managed successful.

In my courses and systems below, I talk about
all the key expectations from those who
are successful.

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 let’s look at those that fail
who are supporters and survivors

The unsuccessful bipolar survivors
expect:

-They expect bipolar disorder to be a nightmare

-They expect to struggle for years

-They expect people to not understand them

-They expect people to discriminate against them

-They expect that they can’t be successful

-They expect that bipolar disorder will ruin the
rest of their lives

-They expect they will never ever find the right
medication because “they tried all combinations.”

The unsuccessful bipolar supporters are negative as
well:

-They expect their loved one to always be unstable

-They expect that their loved one can’t be successful

-They expect their loved one will struggle all the time

-They expect that bipolar disorder can’t be beat or
managed

-They expect they will never find a system to help
their loved one.

-They expect that things will stay the same forever

I believe that expectations play a major role in how
a person with bipolar disorder does or a bipolar
supporter.

The negative people get negative results. The positive
people get positive results.

I have seen this time and time again. I know people
with some of the worst combinations of disorders you
can think of. People with 5 or 8 diagnosis’s
and they do super well. But they expect they will.

Let me say something. Well first let me remind
everyone that I am NOT a doctor, lawyer, therapist
and NOT offering medical, legal or professional
advice.

Actually as a side note, someone asked me if
I cut hedges for a living. I do consulting
for HEDGE FUNDS (investment companies) but
I don’t cut Hedges 🙂 LOL

Okay, back to what I was saying.

I really think that even the best medication,
the best doctor, the best therapist in the world
can’t overcome a bipolar survivor and bipolar supporter
that believe they are doomed forever because of
bipolar disorder.

I know people who have a ton going for them (they
have a great doctor, therapist, lots of money,
family support, etc)
and they expect they will do poorly.

I know people who have everything going against
them (no friends, family support, money, house,
etc.) and they do well.

Both people get what they expect.

Remember the story of the fortune cookie when
you are “going negative.” Remember you get
what you expect.

One last thing. If you know people who go
to fortune tellers. The same thing happens.
I am not saying whether I agree or disagree
with this service, if you can call it a service,
but I have friends that go and feel totally
empowered when a fortune teller says good
things are going to come to them soon.

It’s amazing to me. Actually many people
who work for me with bipolar disorder or another
mental illness tell me I was the first person
to say they are smart, great, creative and a
huge asset to any organization and capable of
amazing and great things.

The reasons why I say these things is because
I believe them. Time and time again, when I have
had the most difficult problems, the ones no one
can solve, things that are complex, it’s always
someone who works for me with a mental illness
that solves it.

I really believe that people with a mental illness
are everything I just said. As a result, I wind up
getting what I expect in my own company.

Hey I just looked at the clock and I have to
go because I have interviews to do, I have to
go the library, map some stuff out, eat, etc.

Catch you tomorrow. If you have stories
about this concept post them on my bipolar
blog.

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

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going?

I can’t believe that there’s like 5 inches of snow
where I live.

Anyway, I hope you are doing well. I have some
good news.

I have been working on a new FREE Guide titled:

“The 10 Deadly Mistakes People Make Helping and
Supporting Someone With Bipolar Disorder.”

Today is the first day that I will start distributing
it all over the world.

You can get your copy right away by visiting:

http://www.bipolarcentral.com/freereportletter/

I hope you like it. My goal was to help people
who are bipolar supporters avoid the major mistakes.
I find that for the most part, if you can just avoid
the major mistakes success is likely to follow.

In the case with our family, over the years,
my dad, my grandmother and myself made each of
these 10 mistakes over and over and over again.

Well download my report and review it.
Then forward and/or give it away to at least
7 people you know who could use it.

Most people don’t realize this but there
are about 10 million adults in the us with
bipolar disorder but there are more than 20
million closes friends/family members of
those people.

So ultimately there are more bipolar supporters
than bipolar survivors. This is why this
report focuses on supporters for now.

I am actually doing radio, magazine and newspaper
interviews as well talking about this guide
and why I am giving it away.

If you are a journalist and would like to do
an interview, or know any journalists, please
email me at:
feedbacktodave@mentalhealthworld.net

Well I have to take off and deal with the
snow. Have a great day and see you tomorrow.

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

==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/catalog.asp

Hi,

How’s it going?

I can’t believe it’s snowing where
I live. Seems to early.

Anyway, yesterday I wrote a daily bipolar
email about not looking back at a negative
past and moving forward to look into the
future.

Someone wrote me the following:

“Dave, I hear what you are saying.
But there’s so many negative things
that have happen to use since
bipolar disorder started. It’s almost
impossible to keep looking back.”
-Mat

Hey Mat, I know what you are saying.
Like I said yesterday, there’s a lot of
negative things with bipolar disorder.

BUT, you still to look to the future
and not just focus on the past bad
things.

I have a very simple strategy for everyone
to help with this.

Right now, go get a pen and
paper.

Make a list of all the good things that
have happen with your loved one with
bipolar disorder

Get together all pictures that show
happy times

Get together any video footage of good
times.

When things go badly you must review this list
and also separate the bipolar like we talked
about last week (If you missed that email,
see my blog below).

The bottom line is you want to:

FOCUS ON THE GOOD THINGS.

Remember the good times. When you do this,
it will help you overcome your negative hopeless
feelings and provide “fuel” to move forward.

By focusing on the good it will give you the
strength to keep on helping your loved one
and not abandon them.

By focusing on the good it will help you
to withstand the verbal abuse you may
be experiencing

By focusing on the good it will help
you to forgive all that was done that
was bad and many cases really bad.

In my bipolar courses and systems, I talk at length
about how I suffered immensely from bipolar
disorder but I always focused on the good
things with my mom and not the bad.

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

Other people wind up focusing on the
bad and that’s how they become super
angry.

I find that by making a list of the good
things that happen with your loved one,
not only does it help you get through the
tough times but it also helps you remember
that bipolar disorder is not your loved one.

Remember the thing that you are angry at is
bipolar disorder NOT your loved one. I know that
sounds crazy so to speak and I will probably
get a whole lot of emails from people saying
that I am confusing bipolar disorder with
other disorders like dissociative identity
disorder. I am NOT.

This is just a technique to help you overcome
a very difficult time. Try thinking of your loved
one’s bipolar disorder completely separate from
him/her and you will see how much easier your
life becomes.

Also, review your “list of the good” regularly
and you will find yourself being a much better
supporter.

Well I have to run.

Don’t let bipolar disorder beat you.

If you have tried this technique, please
write us all a story in my blog below

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