Bipolar Supporter Blog

PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Hi,

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/bipolarnews345

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

Here are some of the headlines:

CU professor to pioneer new bipolar disorder study
DO> It’s about time 🙂

Body clock signals bipolar relapse
DO> Great article! Must read.

Bipolar diagnoses in kids gain attention
DO> Interesting view.

Misdiagnosed? Bipolar diagnoses up; experts question it
DO> Take a look at what these people have to say

Professor tells her bipolar story to help others find hope
DO> Incredible must read story.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews345

==>> 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?utm_source=aweber&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bipolarnews&utm_term=09282007

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,

What’s new? It’s almost the weekend. Ready
for it?

I have a million things to do today so I
have to take off kind of fast today. But
there was an important topic related
to bipolar disorder I wanted to discuss.

I got this email from a woman, and I
want to share it with you because I have
something important to say about it:

“Dear Dave:

I am a really strong Christian, but I am about
to give up on my husband. I thought I had
enough faith to get us through his bipolar
episodes, but I guess I just don’t. He gets so
depressed, and then he talks about suicide,
and I just don’t know whether to take him
seriously or not, and all I want to do is leave
him but then I feel guilty just for wanting to
do that.

I’m just so tired! I thought he would
be the one to take care of me, but now here I
am taking care of him. I read in your emails
that things would get better if I just didn’t
give up on him, but I’m still waiting for things
to get better.

It’s been a whole month, and I
haven’t seen any change – he just mopes
around the house all the time. Do you think
it’s because I’ve lost my faith? Do you think
this is my fault?
———————————————–

First of all, let me say that ALL references
to suicide should be taken seriously. Call
your doctor, hospital right away. Do NOT
underestimate when someone talks about
suicide.

I get lots of emails from Christians who say
a lot of the same things – bipolar supporters who are
worried that it’s their fault that their loved one
is not getting better as fast as they think they
should be.

But let me tell you one thing for
sure – your faith does not have ANYTHING
to do with how fast or slow your loved one
recovers from bipolar disorder!

Now, this lady’s email does NOT say anything
about her spouse’s treatment – is he on
medication? Is he going to see a psychiatrist?
Is he seeing a therapist on a weekly basis? Is
he in a bipolar support group? What is HE
doing to help himself get better?

Being a supporter and being a Christian
doesn’t mean you be the one to shoulder ALL
the responsibility for your loved one’s bipolar
disorder yourself. Especially if they aren’t
even trying. It’s not your fault if they won’t
help themselves.

If that is the case here, then no wonder this
poor woman is so tired! Yes, it’s a good thing
to have faith. And yes, you can have bipolar
disorder and still have faith. In fact, being a
Christian and having bipolar disorder are not
mutually exclusive – you can have/be both!
It doesn’t mean there is something wrong with
your faith, or that you don’t have enough of it.

But remember – your loved one’s bipolar
disorder is not YOUR responsibility. It is
THEIRS. You can love them, you can help
them, you can even pray for them. But you
can NOT do their work for them.

In my courses and systems these concepts are
talked about especially in the interviews
that I do.

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

In my courses I warn people against becoming
codependent – to the point where the
bipolar disorder takes over their whole lives.
Or to the point where they don’t make their
loved one take responsibility for their
own disorder.

Several people in my courses/systems do also talk
about spirituality, and that spirituality/praying
can help to keep a person’s stress level down,
and that is a good thing. So I would not say anything
bad about a person’s faith. Unless that
faith is causing them to use that as an
excuse for their loved one.

This lady is right, I do tell people that things
will get better if you hang in there with your
loved one. But that is when you are BOTH
working toward the same goal – when your
loved one is taking their medication, going
to see a therapist and psychiatrist, etc. These
things don’t have anything to do with faith.

These are things that everyone who has
bipolar disorder should do to get better. In
this case, faith is just icing on the cake!

Well, I have to get going. Have a great day!

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

Hey,

What’s going on? How was your weekend?
I didn’t do much. Kind of boring.

I also had to work a whole lot with Andrea
on a lot of web stuff.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you this amazing
story which illustrates and important
lesson for someone with bipolar disorder.

THIS IS A MAJOR BIPOLAR LESSON.

Read this carefully. If you or your
loved one are struggling with bipolar disorder,
I seriously think you’ll find the reason here.

Okay, so there is this kid that I know. He’s
actually not a kid really he is mid 20s. Maybe
that is a kid?

Anyway, I met him about 6 years ago. 6
years ago, he revealed to my friend and myself
that he had never gone on a date. He had never
ever really spoken to a girl.

Years passed by and he still hadn’t. People
use to make fun of him and someone even called
him a “walking disaster.” Some called him
the “the face of Iraq.” I have no idea why
people called him that. I think because they
thought he represented disaster or failure.

I know that’s mean but hey in some of the gyms
I belong to, the people who are 30 and 40 act
like they are in grade school :).

Anyway, my one friend felt really bad for him.
He tried hard to help him. He gave him pointers
on how to ask a woman out, he found people in
the gym for him to go out with. He kind of
brokered dates for him.

I remember this one time, my friend introduced
him to a girl. To make a long story short, he
was suppose to go to I think TGI Fridays (if
you are out of the US, this is like a restaurant
chain that serves like American Food).

Anyway, the guy went, and guess what? The girl
never showed up. He waited hours. Not only did
she not show up but she never came back to the
gym.

I was amazed. I couldn’t figure out what was
wrong with this kid. I wondered was he cursed.
So this meant at one point he had never gone
out on a date and he was already older
than 22 years old.

So then this new gym opened up. I told him
he had to go because he needed a fresh start.
I told him there would be more possibilities
for him.

After he complained, I dragged him kicking
and screaming so to speak.

HERE’S THE AMAZING THING and the big bipolar
lesson is coming….

He went into this new gym that was in a different
location and he met a girl. Guess what?

Take a guess and then scroll

Don’t cheat. Guess than scroll….

She liked him. She told him he was good
looking and a cool guy. Then other girls started
to say the same thing. Over a few months, he developed
confidence and he went out on dates, and had a girl
friend.

I saw him the other day. He actually walked right
up and asked a girl for her number. I was amazed. I told
him how proud I was of him. Then I looked hard at him
and said, “What do you think the difference was?”

He said, “Dude I don’t know?” I told him I knew.

Here’s the deal. In the old gym he thought of
himself as a loser. He would say, “no one likes
me. I am a loser.” Then it became a self fulfilling
prophecy. That meant, he thought he was a loser
and no one would like him and he was ugly and
that’s what he got.

In the new gym, someone thought he was good
looking and cool so he started to believe he
was. Then since he thought he was, other people
thought he was. Make sense?

You may be thinking, “Dave what the heck does
this have to do with bipolar disorder?”

Good question and I am about to tell you.

NOTE-
I am NOT a doctor, therapist, insurance agent,
lawyer and I am NOT giving professional advice.
These are only my opinions.

Oh and I don’t work in the circus? Someone
wrote me and asked, “I think I saw you in the
circus…I saw a guy named David Oliver?” Odd.

Okay. Here’s the deal. With many people with bipolar
disorder, they think about themselves in the
following ways:

-I can never get stable
-I am disabled
-I can never be successful
-Bipolar disorder is the worst disorder and my life
is ruined.
-People will hate me because I have bipolar disorder
-Medication doesn’t work
-Doctors are bad greedy people
-There is no doctor in the world that can help me
-Medications have tons and tons of side effects
=I am doomed to failure

This is some of the “self talk” that some people
with bipolar disorder say to themselves. As a result
they get what they say so to speak.

These people really struggle. I noticed that
people with bipolar disorder do well when they think
like this:

-I accept I have bipolar disorder
-I can manage it
-I will manage it
-I will beat it
-I will have a great life
-I have some limitations but I can do a lot of things
-I can be successful
-People will respect and love me despite having bipolar disorder

See this type of self talk and how it’s different?

The kid I was telling you about in gym #1 had horrible
self talk. In gym #2, he had much better self talk.

I was talking about him to my friend Margaret and
she was saying how she was happy that he finally could
have a girl friend. She said to me, “It all started
with him and his head.” She meant that he didn’t
look any different but he was getting different results
as a result of his new thinking.

In my courses/system, almost everyone that I interview
indicates the importance of attitude and self talk
when it comes to bipolar disorder.

If you haven’t gotten my material, take a look:

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

Interesting huh? If you know any really
successful people with bipolar disorder,
ask them questions and you will see how
they think. I guarantee it’s much different
than people who are struggling.

I have to take off. Catcha 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,

What’s new?

I wanted to say that for those that
were wondering I didn’t post yesterday’s
message to my bipolar blog, it’s
because it’s broken.

There is some kind of technical problem
with new posts. Hopefully it will be
fixed today.

With that said, let’s jump into today’s
email.

I got this email from someone the other day.
It’s really sad.

Here it is:

“Hi, Dave. I wanted to write you today
because I am soooo depressed. I don’t
have bi-polar disorder my wife does. But
all these months of dealing with her
has made me really depressed. I find it
hard to get up in the morning. I don’t
work out. I feel like there is no
hope. I feel like giving up. Nothing
makes me happy. Maybe I caught this
from my wife. I just don’t know
what to do. I really feel like a
weak person. You handled so much
more than me for so much longer.
I doubt you will read this.”
-Dan

=======================

Hey Dan,

I have several comments for you. And
I know others can benefit as well.

First don’t feel bad if you are
feeling depressed. Bipolar disorder
IS depressing.

Many supporters wind up getting
depressed. I know several that
are on anti depressants and also
attending therapy sessions.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

I notice that there are many bipolar
supporters all over the world that
are silently suffering because
they are trying so hard to help
their loved ones but nothing
seems to go right.

They find the more they try, the
more nothing happens. As a result
a form of what I call “Bipolar
Supporter Depression” sets in.

In addition to this, Bipolar
Supporter Anxiety can start as
well.

I know MANY people that have
anxiety as a result of supporting
someone with bipolar disorder.

For those reading this that have
bipolar disorder, I think it’s important
for you to realize that many times
the people who are around you,
your supporters can get depressed
themselves and start to feel
bad.

Based on what my mom has told me,
and many people who work for me
with bipolar disorder, they have
said, that many times when you
have bipolar disorder, you think
about how much you are suffering
and you forget that others
around you could be suffering as
well.

My mom and the people who work for
me said after a lot of thinking,
they realize how bipolar affects
the people around them.

Now back to Dan’s comments. Dan,
I really didn’t expereince Bipolar
Supporter Depression. I expereince
what I would call Bipolar Supporter
Anger.

So I didn’t really get depressed,
my mom’s bipolar disorder made me
mad instead. I was mad, that it
was such a pain to deal with, I had
to take a year off from work, I lost
a ton of money, I was getting screamed
at all the time, I had tremendous
pressure every second of the day, I was
losing sleep, I couldn’t hang out with
my friends, etc.

That’s just a short list :).

BUT, even if I didn’t have depression
that doesn’t mean that I am tougher than
you. It just means that I dealt with it
differently than you did. Many times
anger is worse than depression.

Anyway, here is what I think that you
should do if you are feeling anxiety,
depression or anger from supporting someone
with bipolar disorder.

You have to start to look for solutions
and get back to basics. The biggest problem
with someone who is not doing well with
bipolar disorder is lack of proper
treatment.

So you need to start to focus all efforts
into things like:

How do I get my loved one into treatment
How do I find a great doctor
How do I help the doctor get a diagnosis or
create the best treatment plan
How do I find a therapist
How do I help the therapist treat my loved one

You may read this and think, “Dave that’s
easy for you to say, of course I know
that stuff is important.”

The reason why I write this, is because many
times bipolar disorder causes us supporters
to get so off track we start to forget
the main objectives or what can help.

With Dan, I am betting this is the case
with him. Meaning Dan is depressed
because his loved one isn’t getting results.
Lack of progess or results with his loved
one is a function of lack of treatment
or treatment that isn’t working.

So if Dan starts to really focus and
set a goal of getting his loved one into
good treatment, good things will start
to happen.

That might sound strange to you, but
that’s what happen to many people who
are supporting someone with bipolar diosrder.

At first they were really reactive just
letting the disorder run the show so
to speak. Then eventually a swithch
happens and they decide things like
this:

-I am not longer going to let my loved
one’s bipolar disorder rule me
-I have to get my loved one into
proper treatment
-I have to find a good doctor and help
him/her help my loved one
-I have to find a good therapist who
can help my loved one
-I can do it because many other people
have done it as well.

NOTE-I have spoken to several people
that have read my story and concluded
that if I could do it, then they could
too. What they meant if that after reading
my story many conclude that my situation
was an absolute disaster. EVERYTHING was
going against me. So much so, my brother
wanted to permanently instituationalize
my mom (which you really couldn’t do
but he thought was the only solution).

After changing my mindset, and starting
a new course of action, eventually I turned
it all around.

You should read my story, and realize if
I can do it, YOU can too. And it’s not
just me, there are now tens of thousands
of people that I have helped so my concepts
work. It can be done. Your loved one can
get better. You the supporter can have
a better life.

In many cases, the soltutons to
lots of the problems that you have
whether you have bipolar disroder or you
are supporting a loved one
with it, are contained in my
main 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

BUT, I want you to realize one thing,
it does take time. It’s going to take
time to help your loved one with bipolar
disorder. There will be ups and there
will be downs. There will be some days
when you slip into depression. There
will be days you slip into anger.
There will be days that you feel anxious
and worried beyond descxription.

If they days come, just go back and reread
my story and realize that if I can do it,
you can too. I am going to also start
posting more success stories online so
when you are down, you can read them
and realize YOU can do it. You can
help your loved one.

Well I have to run. I really hope
my blog gets fixed so I can keep
posting new messages.

As for now, you can’t post
responses to this message.

Anyway, have a great day.

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,

I hope you’re doing ok today.

I got this disturbing email, but it’s really a
good description of mania, so I wanted to share
it with you.

Dear Dave,

I hate bipolar disorder. I hate having it so
much, because it practically ruins my life
every time I have a manic episode. It makes
me so out of control, and I don’t even know
what I’m doing, and what’s the worst is that
I hurt the people I love the most, because I
do and say stuff I normally wouldn’t do,
and then I don’t even remember it later!

And I hate that, because then they’re all mad
at me, or really hurt, and I don’t even know
what I’ve done, and then I feel really guilty
about it. And there’s no way I can make it
up to them.

I hate how I am in a manic episode, but I
can’t help it! I get really racy, like I can’t
sit down, and I’m, like, all over the place.
Everything feels like it’s going real fast.

I talk a lot, and I talk real fast. And I
always feel like I’ve got so much to say,
and that what I’ve got to say is so
important! And I’ve always got these great
ideas, and so many of them, and they come
so fast I can hardly keep up with them.

But when I’m normal, none of them are good at
all. When I’m manic, the plans I start just
never get completed at all, cuz they were no
good to begin with.

I hate feeling like I’m crazy, I really do, but
I do feel like that. That out of control
feeling. That’s what mania is like. Like
you’re crazy, out of control. And you do
things, like I said, you do all these great
(grandiose) plans, and sometimes they
might hurt other people, and you don’t
even realize it.

Like spending money. Like your family’s
money. A lot of it. Or the credit cards,
running up a lot of credit. But you don’t
think about the bills you (they) have to
pay later. And that hurts them, or makes
them mad at you.

I wish I could say it’s not my fault. I
wish I could say it’s the bipolar’s fault.
But I’m the one who has the disorder,
and I’m the one who feels guilty for
what I do when I’m in an episode.

And the worst part is, I don’t even
remember doing any of it!

—————-

This is a very accurate description of
what having bipolar mania is like based
on what I have learned through the people
who work for me, volunteering, and
lots of interviews.

It’s hard from a supporter’s point of view to
believe that the things that our loved ones
do are not their fault, or that they really
don’t remember what they did.

Sometimes we even believe they’re
faking it, that they really do remember
what they did, or they’re just using the
disorder as an excuse for unacceptable
behavior.

In my courses and systems:

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11

SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net

I talk about how to cope and deal when you
loved one has mania.

There are many things that you have to
do to be fully prepared if a manic
episode strikes.

And you can’t just sit and do nothing.

That’s because we’re the ones who are
there when they do it, or we’re the ones
who get the credit card bills. But maybe
you can see now, from an insider’s view,
that it hurts them just as much. And that
they are not faking it.

Well, I have to go.

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,

What’s new?

Last night I went to a restaurant and I
don’t think the food agreed with me. My
stomach hurt all night long.

I really have a lot of stomach problems. There
are tons of things that I can’t eat. I have
systematically tried to figure out what
was bad for me and what isn’t. My mom has
done the same thing.

My mom is 100% sure that certain foods
make her bipolar disorder worse. She has
figured out over the last years which ones
those are. You should do the same if you
have bipolar disorder.

Okay let me get moving on today’s topic.

I have to take off kind of early
this morning so I have to make this quick.
I wanted to write you today about a simple
concept called anticipation.

It’s a concept that many people simply don’t
seem to get with bipolar disorder but it’s
so important.

When you are coping and dealing with bipolar
disorder whether you have it or you are
supporting someone with it, you must
use this concept all the time

You really have to anticipate things that
can go wrong and have a plan when and/if
this happens.

So many people never do this. I am
not sure why.

One of the biggest things both bipolar
supporters and those with bipolar disorder
fail to anticipate is the fact that
bipolar disorder is something that can be
managed but it takes constant monitoring
in order for it to be managed.

Some thing that bipolar disorder can be
cured which is can NOT be. Some think
that after a person is stable, everything
that was done that created stability can
be stopped but this is not true.

Some think that there won’t be good and
bad days and the goal is to have more good
days then bad days.

I notice with my mom now, she anticipates
potential problems and things that could
go wrong and she makes plans to reduce
or counter this.

This is the same with many people that work
for me as well. They do the same thing. The ones
that have bipolar disorder or another disorder.

The people I know who don’t do well, don’t
do this at all.

In my courses/systems, I try to provide you
will many things that can happen with bipolar
disorder and how to prevent or correct them.

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

At first when you are trying to anticipate all
that can happen, you will most likely be frustrated.
You will feel overwhelmed. Eventually anticipation
is like a skill that you build. Over time,
you start to quickly figure out what can happen
and have a plan to prevent it or a plan to
handle it if it were to happen.

When it comes to bipolar disorder, I have
never seen so many people with virtually
no plans at all. It’s amazing to me. My dad
AND mom did this for years and years. I think
it’s because no one ever sat my mom and dad
down and said how seriously bipolar disorder
is.

I remember as a kid how random sometimes out
house was. Meaning lots of times, my entire
existence was a function of whatever kind of
bipolar disorder episode if any my mom was
having. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it
was okay. Sometimes it was a total disaster.

One last hint. When the seasons change,
a bipolar episode can creep in. Guess what?
The seasons are changing. So I an anticipate
a potential mini episode AND so does my
mom. We have a plan what to do if signs
show for one.

Also, based on historical data so to speak
with my mom, her major episodes start right after
Christmas. Guess what’s coming? Christmas?
Also, it’s during this period what I call
Doomsday scenarios occur. I am not going to
really talk about that until later on.

Anyway, do some thinking. If you can, get
my courses and material so you can find out
what could happen and also what to do
about it. Then start making plans on paper.

Well I have to go.

Well I have to take off, I will 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 really have a
number of problems that I am currently
dealing with as this organization grows
and grows fast. That’s’ why I am actually
writing you about bipolar disorder
at 5:17am on a Saturday morning.

I wanted to write you about something
that I was thinking about yesterday
when I was food shopping.

So yesterday I went to good old A & P.
A & P is a company that sells food. They
use to be huge back in the day but through
lots of bad decisions and mismanagement they
aren’t that big any more.

Anyway I went in to A & P to get my weekly
food really quick. I only have 23 minutes so
I seriously had to make it fast.

I went up and down the aisles and found
what I needed right away. As I was
walking by, I was thinking to myself,
“Food places are so big and it’s so
amazing how much junk they sell…
And the junk looks sooooooooo good.”

I won’t even look at the gym, I kind of
turn my head because they are so good
at packaging junk, they actually make
it looks like health food.

DON’T WORRY THERE’S A BIPOLAR LESSON COMING

Please keep reading…

So going food shopping may be thinking
of going to my friends house the other
day and these two events made me
think of this incredible bipolar
disorder lesson you must know
or else.

The other day I went over a friends
house. It was the strangest thing.

Okay so I went inside and was going to
get something to drink…I always drink
water.

I couldn’t find any. I thought almost
everyone has water in the house.

Not my friend.

I thought he was out. So I went to get
some tap water. If you are out of the US
tap water is the water that comes out
of your sink.

So I had some of that. Then I went to
look for something to eat and it was
amazing what I saw.

Try to guess what I saw and then
scroll down for the answer…

Guess then scroll….

Tons and tons and tons and tons and tons and tons
of junk food.

It was amazing. I have never seen so many colors
of food in a closet and cabinets. I seriously
thought my friend worked as like a sales rep
for a junk food company. I was so shocked
I didn’t know what to say.

He said, “Dude, what’s up?” I said, “man you
have a lot of junk food.” He said “well
it’s not all junk food and I really don’t
eat it dude. I just have it.”

I was like “yea right. you keep it for
decoration right?”

Then a bunch of thoughts came to my head
about bipolar disorder and something
that’s so important.

Before I tell them to you, I want to tell
you a few things about my friend.

First he has gained a lot of weight
since college. He keeps on gaining
weight monthly it seems. He claims
that he is losing weight but he is not.

He really does eat a lot of junk food
and doesn’t eat healthy.

The problem is, his environment has
bad food in it so he is so likely to
eat poorly. He needs to get rid of the
junk food because if he did, it would
increase his chances of eating right.

Now when you are talking about bipolar
disorder, many people have so many things
inside their home that are bad for
bipolar disorder or temptations. Let’s
talk about a few.

1. Alcohol. If you are dealing with
bipolar disorder or are a supporter you
should not have alcohol in the house.
There is no reason.

2. Guns. I don’t think you should have
these either. I have heard so many stories
of a person going into a depression or manic
episode and grabbing a gun and killing themselves.
Take a look at the old bipolar news and you’ll
see story after story.

3. Illegal Drugs. I don’t even have to explain this
one. Get rid of them.

4. Weird knives and dangerous things. Some people
have lots of killing instruments for show or
something in their place. Like guns, these invite
problems with depressive and manic episodes.

These are my top 4 things you should get rid
of in your house if you are coping and dealing
with bipolar disorder.

You know I use to be 282 pounds when I played
football. After my last season I didn’t want
to be a big giant whale of a former lineman
like so many of my friends so I decided to
get down to 220.

One of the secrets that I learned was to
take out temptation from where I was living.
Today I don’t have temptation. That’s what I
call junk food. I also only have water in my
place and one or two bottles of soda for
friends that wine and complain they hate
water.

I have no other junk food.

BUT, I did violate my own philosophy the
other week. I bought a box of wheat thins
and some crackers. I don’t know why. I just
did. I figured that I could handle it if
they were in my place and that I could control
myself. Well I didn’t and wound up eating it
all really quick.

Shame on me. There is no question if I have
junk food in my house I am more likely to eat
it. If it’s not there, I won’t.

With bipolar disorder, if you have 1 or more of
the 4 things I talked about, trouble is likely
to come soon.

In my courses/systems, one thing that I discovered
when interviewing lots of people featured
was how they “took control of their environment”
by getting rid of things that could create problems
for bipolar disorder.

Actually this is where I got these ideas from.
Person after person that I interviewed warned
of drugs, alcohol, guns and sharp objects
so to speak.

There is one interview that’s in all my courses
with an older person who is a major success and
is really good at teaching how to become high
functioning with bipolar disorder that used a gun
to shoot himself when he wasn’t stable.

He is grateful he is alive but said to me,
there was no reason to have a gun in his place
and if he didn’t have it, he would greatly
reduce the chances of something bad happening
again even though he is stable now.

If you got my courses, I am sure you remember
his story. If you are interested it’s in
the bipolar supporter course for adults and
bipolar success course.

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

Right now, think about your environment
and is it good for bipolar disorder? If
not, make some changes.

Well I have to run. Have a great day and talk
to you soon.

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,

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/bipolarnews344

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

NOTE-Several of the headlines titles are really weak. I was
thinking that if I turned these in high school I would
get a D. BUT, the content is great so don’t avoid
reading the news because the headlines are really boring.

Here are some of the headlines:

Cardiovascular Disease and Metabolic Risk Factors in Male Patients
DO> Shocking information on the relation between diabetes and cardio
disease and bipolar disorder. My mom found this out the hard way.
Take a look.

Depressing outcomes with bipolar disorder
DO> Great talk on why there are so many kids being diagnosed
with bipolar disorder.

What the Kiwi gossip mags say
DO> This is a really good story to point out what happens
when you are not stable and have bipolar disoder. This
person made a total fool of himself for some time. Now
he has changed.

Professor tells her bipolar story to help others find hope
DO> Great article you must read.

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews344

==>> 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

Hey,

What’s new? Hope things are going well
for you today.

I received an email from someone
that said:

“Hey David, I have a quick question.
I don’t want to offend you but how
much of what you say about bipolar
disorder has been researched and
studied? Are there any studies
backing up suggestions you have
like the importance of sleep
and bipolar disorder?”
–Jerry

First let me remind everyone that
I am NOT a doctor, therapist, insurance
person, lawyer, or other kind of professional.
These are my opinions that I am giving.

I wanted to say something and I am NOT
saying this to brag.

As you know, my mom has bipolar disorder,
I have more than 100,000 people on my list.
I have between the #2 and #8 site in
the world for bipolar in google (ahead
of dozens of drug companies and sites like
webmd),

I have 8 people who work for me with bipolar
disorder, I been volunteering helping people
with bipolar disorder and supporters,
for more than 2.5 years, and the #1 most
read blog on bipolar disorder, I have lots
of audio and writing material for helping
people with bipolar disorder and supporters.

Again I am NOT saying this to brag but
to prove a really important point that
I am going to tell you. Again, I didn’t
write that list to brag.

PLEASE READ ON.

When I first got started. I did a ton
of research. I bought ever book. Most
weren’t any good. Then I interviewed
doctors, therapists, and tons and tons
of people with bipolar disorder.

I took lots of notes. I read and analyzed
my notes trying to make a plan or system
that could help my mom.

You know what? At the time, I was
too dumb to know how complex bipolar
disorder was. I assumed that I could
easily figure it out.

Actually this “dumb” almost naïve
little kid type thinking is what
enabled me to help my mom.

If I was thinking more intelligently,
I may have concluded that her
case was impossible.

Over time, I started to see how it all
would come together and what it would
take for her to be stable.

We had some ideas. We wound
up testing them and they worked.

I noticed that when I looked for studies
to back up so of my ideas and concepts
and almost in every case, didn’t find any.

Here is the surprising truth about
bipolar disorder. Much that goes along
with the management of bipolar disorder
is NOT studied. It’s really strange.

Early on, I figured medication is
super important but I knew there had
to be more. The studies do talk about
medication and it’s role in treatment
of bipolar disorder BUT I knew there
were other things as well.

My mom had taken medication almost
every year except the first 10 years
of being diagnosed.

But she still struggled. So I knew
there was more to it.

Then we started looking at stability
being more of an equation like
stability equaled medication +
therapy + sleep + stress reduction
etc.

It is interesting that in the last couple
of years of doing this, things that I
discovered or that someone told me they
knew worked for 10 years or longer are
now being announced as being important.

For example, recently in the news
they have been talking about how
psychotherapy helps with bipolar disorder.

Without a study, I knew that. How?
Well my mom stopped going to talk therapy
for a while after getting stable and
she got worse.

But today they are finally just announcing
it.

Some people on my list ask me if this
or that has been studied or confirmed to
help with bipolar disorder. I say to them
no it hasn’t because most things haven’t
been studied. And for whatever reason,
they don’t seem to be working too hard
on figuring out issues related to
mental health.

When I say they I mean like the drug companies,
governments, research people, etc.

It seems that more money and funding goes to
non mental health disorders. Just look around,
the biggest announcements rarely have anything
to do with mental health.

Announcements are usually bad news. Like
so and so killed so and so. Or so and so
did something really bad.

It’s never this studied concluded that
the introduction of calming music at night
for someone with bipolar disorder decreased
manic episodes by such and such percent.

Announcements are usually news is based on
something dumb like a new movie that
has a totally insane mentally ill person.

The important point here is, if you think something
will work for you or your loved one with bipolar
disorder, talk it over with your doctor and/or
therapist. Don’t wait years or even decades for
a study to come out.

Remember you can’t talk it over with me because
I am NOT a doctor or therapist. I really want
to keep on reminding people. I feel good
because many of the emails that I get all
start with, “I know you are not a doctor,
therapist or attorney but…” so that’s
good. Just want to be clear and not
misrepresent myself.

Anyway, with my mom, she runs any new idea or thing
she wants to try past her doctor and therapist
and they monitor.

One idea my mom had was to use calming music
to sleep better. Many people on my list
recommend this. I looked and there is no
study that talks about calming music and
bipolar disorder but for my mom, it’s worked
wonders.

Her doctor thought it was a great idea and
told her to try it. The results are great.

I hope you understand the point that I am
trying to make.

In my courses/systems, you’ll find that
many of the ideas, concepts and strategies
proven to work are the result of years
of struggle by both bipolar supporters
and those with bipolar disorder.

The reason I put together my material
was to help to reduce the time it takes
to figure it all out. These strategies
work but you won’t find each one backed
up by 57 different studies for the
reasons that I just talked about.

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 this email made sense to you.
Let me know your thoughts.

I have to take off. I just got a notice
saying there is a problem with one of my
websites.

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?

It’s Wednesday. Hope you are doing well.

It’s almost the weekend. What are you doing?
I think I am going to catch a movie.

Well, let me get moving along.

I want to talk about this concept that
I have today that’s a little confusing.
I am going to do my best to explain it
so it makes sense.

I saw a really sad post on my blog
that made me really feel bad that’s
going to illustrate this concept.

I am going to post it here so you can read it.

I want you to read this very carefully.

Here is the post:

“I have been dating someone for 14 months
who has Bipolar 2…he is always manic and
takes seroquel to help him….He also drinks
and quite a bit.

He is quite accomplised in life and owns
his own business.

Therefore he is able to pay an accountant to
handle all of his bills and finances so has no
issues there. He is almost 40 & has never been
married….Now I now why….

I am here to tell you first hand that Bi-Polar
disorder & Alcohol do not mix!!!!

We had six months of Bliss….I thought that
he was the Man of my dreams. Then I began to
see the Dr. Jekly & Mr. Hyde part about him….
He becomes so mean & NASTY towards me when
he drinks.

He says things that other people won’t ever
dare to say. He treats me awful….I never
get an apology.

He has screamed at me, thrown me out, even
once been physical. It is absolutely awful.
I am always on pins & needles wondering when
his switch will come on.

He always tells me that the episode is over
something that he isn’t happy with regarding
me, justifying his actions. I am logical and
know that it helps make him feel better, but
I am a wreck.

I have lost all self esteem, lost weight myself
and in counseling because of this man’s issues
with Bipolar disorder & Alcohol.
The two don’t mix.

This has been witnessed now by several friends
and Family members of his who are SHOCKED!!!!
They point out to me that this is VERBAL Abuse
and very wrong.

I have been on and off with him for the past
4 months every time there is an episode.

I am completely supportive of him and willing
to go to couseling but he feels that there
is no need.

ALCOHOL is bad when a person has Bi-Polar….i
t makes them do things which they otherwise
wouldn’t & turns them MEAN!!!!”

===================================

Here’s what I have to say, first,
I feel really bad for this person.

I get email after email that is like
this.

I believe the problem is the person
doesn’t have what I call a bipolar
supporter deal breaker.

I defined a bipolar supporter deal
breaker as something that is so bad
that someone with bipolar disorder
does that outweighs any redeeming
quality the individual may
have.

I think it’s super important to
setup bipolar supporter deal breakers
or wise in some cases, you can
get really abused by someone that
is not stable and has bipolar disorder.

Let me tell you one of mine. It has
to do with medication. If my mom were
to stop taking her bipolar medication I would
no longer be her supporter. Not taking
medication is a deal breaker for
me.

Some might think this is harsh but I
don’t. For example, let’s say
my mom’s doctor put her on the wrong
medication and she wind up doing something
like hitting me. NOTE-This hasn’t
happen but I am giving you can example.

If she was taking her medication as best as
she understood and followed what the doctor
said, I would still support her.

For others, violence is a deal breaker.
The first sign of violence and many
supporters will not be supporters
anymore because they have setup
violence as a bipolar supporter
deal breaker.

You see, I really never blame my mom
for something that is NOT within her
control. Taking medication is within
her control. If she takes medication
that was prescribed and let’s say
not prescribed right or it was a new
medication and she did something,
I would still be her supporter.

The woman above have a serious issue
with her boyfriend.

It seems as if she is willing to go
on forever because she has no bipolar
supporter deal breakers.

Now for those that have bipolar disorder
who maybe might think that I am really
harsh with this concept, I am not.

Bipolar disorder is the kind of disorder
that a person with it who is not stable
can get so out of control and they can
create so much destruction. You have
to setup deal breakers for protection
and to keep one’s own sanity.

In my courses/systems, most of the
bipolar supporters I speak to, have
deal breakers and feel they are key.

In my courses/systems for people with bipolar,
the people who are successful encourage
their supporters to have deal breakers
as well.

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

As one person with bipolar disorder put
it, “I never want to put my wife through
what I put her through years ago, I told
her if I got out of control or met certain
criteria she should leave, call the police
or have me put in a hospital…I never want
to hurt her.”

Some people like I said before don’t
have deal breakers. I think not having
deal breakers many times with bipolar
disorder allows the person to not get
well longer and longer. Why? Well
because they know they will always have
that bipolar supporter.

If you are constantly being abused
over and over again, it’s not healthy.

Another thing that I talk about in my
bipolar supporter course for adults
is when to call it quits. I have an entire
chapter on when you should stop being
someone’s supporter.

It’s not an easy thing and that’s why
I devote so much time to it in my
bipolar supporter master course at:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11

This is such a serious issue, I felt
compelled to write about it and use
someone else’s story that was posted
on my blog to encapsulate what I hear
from many bipolar supporters.

I would be interested in hearing people
respond to this entire concept I outlined
today.

I have to go now. Have a great day and
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