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

Hey,

How’s it going today? What a day I had
yesterday. I had so many people calling
and complaining about various things.

I never realized how hard it would be to
have a mental health organization that has a mailing
list of over 100,000 people.

Anyway, I have to get going really quick. I got
this email I wanted to share because it really
bothered me, but more important because it
might be really bothering you, since you might be
one of the many people who have written the same
thing to me.

This is the email I got:

“Dave, I hate my wife. I know that sounds
terrible but I am so sick and tired of her.
She is out of control. She destroyed my family.
She wrecked her finances. I hate her. But
I feel guilty hating her. I am misserable.”
-Stan
—————————————————–

You wouldn’t believe how many people write to
me saying the same thing. I’m a supporter too,
and you’ve heard my story, so you know I know
how this man feels. There were so many times I
wanted to walk away from my mom and just keep
walking because she just kept yelling at me and
she was so out of control.

There were more times than I can count that I
was that angry at my mom for destroying our
family.

I know how this man feels that he hates his wife.
I know it sounds harsh and terrible to some people
but I also know there are a lot of you who also
feel like you hate your loved one at the same time
as you feel guilty that you are supposed to love
them too.

Then you have to add guilt to the number of
other feelings you’re already feeling, and that’s
not good.

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 adding guilt and remorse on
top of your other feelings. It’s not your fault
that your loved one has done the things that
they’ve done, like let’s say trashing your finances
or saying mean things to other family
members or friends.

And it’s NORMAL for you to be feeling the’
way you are! So many other supporters are
feeling the very same way. Does that make
you a terrible person? No way!

But it does mean that you have to learn to
manage your feelings, and this is what I
teach in my courses.

There is no simple, one catch phrase answer
that I can give this man or to you on how to
manage your emotions. I can tell you that
it’s normal to feel your emotions, but I can’t
tell you that it would be right to ACT on
those negative emotions. That wouldn’t
help your situation at all.

One thing I do teach is how to turn negative
thoughts into positive ones. But YOU have
to be the one to do it. It takes effort on your
part. And you have to be willing to do it.

This man is very, very angry, and it seems
like he lost his patience with his wife a long
time ago. Many of you may be feeling the
same way.

The answer is to turn your anger away
from your loved one and turn it toward
your real enemy. Your real enemy is
NOT your loved one. It’s not even yourself.
It’s the bipolar disorder.

If your turn your anger toward the disorder
itself, then you can channel that anger into
doing something about it. In SPITE of the
disorder, you can decide you’re going to
BEAT it!

You can “fix” what your loved one has
broken in their episodes, like your finances.
It may take time, but you can do it. You
can do that with other things as well.

But the greatest way to get back at the
disorder is to make the decision to stand by
your loved one no matter how much you
fell like you hate them. To continue to be
their supporter no matter what.

One thing that might help is to remember
what they’re like when they’re NOT in an
episode.

If you have bipolar disorder, and you have
angry feelings you can do the same thing
and channel your feelings not towards
your loved one but to the disorder itself.
It sounds kind of strange but if you listen
to the success interviews in my courses/systems
that’s what many people do.

Well, I have to go. Hope this helps! 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

Hi,

Here is the current Bipolar Disorder news.

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

To see the news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews342

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:

Searching for new therapies for bipolar disorder

Facts about bipolar disorder

Rapid rise in bipolar diagnoses among youth

Shortage of talk therapy for bipolar

Researchers Turn to Surprising Remedies for Bipolar Disorder

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews342

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

==>>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 must say, this month
hasn’t really started off that good for
me. I’ve had a lot of problems advancing
my sites related to bipolar disorder and
other mental illnesses.

Someone called me the other day (know
I idea how he got my number) and said,
“Hey I wanted to know, is it hard to run
all your websites and a big mailing list?”

I told him yes.

Anyway, I am not here to complain because
I have a new set of solutions to the current
problems that I am having.

The good thing is, my mom is doing great and
I don’t have to worry about that right now.
She really has managing her bipolar disorder
down to a science.

I wanted to talk today about something I call
De-escalation.

Yesterday evening I was doing an interview
with a person by the name of Jackie. It was a
great interview. She is super knowledgeable
on how to help someone with bipolar disorder.

She works in an office that specializes in
this. It’s hard to find such a person. I am
not sure if people realize this, but whenever
you hear an interview or a success story
whether it’s a person with bipolar disorder,
supporting someone with bipolar disorder or
a person who is a doctor or therapist, it’s
the result of a whole lot of work.

To get just one good interview, we go through
many many people. Probably 25 or 30. To find
25 to 30 POTENTIAL interviews it requires contacting
hundreds of people. So you can see it’s a difficult
task.

Recently I hired Cherie to setup all kinds of systems
to help me make this more efficient. She has done
a fantastic job.

Anyway let me get on with my point. Sorry to digress 🙂

So I was on the phone with Jackie and we were talking
about the fact that in her office she can have people
who come in who have bipolar disorder, are super angry,
super manic, unhappy, screaming, yelling and blaming
it all on her.

I asked her how she deals with it and what kind of
techniques she uses. If you got my bipolar supporter
course at http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11 you know
there is a incredible interview with a woman who actually
leaves her office and goes out to people’s houses to
deal with people who have a mental illness and are
in serious and major episodes. Actually it was that
person who first taught me the concept of de-escalation.

Last evening Jackie mentioned it as well. What is
it? It’s the act of actually de-escalating a situation
with a person with a mental illness instead of
escalating it.

Let me give you some examples and if you have
bipolar disorder, you’ll appreciate this as well.

Let’s say that someone has bipolar disorder, you’re
loved one and he/she is not well. He/she is unstable
and needs a change in his/her treatment plan.

So they start yelling at you. For really no good
reason. The start blaming stuff on you. They even
make up things. So you have two choices. You can
either yell back at them (escalation), or lower
your voice, act calm, say very few words and
try to deescalate what’s occurring.

Many times, supporters wind up making conditions
worse by escalating the situation or what I call
feeding the mania. If you imagine the episode
is like a fire, you wouldn’t add more wood
or worse yet gas on to it. That’s what many
bipolar supporters find themselves doing.

If my courses/systems:

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

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

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

You’ll notice that in the interviews
de-escalation is a common theme. That word
really isn’t used but the concept is talked
about regularly. It doesn’t matter if you
have bipolar disorder, are supporting an adult
or 18 or a child under 18, this concept works.

Listen to the success stories in my courses above
and you’ll hear how it works for people.

Even with those with bipolar disorder use this concept.
If you talk to someone who is high functioning, they
have trained themselves on how to deescalate situations
and to in many cases avoid places that will get
themselves worked up or upset. That’s another common
theme.

I actually find that this concept of de-escalation
works in all areas of life. Give it a try
and see how it works for you. When people are
yelling, screaming, arguing, talk lower, calmer
and ask if they don’t yell at you in a nice way.
You’ll be amazed with the results.

Oh side note, Jackie mentioned to me that this
technique has worked even on people who really
are very unstable and very angry and not coherent.
When I asked her why she thinks it works, she really
didn’t know. Which leads me to something else. Sometimes
stuff works with bipolar disorder and we don’t know
why but it works.

Hey one more thing. As for children, one person
that I know will hug her child when he/she
starts to go into an episode instead of back
away. I have not used this method personally,
but just wanted to let you know if you are
supporting a child.

Hey I have to run. Catch you tomorrow. Oh tomorrow
I will be sending out the bipolar news.

See you.

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

Hey,

What’s going on? How are you. I hope you are doing
well.

Yesterday I saw a post on my bipolar disorder blog from
someone and it made me want to send out an email immediately.

Let me show you the post:

PTumminello said…
I have Bipolar.The side effects of the medication
scare me more than Bipolar does.So yes,I can see
someone not wanting to take them.
I still have good days and bad days, so what does
it matter?

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

I find this post rather disturbing. Sometimes I don’t
understand why people with bipolar disorder don’t
understand the ultimate side effect of NOT taking
medication is death.

Bipolar disorder is a SERIOUS deadly disorder that
if not treated properly can cause a person to actually
wind up killing him/herself. That’s exactly what
Michele Soloway’s sister did one day. She was doing fine.

Then she decided she didn’t need bipolar medications
anymore and started to spiral downward. At first she
started telling everyone how great she was feeling.
But everyone around her saw she was getting out of
control.

Eventually she bought a gun, sat in her bathtub
and shot herself. The sad part is, if she was on
medication Michele has told me, there is no
way she would have done this. Now Michele doesn’t
have a sister all because of one thing–her sister
stopped taking her medication.

Now if you have bipolar disorder, you may be worried
about various side effects from the medications. I am
here to tell you, there is a ton that can be done
with side effects with medications. If you work
with a good doctor, you will most likely be happy
with your results. Meaning the doctor can work
to reduce the side effects and create a situation
where the major ones are eliminated. You just
need to work with your doctor.

The very worst thing you can do is stop taking
medication. If you do, some say there is a 20
to 25% chance you will attempt suicide.

And for those who don’t kill themselves, some
can become homicidal and kill someone else.

And for those that don’t become homicidal,
people who have bipolar disorder not on medication
can do and say really bad things that can get them
into big trouble.

I can tell you after doing this for over two years
now, I have seen that the people who get off their
bipolar medications almost always do really bad
things. Period.

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

So many people talk about the negative consequences
of not taking medication. People with bipolar disorder.
Supporters of those with bipolar disorder all share
a common theme–if you get off your medication, it
puts you on a road filled with a nightmare.

Don’t let it happen to you. Stay on your medication.
If you are worried about side effects, find a good
doctor and work with him/her to help reduce them
but remember at the end of the day, the ultimate
bipolar disorder side effect is death.

Well I have to take off for the day. Talk to
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 kind of have to make
this really quick because I have a meeting
to be at in about 45 minutes.

Anyway, I saw this posted on my blog:

Pat said…
the need to a correct treatment plan.
Boy that sounds so simple!
What do you do with the person with the bi-polar
disorder who:
1. lacks insight about how their bi-polar is
affecting them and those around them?
2. Is non-compliant about taking medication?

Forgive me for seeming so negative.
I am a tired out mother of a 26 year old son
who is in the midst of an episode that swings
from mania to paranoia to depression. Who has
the problems listed above.
We have moved him out of our house to a nearby
city that has excellent mental health resourses,
now the question is will he avail himself of
these services.
We are all on a huge learning curve when it
comes to this bi-polar disorder.
Any tips?
Pat

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

This post was in reference to a daily
email that I sent in regards to many people
forget that they have to focus on getting a
loved one on the right treatment plan.

Anyway, many people wrote me back via email
and posted on my blog.

I wanted to address Pat’s question by
saying, there is no easy way to deal with
her two problems.

There is no way that I can just email out
a simple solution to a very complex problem.

In my bipolar supporter course, I must have
maybe 25 methods for getting someone into
treatment. There is no one magic method
that will work no everyone. To make
matters worse if you have someone who
doesn’t want to go into treatment and
you find a method to get them in, if
another episode comes, many times whatever
technique you used won’t work again.

It’s sad but true. It’s really annoy.

Anyway, I guess my advice to Pat is to
realize that it’s going to be difficult,
she is going to have to try a number of techniques,
and it’s going to take time for her son to
accept he needs treatment and needs to continue
to take his medications.

I have a bunch of courses/systems on dealing
with bipolar disorder, whether you are supporting
an adult, child or have the disorder yourself.

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 these courses/systems, when you listen to the
interviews, you hear bipolar supporters talk about
various techniques to get someone into treatment
or get someone to realize they have a mental
illness. On the flip side, when you listen to
the interviews of people with bipolar disorder
many talk about it took them several years to
come to terms with their bipolar disorder.

BUT, most people who do well had bipolar
supporters to help them through this period.
Meaning, it’s rare that someone was way off
track with bipolar disorder and got themselves
back on track without any support or help
from someone else.

Does that make sense? Meaning once people
with bipolar disorder aren’t stable it because
really difficult for them to make the right
decisions and it requires people like us–bipolar
supporters–to help get them back on track.

It’s all very confusing and unfortunately when
it comes to this aspect of the illness, there is
no one solution. There are lots of potential
solutions that have to be tried.

I wanted to write this because there are thousands
of people on my lists looking for that one
major solution but in my opinion there isn’t
one.

Hey I have to get ready for my meeting. 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 have something rather
interesting to tell you today about
bipolar disorder.

It all started yesterday when I went to
the movies to see Halloween.

You might not be familiar with Halloween
the movie but basically to make a long,
story short.

It’s about a killer named Michael Myers
who goes around killing people during Halloween.
He does it during Halloween because of something
bad that happen in his childhood.

Anyway, the movie first came out in 1978 or so.
There have been like 8 sequels or so since that
maybe 7 or maybe 9. Not sure.

Anyway they came out with a new movie that
was a “do over” of the first Halloween.

So my friend Rob bought the first Halloween
and we watched that and then went to see
the new one.

The new one was suppose to explain why
the main character Michael Myers is a
killer.

I don’t want to ruin it for you if
you are going but basically his
psychiatrist says that Michael has
internal mental functioning that has
a predisposition towards being a psychopath
or having anti social personality disorder,
combined with external events and
triggers that combine to make into a
cold blooded killer.

I think that means that he basically had
the genes of anti social personality disorder
and external events caused his disorder
to manifest itself.

During the movie they show Michael as a
young kid who is sent to a “sanitarium”
the old school name of a mental hospital.

In there, there is a psychiatrist assigned
to his case that simply performs what looks
like “talk therapy” on him for 15 years.

When he has to leave they give him tons
and tons of medication that make him unable
to function.

During the 15 years, Michael is deemed “treatment
resistant”–meaning there is no treatment
that appears to work on him.

Eventually he escapes the hospital and then
goes out on a killing spree.

Anyway, if you like horror movies it’s a good
one.

I am bringing this up today for a few reasons.
First, I had some friends ask if people with
bipolar disorder are like Michael Myers?

Again I am no doctor and can’t diagnose anyone
but based on my knowledge of mental illness,
Michael Myers, if he were a real person would
have anti social personality disorder which is
DIFFERENT from bipolar disorder.

Those with antisocial personality disorder have
characteristics like:

·failure to conform to social norms with
respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by
repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest

·deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying,
use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit
or pleasure

·impulsivity or failure to plan ahead

·irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated
by repeated physical fights or assaults

·reckless disregard for safety of self or others

·consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated
failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor
financial obligations

·lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent
to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or
stolen from another

When you hear of serial killers or mass murders these
individuals generally based on what I read have
anti social personality disorder.

With bipolar disorder, this is a disorder that can
be managed, there are treatments for and people
can go out an lead productive lives.

So I told my friend “no.”

If you are struggling with bipolar disorder or
have a loved one with bipolar disorder, always remember
there are lots of people who were NOT doing well
and eventually found their way and developed a system
to manage the disorder.

In my courses/systems:

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

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

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

You hear countless stories of people who
have been at the bottom and eventually made their
way back up to become productive and successful.

The other thing interesting in the movie is how
there was only one treatment–talk therapy. They
didn’t seem to try a combination of things. But
based on my understanding of antisocial personality
disorder, there aren’t too many things that can work.

Well I am off to go to the gym. 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

Hey,

What’s up? I have had a lot of people
ask me for suggestions as to how to
tell their boss they have bipolar disorder.

I recently wrote an article on the subject.

Here it is…

Oh before I get to that. Someone wrote me
yesterday: “I saw a David Oliver who worked
at the circus, was that you?”

I can tell you for sure, I don’t work at a
circus. And also, I am NOT a lawyer, doctor,
therapist, dog catcher, insurance agent,
spy for the drug industry (I get this a lot),
or any other kind of professional.

You should question everything that I say
and anything that I write is my opinion
not professional advice.

And if you go to the circus, I won’t
be there 🙂

Okay here’s the article:

Telling Your Employer You’ve Got
Bipolar Disorder?

Here Are Seven Suggestions

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about it for a
while, but just didn’t feel it very necessary
until now. Or perhaps you’re changing jobs and
forced with deciding whether your new employer
really needs to know you suffer with
bipolar disorder.

Making the decision to tell your supervisor or
other official at work about your bipolar disorder
is not a small step. Here are seven tips that might
help you make your disclosure on bipolar disorder
when the time comes.

1. Do some detective work before you reveal
your bipolar disorder.

In other words, just do your homework. Before you
actually make the decision to reveal you have
bipolar disorder, feel your supervisor out on
his attitude towards the topic of mental illness
in general. If you can, try to discover if others
with bipolar disorder have been hired? How well
have they been treated?

2. Give serious thought to disclosure on
bipolar disorder.

It’s not something done lightly, like telling
someone you have a hang nail. There is still a
large stigma associated with bipolar disorder.
In fact, you may be surprised just how many people
aren’t even sure what it is. Make sure you’re ready
to make the announcement on bipolar disorder.

3. Consider having your therapist sit in on
the meeting.

While this may sound extreme, the presence of your
therapist is an excellent idea. In this way,
he can answer any questions about the nature
of bipolar disorder in general. He would also
provide an excellent reference to reassure a
hesitant supervisor that even with your
bipolar disorder, you’ll function just fine
around the workplace.

4. Decide, ahead of time how you’ll handle
your disclosure of bipolar disorder.

Visualize how the meeting will go. Once you’ve
decided who’ll be attending the meeting announcing
your bipolar disorder, then decide you will actually
be doing most of the speaking. Rehearse what
could possibly be said about your bipolar disorder
and most importantly, what you can say in reply.
You are probably well aware of many of the questions
people have concerning bipolar disorder; prepare to
talk to these points. Also be prepared to reassure
the fears of any possible performance problems your
employer may think there will be with your
bipolar disorder.

5. Decide, specifically, what person at your
workplace you’ll reveal your bipolar disorder to.

Are you just going to reveal your bipolar disorder
to a few trusted co-workers? Are you planning to
tell your supervisor? Or perhaps you’re just going
to reveal it to the human resources director.
Whoever you tell about your bipolar disorder, be
sure you feel comfortable with the decision.

6. Be sure to talk about limitations

When discussing your bipolar disorder with your
employer, you need to be specific if you feel
you’ll have any limitations at all placed on you
because of the condition. Will you need any
out-of-the-ordinary accommodations? If you have
no limitations related to your bipolar disorder,
reassure him of this as well. You know it’s in
the back of his mind anyway.

7. Describe the symptoms

Even if your employer says he’s familiar with
bipolar disorder, describe the symptoms you
develop when you’re in an episode. Make sure
that she understands these. But more than that,
explain to her the best methods of handling these
symptoms. Also, don’t forget to tell your employer
any necessary information your doctor may want her
to know on bipolar disorder. This is also a great
time for you and your employer to talk about the
Americans with Disabilities Act in relation to
your bipolar disorder.

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

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

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

SIDE NOTE: I would really study the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Type it
in a search engine and read what comes up.
Then swing by the library and ask the “reference
librarian” to help you find information on
it and understand it. This law will help
you or your loved one with bipolar disorder.

Well that’s it. 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

Hey,

How’s it going? I have to take off pretty quick here
because I have to go to train.

As a side note, someone once asked how I think of topics
to write about each day. I have a lot of stuff to choose
from. I have over 100,000 on my list, it grows up to 800
people a day, I have 8 people who work for me with a mental
illness, my mom has bipolar disorder, I have friends
with it, so coming up with new things to write about
is pretty easy.

But getting up each morning and spending 1 hour writing
and thinking about it can be hard. Especially when
you are tired 🙂

Yesterday I was checking out my bipolar
blog yesterday at www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog
and came across some interesting posts.

Here’s one.

Anita said…
I have a question for Mr. Oliver that doesn’t
really pertain to the news. I just didn’t know
how else to contact you. I’m Bipolar and I wonder
why I do what I do. I shut everybody out. I don’t
let ANYBODY know what’s going on except my Dr. even
when I’m manic – unless I can’t help it. Sure-
I yell a lot at my kids, and everybody knows I’m moody,
but I don’t want anybody to know I’m depressed,
suicidal, paranoid, manic or whatever. Why do I
do that? Is that normal behavior?

And then I got another one that said.

misty said…
My mother is bipolar. I am at the end of my rope.
She keeps getting worse and worse. She has been
calling me latly leaving nasty messages. I don’t
know what to do. I just got married. We went to
Hawaii on our own just so she would not mess our
day up. Well, now she is giving us a reseption.
She claims all i do is complain about everything.
So not true. I am in the middle of starting my
new career.I have been going on interviews. i am a
stylist so I take clients at home right now. so I
am super busy. She calls me 10 times a day. If I
do not answer she getsreally bad and hateful. I
can’t take it. I don’t know what to do. Please help!

I was reading these posts and thinking about
something that I learned when I was at school. I
have actually used it a lot over the years.

It’s called Occam’s Razor.
Wikipedia says this of Occam’s Razor…
Occam’s razor (sometimes spelled Ockham’s razor)
is a principle attributed to the 14th-century
English logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham.

[The principle] often paraphrased as “All things
being equal, the simplest solution tends to be
the right one.”

Most of the time, I find that when trying
to help someone with bipolar disorder, indeed
the simplest solution is the one that generally
works.

If we look at the two posts, the simplest
solution that runs through for both people
is–the need to a correct treatment plan.

The first person obviously is struggling
and needs to immediately go to the doctor
and express all the things posted in my blog
or have the help of someone who is around
and acting as bipolar supporter do it for
them or help them.

As for the second person, the mother
needs proper treatment. This might sound
simple but it’s the truth. I find many
people waste so much time thinking of
what to do when the #1 focus has to be
getting either yourself (if you aren’t
stable ) or someone who
is not stable with bipolar disorder into
the right treatment plan.

Many times, people are looking for very complex
strategies on how to “handle” someone with
bipolar disorder that is not stable or how to
handle severe mood swings. The answer is generally
simple–it’s about the right treatment plan.

The first step is to find a good doctor. The good
doctor works to make a good treatment plan. After
that, everything else starts to fall into place.

Virtually all the success stories in all my
courses/systems below all started with getting
a good doctor and that person created a good
treatment plan.

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

With bipolar disorder, don’t fall prey to
looking for super complex answers or strategies.
Remember the Occam’s Razor philosophy.

For many that I have talked to with bipolar
disorder who have struggled. By them simply
going to the doctor once a month, changed their
entire life. All they really needed to do is
show up with consistency.

If they would have done this from the time they
were first diagnosed, they would have not wasted
years and years of their lives.

Well I have to take off for the day. 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

Hi,

Here is the current Bipolar Disorder news.

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

To see the news visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews341

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:

Your child may not be crazy after all: bipolar diagnosis not for …
DO> This is really shocking

Teaching an Old Drug New Tricks

Man killed by police had bipolar disorder, family says
DO> This is terrible!

Hartley — mental issues often misunderstood
DO> I have been saying this for years.

Charlotte Church opens up about mum’s overdose
DO> It’s about time, people talk about this

For these stories and more, please visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarnews340

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

==>>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,

How’s it going?

It’s almost Labor Day weekend in the US. I didn’t
even realize it was here. Anyway, I am working
all through the weekend. Why? Because I like
what I do.

Yesterday I got an email from someone
and it said:

“I can’t believe my husband wants to
divorce me. He has bipolar disease
and is acting really crazy. He screams
and yellls at me all the time for
no reason. I can barely take it.
I tried to talk to him for months
to stop.

Dave, why does he does he do and
say such mean things?”
-Pam

Take a look at that again. I want
you to read it and try to guess what
the 3 letters that spell trouble
are?

Guess and then scroll down for the
answer…

Scroll after you have the answer…

It’s why? Why is deadly I think with bipolar
disorder. I think it can seriously drive
a bipolar supporter AND a bipolar survivior
crazy.

When you start asking:

why do I have bipolar disorder?
why did my loved one say this or that
why did my loved one do this or that
why is bipolar disorder such a nasty illness
why do people with bipolar disorder say such mean
things

Why is a word that just makes you feel depressed
because with most of the questions there really
are no answers.

Ever sit and start thinking “why this and
that.” You never can come up with answers
and it makes you feel depressed.

It’s like when a girlfriend broke up with
me some time again. I would sit for days
wondering why she did. There was no explanation
that I could come up with. Especially since
I am such a cool guy :).

Anyway I stopped asking why she broke up
with me and started asking what I was
going to do since she was gone. I then
moved one how I was going to get a new
girlfriend.

Make sense?

I think that people can get paralzed focusing on
why and it creates major problems for them.
This lady Pam you can see is focusing on the
why way too much.

I focus on the how. What’s that mean? Well
I focus on how to correct the problem.

You see with bipolar disorder, a person
can live a perfectly normally life with
the right treatment plan.

Instead of asking why? Ask how do I get
myself or my loved one on the right
bipolar treatment plan.

I know sometimes you may read my material
here and say, “What the heck Dave? That’s
so simple and not useful. Easy for you
to say! Thanks for nothing.”

Seriously I am really telling you what
to do.

If you look at my course/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

You’ll notice that it’s all based on how
tos. I don’t tell long sad stories of
how bad bipolar disorder is. I focus
on how to handle virtually all the situations
you will come across whether you have
bipolar disorder, are supporting an adult
or supporting a child/teenager.

The situation with my mom turned around
when I started asking how instead of
why.

I actually have to take off for the day
but I want to leave that with you to think
about.

I want to say another thing. I want to make
it clear that I use to focus on the why
and then I transitioned to focusing on the
how. I think that it happens with everyone
dealing with bipolar disorder. It just takes
some longer than others.

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