Hi,

How’s it going?

Happy 4th of July if you are in the United States!

I am taking off today to continue
moving. I wanted to share this incredible
technique that I discovered sometime ago
that works great if you are a bipolar supporter.

I remembered it yesterday because I had a problem.
Here’s what happen. Okay so I am moving. I had
to turn on the gas and the electric. So I call
the gas people and it takes about 20 minutes
to get it all going. They ask for all the normal
stuff and then my social security number
and at the end say “okay, you’re all set,
we don’t need a deposit from you either.”

I was like, “okay great.” Now I call
the electric people and here’s what happen.
First I was on hold for 43 minutes. I was
just waiting bored out of my mind.

Then someone comes on the phone, takes ALL
my information and then says, he is going
to transfer me to the “new movers department?”

I was like, “sir, how come you took all
my information and you can’t do it?” He was
like, “that’s the way it is.” I asked, “well,
sir, am I going to have to wait on hold for
another 45 minutes?” He said, “I am not sure.”

I was really annoyed at this point. So he
transferred the call and then it started to
happen.

DON’T WORRY THIS RELATES TO BIPOLAR DISORDER

Okay, so I knew there was going to be a problem.
The guy who picked up the phone had a total
attitude. He asked for my name. I said, “David
Oliver.” Then he said, “Derek Oliver, what’s
your address?” I said, “Sir, my first name
is David.” He then called me Derek. Seriously
after 5 minutes he got it right and said
that I said I was Derek.

Then it took him 5 minutes to get my address
correct.

I was so annoyed. And then he asked for my social
security number. I said it REALLY, REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY, REALLY slow and then repeated it back WRONG.
I couldn’t believe it. So I kept saying it right
and he would repeat it wrong, and say, “I have
blah blah blah” and then I would say “No sir, it’s
blah blah blah.” It was like someone was playing
a sick joke on me.

Finally he repeated the right number. And he yelled
at me to stop giving him wrong information. Then I
said, “Look sir, I didn’t say anything wrong. You
guys monitor these calls, let’s go back and listen.”
He got mad and then he processed my application.

Then he said, “Well David, we are going to require
a security deposit, and you are going to have to
do an affidavit of your identity with two forms
of id and then you have to go to the office and
fill out paperwork.” I was like, “What? That’s
not it works for everyone else.”

Then he said that my c.redit indicated this needed
to be done. I was super mad at him. I said to him
how all the other people I am dealing with didn’t
ask for security deposits and this hasn’t happen
to me ever before or anyone that I knew. You call
up on the phone and they process it and you are ready
to go.”

He then started talking down to me and like a robot.
I was so mad that I could barely think. I then
was like, “Let me just do what he says even though
it’s totally wrong.”

BUT THEN IT HIT ME. This is like mental health.

These are like mental health underpaid, under
qualified workers. So I changed me attitude.
Here’s where the lesson comes in. Read this
carefully because if you haven’t gotten
the run around from the mental health system,
you will. Trust me.

Okay so I drive to the electric company bringing
two forms of id ready to pay for the deposit
even though I know this will be turned around.

I get there, and this is what I say. “Hi,
my name is David Oliver, may I have your first
and last name including your employee number
if any.” I then explain what happen. I then
ask “May I have the first, last name and
the employee number of the supervisor right now.”

I then add, “I also would like to know the address
and phone number of where to file a complaint.”
Finally I write everything down in a notebook
with time and date stamps. I carefully turn the
notebook towards the person talking to me so
she can see that I have lots of notes with names,
dates, times and notes.

I also asked if the company’s CEO still, so and so
and if the company address is so and so.

I then said to the person, “This is a serious matter.
I have been mistreated. If I have, others have. I
would like for you to help me resolve this issue
better than the person that I spoke to on the
phone. I will be filing an oral and written complaint
against him. I will be sending communications with
great detail to supervisors and also sending documentation
to the CEO of what happen. I hope that you can be
part of the solution in my complaint not an extension
of the problem.”

The lady looked at me and almost freaked out. She was
trying to be calm and said, “I will help, let me figure
this out.”

So then she came back and said that I had to use a phone
in the lobby to call and talk with a supervisor and explain
what happen and she put notes in the accountant but
the supervisor over the phone could fix it all fast. She
then asked if I was happy with her and indicated she
didn’t want to create any problems for me and she
was sorry how the other guy treated me.

I then called on the phone and to make a long story
short, the supervisor fixed everything in 20 minutes.
He said he was sorry. He told me that the first guy
entered in my name wrong as Derek and with the wrong
social security number so the computer flagged me
as a potential person that might be running a scam
and that’s why I had to come in. I asked to be compensated
for my time through a credit on my bill and reminded him
I would be filing a complaint and hopefully he can be
part of the total solution. I said, I am not asking
for a million dollar c.redit. I am just asking for
something that would be fair for someone who had
been mistreated, had 3 hours of his time wasted,
was yelled at and told he was a risk to the electric
company.

Okay let me bring this back around to bipolar
disorder and mental health. Here’s the deal. With the
mental health system, you will face people like Chuck,
that was the name of the guy that did everything wrong
and was mean to me. The system is filled with Chucks. The system
loves to tell you no, screw stuff up, mess things up, blame
it on you.

When you are supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder
this is going to happen. Don’t bend and give in and
accept stuff that’s not right or that’s going to work
against your loved one with bipolar disorder.

Let me give you quick strategy that has worked probably
98% of the time with me when trying to get through
the mental health system and get something done.

NOTE: This is NOT legal advice. I am NOT a doctor, lawyer,
insurance agent, financial person. Check with your doctor,
lawyer, etc before you try any of my methods.

1. Get a notebook.
Sends message you are really serious

2. Write down all dates, times and take notes.
Scares people, makes them know that you a serious and can
get them in trouble.

3. Ask for everyone’s first, last name and employee or identification
number.
Same as point 2. Many will try not to give their name to avoid
being caught up in trouble.

4. Find out the name of the person running the organization
and the address.
To be used when you talk to people. Makes people worried
and want to help you so they don’t get into trouble.

5. When you have a problem ask for a supervisor.
Sends message you mean business. Plus supervisors can
generally get things done.

6. Ask supervisors and higher ups if the name of the person
running the organization is still the same that you have
as well as the address.
Sends message trouble is coming. Encourages them to fix
problems fast so they don’t get fired or into trouble
from people higher up then they are.

7. Be very firm.
Sends message you are serious.

8. Mention that you have been treated poorly and that
you are going to file a complaint.
Gets people to take action because no one likes complaints
in an organization because people get into trouble.

9. Tell the person that is a supervisor that you want them
to be part of the solution not an extension of the problem.
Encourages speed with resolutions.

10. Tell a story to everyone who is in management or
higher up in the organization about how you have suffered. Don’t
assume that the next person you may speak to knows the story.
Keep repeating the same story of mistreatment.
Gets people on your side feeling bad for your cause.

11. Ask for a guarantee the problem will never happen again.
To help the next person and to make sure you don’t have
a reoccurring problem.

12. Write a letter of complaint to the right people. Send
a company to the organization’s director or leader.
Helps the next person who may face the same problem. Hopefully
you can prevent the same thing from happening to a different
family.

In my courses/systems, I talk a lot of how you have
to stand up to the system and how to do it.

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

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

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

WARNING!!!!

I am warning you. You will find this.
Your loved one may be put in worst treatment then he/she
should
You can get bills that are wrong
you can get bad doctors
Your loved one may not get a bed in a hospital
Your loved one may be abuse in some kind of facility
Your loved one may have d.ebt collectors after him/her
Your loved one may be denied a special program
Your loved one may not get some kind of money or job
he/she should get

The list goes on and on. When you are a bipolar supporter,
your job is to make sure that your loved one is treated
fair and gets what he/she is suppose to get. If your
loved one does not, you step in and take action following
the steps above.

Okay well I have to go. Have a great day. More moving
moving and moving for me

Your Friend,

Dave

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.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