=>PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES <=
Hi,
How’s it going?
I want to tell you the truth about
dealing with bipolar disorder.
There is one truth that very few people
talk about. It’s something that many
people hide.
First let me tell you the story
of how I thought about this.
Yesterday I was in the gym and
and a bunch of us were talking
about our “eating plans.” An eating
plan is basically a plan on how
we eat. So we figure out how many
meals per day that we eat, which
days we eat what, what days we
can eat junk food, which days are low
carbs, which days are high protein,
etc.
If you got my amazing fat burning
formula, you would know what I mean.
Anyway, so I was saying how I have been
trying to gain 4 pounds and haven’t
been able to do so.
It’s really annoying. I think finally
this week on Saturday, I will gain
one pound. Hopefully. Actually
last week I lost two pounds which means
that now I have to gain 6 pounds. 🙁
Anyway, I was discussing my trouble
to my friend Dan. Dan is really big.
Like 265 7% body fat.
I am 218 8.1% body fat.
My goal is to get to 224 7.4% body fat.
I am hoping on Saturday that I am at least
220.
So my friend says, “How many times
are you eating a day?” I said 6.
He said, “bump it to 7.” Then he
tells me to add some more fish
oil for the calories.
So then I was saying how it’s such
a pain to eat so many meals a day.
Then my other friend Ron says, “no
it’s not, it’s easy.” Then everyone
was like, “it’s easy because your
wife lays your cloths out in the
morning for you and makes all your
food. She treats you like a little
boy.”
He said that wasn’t true and quickly
changed the subject 🙂
I thought that was soooo funny.
Anyway, Ron is a self made millionaire
who sometimes acts like he is like 18.
NOTE-BIPOLAR LESSON COMING
Don’t worry, there’s going to be a lesson
to this story.
So anyway, my friend Dan says, “my roommates
hate me because they say that I use too
many dishes a day and run the dishwasher
too many times a week.” He then says how
they want him to either only use paper plates
or to pay more in rent.
Dan eats 8 times per day. He’s becoming
a professional body builder.
So anyway we all talked for an hour
of various ways to cook chicken,
fish, turkey faster and ways to
eat more per day, gain weight and
hold body fat.
So I got a few ideas and then someone
who doesn’t care about his weight or
health said, “man, you guys are crazy,
that’s way too much of a pain, that’s too
much work.”
Dan, who really believes he is the best
looking person in the history of man kind
says:
“If you want to have this kind of body (he points to
himself) nobody says it’s going to be easy.”
You might read this and think he is super
arrogant, which some could say, but he’s
a really nice guy. He’s a great trainer who
gets people results. And, seriously a nice guy
that would help anyone with anything related
to fitness (that’s all he knows about).
BUT, he really does think he looks incredible.
He has unbelievable self confidence and
self esteem. It’s really funny sometimes.
At the end, we were all like, “it’s all a pain
but we are in great shape and healthy so
the annoying stuff is worth it.”
That was the universal conclusion we all
drew.
So I was thinking yesterday to myself.
How many people that I have interviewed that
do well with bipolar disorder that have to
do stuff that’s a pain.
They have to:
-go to the doctor
-go to the therapist
-work so they have money but not work too much
-take medication (many different kinds)
-exercise
-eat well
-avoid stress
-skip the alcohol
-go to bed early
etc.
etc.
Now I have many friends with bipolar disorder, and
many friends without bipolar disorder. In the gym,
most of my friends don’t have bipolar disorder
but many body build non competitively. Meaning,
they follow almost everything a body builder
does but they don’t go into competitions or
on stage. Dan does but most of my other
friends don’t.
In order to do this, they:
-take lots of supplements
-eat many times a day
-drink one gallon of water a day
-plan trips based on bathrooms (if you drink a gallon
of water a day plus half a gallon of shakes, you have to know
where all the bathrooms are 🙂
-exercise, sometimes twice a day
-follow a carefully planned strict eating plan
-go to bed early
-skip alcohol
-have to see coaches and nutritional advisers to
improve and “tweak” their eating plans
-Coordinate fun activities with eating, supplements
and sleeping
NOTE-
I have friends that actually have grills in
their trucks so they can cook away from
home. It’s crazy. I don’t do that :). BUT,
I do carry a cooler with me whenever I leave
with all my meals for the day. If you ever
saw me, and you looked in my back seat, you
would most likely see a cooler.
When I got to business meetings in the city,
I plan way in advance what I will be eating. I know
which restaurants I will be going to and call
ahead to get the menu. I then find out which
items fit in my eating plan and make notes. So
then when I eat, I know what to order. And, I
always have back up plans just in case something
goes wrong. I carry “emergency bars” in case
my plan for eating doesn’t work so I can at least
eat something that is pretty healthy.
AND, when you follow this way of life, there
are times when you are really tired either
from working out twice a day, or doing
what’s call carb depleting,
which affects your energy level and your ability
to think.
Body building competitively or non competitively
is much like managing bipolar disorder.
Much of body building is a pain. It’s a major
pain but many people do it. Much of managing
bipolar disorder is a pain. A major pain.
In my courses/systems below:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
I talk about all the ways to cope and deal
with bipolar disorder whether you have
it or you are supporting someone.
Some of it’s really easy. Some of it’s
a pain.
In my material, I am 100% honest. Some
people don’t want to do anything. It
amazes me. The worst are some parents supporting
children with bipolar. I don’t know why, but some parents
for some reason want someone else
to do everything. They want a magic
system. I just don’t know why.
But, the truth about bipolar disorder
is that in order to effectively cope
and deal with it, whether you are a supporter
or have it yourself, some things will be a
pain but the reward of peace, stability are
worth it. Don’t forget that.
Sometimes I think bipolar supporters and those
with bipolar disorder need a reminder that
there are many things that are going to be a
pain but you just have to deal with them.
It’s just like my body building friends. We
always have to remember that a lot of what
we do is a pain. If I forget this, I go to
the gym and the people there remind me.
So today I wanted to remind you about
bipolar. For all those people out there
that have to do all the things I described
for bipolar disorder and think, “this is such
a pain,” you are on the right track but hang
in there, the rewards of stability and
success are worth it.
I think if more doctors, therapists and people
in the mental health field were honest and
would say, “managing bipolar disorder can
be a pain but the rewards are worth it”, we
would be way better off. Also, if people said,
“if you don’t manage it, there’s a good chance
that you’ll commit suicide or hurt someone
you love” we would be better off.
I don’t know why so many people sugar coat
stuff. I just can’t figure it out. I never
do.
I have to run now, I will catch you tomorrow.
Your Friend,
Dave
P.S. Want your own copy of these daily bipolar
emails sent to you for F.ree? If so, visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/register3
P.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.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.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
The only thing that SUCKS is having BP. Doing what it takes to keep the symptoms at bay are way less strenuous than actually living with the extreme symptoms.
Living where you want death and crave it or that everyone is trying to do things to ruin the world is no PICNIC walk. I prefer discipline!
Body building is a choice and just like any sport it teaches discipline. Doing what it takes to avoid symptoms also takes great discipline as it is easy for someone who feels like they are CURED to slip away. It is and has to be a “life long” commitment. Whether you take the high road or the low road it is a choice.
David,
You wrote:
“I don’t know why, but some parents
for some reason want someone else
to do everything. They want a magic
system. I just don’t know why.”
Because it’s easier, that’s why. When you have kids, you never imagine them having bipolar or any kind of disability. You imagine them happy and for the most part, life going smoothly. I don’t know what it’s like for parents of bipolar children, but with autism that kid will take up 100% of your day. You sleep after they fall asleep and you get up when they get up. After a year, two years, with no days off, wouldn’t you wish for an easy system too?
Wishing for things is easy to understand. Think of all the people who want to be thin but won’t stop eating junk food or won’t take up exercising. I think such thoughts are human nature.
Anyways, you said you didn’t understand… this is why I think. Keep up the good work with this site and enjoy your day.
Juliet
David, You have helped me cope so much with my bi polar disorder. I was diagnosed with bi polar II this past July and have read your blogs everyday. I am on medication now and am now sleeping and not vomiting every morning of my life. I am 32 and have been seeking treatment for this since I was 19. They just shoved anti-depressants down my throat and forgot about me, but I knew I wasn’t depressed….not like I have seen people depressed.
So, finally I walk into a new dr..a family doc. and with a piece of paper listing all my symptoms, all the meds i had been on through the years, and when I got there a resident actually diagnosed me first and then had the dr. come in and agreed with the diagnosis. I was not a believer at first, but once I learned more about bi polar ii, I realized I really have this! Lately, I have been written up on my job where I have worked 12 years, two times now. My write ups are something to the effect that I don’t have the mental capacity to do my job any longer. I started going to to a therapist at my job last night. (I work at a University, so we have a school of psychology where they offer therapy) They made me sign a “no harm” contract. I didn’t quite get that part. I asked them were they going to dig me up and punish me if I killed myself. I know how you helped your mother and I have someone that is willing to help, but doesn’t have a good understanding of my emotions….mood swings. I am in financial ruin. I have bills I can’t get to. There is no way possible. I try, I give it 100 % and still can’t balance a checkbook or remember bills. I write it down but i do it so haphazardly that when I go back to read my notes, it makes no sense to me. I am been pondering the idea of quitting my job that I have been at 12 years (before they fire me)and getting back into school full-time.I think I would be eligible for loans that would pay living expenses too. I won’t ever get anywhere where I am financially here. It’s not a career, it’s a job. I have done 2 years of school and carry a gpa of 3.7, however I wonder if i can maintain good grades and motivation if I do this. What could you suggest? I hate to get in more debt from school. I know how you say the bi polar people you know are very intelligent and creative…I know I am, I just need to know how to use those things.
Thanks for listening.
Kim
Here is a funny:
Magic Pills
There is this lady and she is struggling having a baby so the doctor brings out these pills and he tells her each of these pills takes away a quarter of the pain and gives it to the father of the baby.
So she takes one and her husband says “Women must be wimps, because I feel no pain.”
Then she takes another and her husband says “Man this doesn’t hurt at all.”
So she takes two more and has no problem having the baby and neither she nor her husband are in pain.
Two days later they come home with the baby and the milkman is dead on their doorstep.
LOL 8-0
A grill in the truck.What a great idea. I am gluten intolerant, and food is a big problem on the road.Will give it a try. I have to remember to take care of myself while I am supporting everyone else. Getting back to the gym would be a good idea.
stepmom of a bi-polar 16 year old here. could not believe what i read. just had stepson move in bcause mom and stepdad cannot and WILL not deal with BP. They’re convinced its Behavioral, not disorder related. WHY WHY WHY?!?!?!? Father doesn’t do much better, but listens to what i’ve read in master course – learning TONS! THANK YOU!
David, your blog is fantastic I learn so much from it which helps me to understand myself better and bipolar disorder itself.
Being on the funny side when you talk about your friend who is a professional body builder, obsessed with his body makes me smile.. I use to be a professional dancer for many years and I can relate to how difficult and energy consuming it is to maintain the perfect body weight. It is a full time job; managing my bipolar disorder comes like a piece of cake to me compare to managing weight, definition, body fat, etc.
However the main difference between both time and money consuming exercises is that body building you can quit once you feel like it and have no major side effects while on other hand bipolar disorder is an unwanted, unpleasant life time commitment.
I have passed the faze of denial, wrong diagnosis, the humiliations, friends alienation, job loss, repeated episodes, severe repeated episodes, undesired supporters, police as well as shock therapy and finally came to peace with the illness.
You are so right about what you are saying why are doctors and other supporters sugar coating the truth and confusing us. Ok, we are not so crazy we can take it just spit it out.
It would have saved me at least two good jobs which I’ve lost because I have stopped medications, couple of relationships which I feel sorry for and many embarrassments. Now I need more therapy because of that:)
To blame Bipolar disorder for what we do is easy, facing the outcomes when we are ok is far more harmful and humiliating to all of us.
We are all humans after all and we all have feelings and we all get hurt because someone is just doing their job or what they think is necessary.
My goal is never to stop my medication, knowing that never is a very long time.
Hi i really enjoy your blogs they are honestly helpful. Ive just been diagnosed bipolar 1 and yeah it KILLS!!!!! my therapist says i have to see her every week for evaluation or just support that sucks cause i have school. not to mention the extreme effects my symptoms have on my performance at university and relationships with everyone else, especially here in Jamaica where NOBODY knows or understands what bi-polar is. I am 19 and highly suicidal now I’m on two anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and sleeping pills which i might add do not work!!! after three weeks on the anti-depressants I am soooooo happy i don’t even talk to frenz. I am otherwise physically ill and i cant take my pain killer “CODEINE” so im having to deal with alot of pain just for my sanity (for lack of a better word!) anyway i read another blog that said its a lifetime commitment so i guess in booked for that.
January 23, 2008
Pam Hood, RN
Dave,
I have been reading your messages everyday, for the past nine months, and today, was one of those uh,huh, days.
I get it, I finally have come to realize with a fair-amount of understandiing, or acceptance, on my part.
Today’s message has been the best advice yet, and I thank you for it.
I want you to know that your time, effort, and committment to this serious cause, does not go unnoticed.
Mental Illness, like chronic back pain is subjective, hard to show physical proof, therefore, some people think, if you can’t see it, its not real, or just get over it and pull your boots up.
Because of the silent suffering, due to community stigmas, people do not get the help they need, and when there isn’t public awareness, education and support, we, as a society grow slowly.
Thank you for your time a and efforts.
Dicipline is the one most, single important factor, Im missing in my life.
I have noticed that I am consistantly inconsistant, which causes my delay of improvement, and I get frustrated, depressed, so on and so on.
I will meditate on dicipline today.
If you have any tips on how to become more DICIPLINED, please let me know.
Pam Hood, RN
David/All,
Savid said, “I don’t know why, but some parents for some reason want someone else to do everything. They want a magic system. I just don’t know why.”
I find this interesting coming from someone living in the States because we tend to think “it’s only in the UK” that too many parents expect other people to take responsibility for THEIR children! In the UK it’s usually blamed on our social welfare system, with people claiming “its’ to easy” for people to absolve themselves of resonsibilty and pass it onto The State. So, when kids get into trouble, parents and neighbours seem to want to blame anyone and everyone EXCEPT the parents! The school and teachers, the social workers, the Government, the Police … and so on! A child is iiled at home by a parent or a parents’s partner … the socil workers/shcool/Police get blamed for not intervening! Okay, may be “the system” fell down, but the system onblyt excists because PARENTS don’t accept responsibilty for their own children! I sometmes wonder why they HAD children in the first placem, if they didn’t want to look after them! It’s a bit like those idiots who buy puppies for Christmas … when the cute kittle puppy starts to get bigger, difficult to control, poos in the lounge and chew the furniture BECAUSE THEY CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO TRAIN THE POOR THING, they ignore the welfare of the dog or even abandon it. It seems they do the same with kids! (Can you tell I’m a bit hypo tonight?!) They do it to their parents, grandparents when they get old, too – never kind what the old folk want, stick ’em in a home and let SOMEONE ELSE look after them!
So, it comes as no surprise that some parents will release their own responsibility for their child when it comes to care on their children with BP.
Of course, there ae some people who – for various reasons – have to abdicate responsibilty – may be theyr are ill. But as a general rule, there seems (to me) to be no good excuse! Grrrrrrr ….
David also said, “I think if more doctors, therapists and people
in the mental health field were honest and would say, “managing bipolar disorder can be a pain but the rewards are worth it”, we would be way better off. Also, if people said, “if you don’t manage it, there’s a good chance that you’ll commit suicide or hurt someone you love” we would be better off. I don’t know why so many people sugar coat stuff.” Yup. I reckon I may have helped prevent suicide attempt (and delayed some folk’s deaths, if not stopped them altogether) by being just that blunt, too. I point out:
1. If you kill yourself some folks will feel they were to blame for not helping you enough, and they will take that gult to tyheir graves. Some of them may even kill themselves because of that wrong sense of guilt!
2. Others – friends and family – will ALSO BLAME THEM for “not giving enough support” to the person who kills themselves, and that splits family and friendships, taking THAT level of hatred to the grave as well.
3. If you have kids, those family splits can deprive the kids of contact with grandparents, uncles and aunts and their cousins.
3b. That’s in addition to depriing them of a Dad!!!
4. The children of a parent who commits suicide is MANY times more likely to attempt suicide themselves if they later become depressed/BP – 53% of the children who parents of who kill themselves, will attempt suicide if them develop BP, whereas only 23% (is that right David?) of “normal” BPs will try to do it!
5. If the kid of the person who kills themselves become at least twice as likely to kill themselves then THEIR children assuming they live that long!) WILL DO THE SAME! And so will THEIR children, ad infinitum.
All that damage just becomes ONE PERSON takes their own life …
One guy was on the tip of “checking out” when I hit him with that stuff. “I hadn’t thought of it that way …” he whimpered. He did now. Mind you, a couple of weeks later he was saying, “I know what you said, but I still feel like killing myself.” I don’t think he did. May be I helped him survive then, too. But I am sure my intervention at least kept him alive for 2 weeks, and THAT is worth celbrating even if it was just a small time.
Help! Any suggestions are welcome.
I am dealing with an adult son who sleeps hours and hours. He refuses to seek help. He has a preliminary dual diagnosis (was hospitalized for 10 days several months ago.)
I am desperately trying to get him to recognize that he needs help…been laying off lately…won’t talk to me.
Any words of advice?
Dave,
Great message. I’m learning alot about managing bipolar. Wondering if it does any good for ME to learn about it since my husband is the one who’s bipolar. I’m waiting for him to take responsibility and make the commitment to stay on the meds and do the things that are a pain, but that keep him stable. Do you think I’m “waiting” my life away?
DAVE, what a refreshing change to get some advice on weight gain at last, when everywhere else you get bombarded with weight loss programmes. Most of my life I have been slightly underweight, occasionally just right. A year ago I was very ill with pneumonia and lost a dangerous amount of weight. Rcently when I was just about getting there I got enough stress again to knock a good few pounds off me.
Weight loss, low blood pressure, screwed up sleep pattern, walking miles every day I’m still full of energy. My doctor even suspected cyclothimia. All the blood tests came back normal and he says it’s probably just peri-menopause, but not ruling out other possibilities completely. Many symptoms of peri-menopause and cyclothimia are very similar. Anyway, thanks for the weight gain advice. Except for going to bed early (impossible for me) I can manage most of the other points without too much difficulty.
GRAHAM, I totally agree with you about the UK benefits system. One of the reasons why I left the UK was because the government throws money away at all the wrong causes. It’s not perfect in Ireland either, but a good deal better, especially for pensioners and people on disability pay. The health service is better in the UK, but then you can’t have everything (lol).
Dave – LOL! Just FYI – when I went on Weight Watchers about 30 years ago, there was a 7-meal-a-day plan. I had to “make” my life around the meals I had to eat. THIS was a royal PAIN. They send all your food to you, and you HAVE to eat it. Sometimes, I felt like I was GAINING weight instead of losing it! But – I gave up on it after a couple of months – 1) because it cost too much, and 2) because it was a PAIN to fix and eat all those meals!
Yes – it IS a pain being bipolar. And although my life revolves around what I have to do to manage the disorder, I have followed my treatment plan pretty much as I would HAVE to, to remain a successful, highly-functioning person with bipolar.
I admit I got off-track for a couple of months, NOT taking Zyprexa at night because I was pulling all-nighters and didn’t WANT to sleep. But – I found out I can stay awake all night WITH the Zyprexa, so I am now doing all the things one needs to “control” the bipolar.
However, this does NOT mean I am “in control.” The illness is sneaky; it CAN/WILL attack you when you least suspect it. Even if you do all you can in terms of treatment – limit stress, take meds religiously, get enough sleep 🙂 – you can go into a hypomanic state, which for me, ALWAYS segues into a mania. It totally SCARES me. I feel like I have to always be looking over my shoulder in hopes that it’s not gaining on me. Does this sound familiar to other people with bipolar?
And – it’s this fear that sometimes completely PARALYZES me in times when I’m feeling GOOD. I know I’ve said this before, but here it goes again (because it’s my favorite bipolar quote) – “Don’t be too happy, happy. It’s the happy, happy people bust hard when they bust, and they do bust hard when they bust.” (This quote is from eecummins, who ended his life in a mental hospital).
Anyway, I hold onto the hope that feeling good IS good, and not a symptom of anything bad. If I could just get over the FEAR, I think the rest of my life would fall into place.
Again – thank you, Dave, for all the encouraging and useful information you give in your daily emails. I don’t understand why people who criticize you STAY on this blog if they don’t agree with you; could you block them from coming on your blog? Or could they just STAY AWAY!!! Keep up the good work, because what you do is so meaningful and helpful to most of us. God bless you real good.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. My prayers are with you.
SUZANNEWA, My boyfriend doesn’t get full manic episodes now and has been in a hypomania since Christmas. Like you, he doesn’t like being too happy as that means he has to come down eventually. He says he prefers to be down, so the only way is up. Like every human being I have been depressed occasionally and know that depression is not pleasant. I have never experienced mania, but realise that it must be fairly horrible if people prefer to be down.
Some parents have disempowered themselves when it comes to their responsibility of their children and want a magic solution for EVERYTHING. I see this is all forms of disorders and behavioural management. I see parents sit in meeting of interagency groups of 13 to help them manage their lives and that of their school aged children (yes, I am in education). Some parents try really hard and some just simply do not care – too much of a bother to get their childrens’ diets right, etc.
To step-mom with 16yo son – some parents and family just do not believe this could happen to them or their loved one (that old addage – it will never happen to me or things like that do not happen to my family). That’s what happened with my husband when I noticed some signs that all is not well with his adult daughter.
Hang in there….
regards,
Lesley
Hi Suzanne,
This mental health business isn’t an exact science. Different things work for different people. I take 200mg a day of Lamotrigine. Its not perfect but it works – for me – better than Depokte. I know some people for whom it’s the other way around. I know some people for whom neither of those drugs, but Lithium does. It’s the same with how to manage people – everyone is different Some people can be stimulated positively if you criticise them in a negative way, others will be totally demotivated, other will be demotivated even if the criticism is positive, and they have to be handled entirely by “positive” encouragement. We’re all different. So, there are bound to be different opinions, and we can all learn from each other by expressing these different views. I’m sure when David was doing his research he didn’t find much where all his exert sources agreed. (Indeed, there are even SOME pDocs who don’t think BP is an illness separate from schizophrenia. There are others who don’t think it’s an illness at all but a psychosomatic disorder. Forgive the pun, but I think they are nuts! However, being wrong doesn’t mean a point of view isn’t valid, especially in mental health where there are so many unknowns. For example, while docs/scientists have discovered certain things happening in the brain that are common to all BPs they don’t yet know if these things are the causes of BP or symptoms of it. All they are fairly sure of – and then, they are not completely certain – is that there is a correlation between, of example, serotonin levels and BP (and other chemical depressions. But then, there are some people with BP who have serotonin levels that seem abnormally low while others seem abnormally high. Just because there is a statistical correlation with serotonin and BP doesn;t mean the relationship is causal. If you find a burnt match in the glowing embers of a burnt down house, it doesn’t necessarily mean the match caused the fire. It’s just as probable that something else caused it and the fire burnt the match. So, I think my point still holds good that a variety of view on this mental health issue is both healthy and USEFUL if they are presented in a non-aggressive, polite and reasonable way. Besides, censorship of people who take a different view is most undemocratic and – personally – I’d die before seeing anyone take away the right of free expression of opinions, even of opinions about which I may be in total opposition. Free speech is a matter of great principle. In any case, I cannot imagine that David would find it useful if all this blog did was provide him with a festival of sycophantism.
But what I object to is criticism when it is delivered rudely and without reason. $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD (I hope you are reading this! delivered a criticism of David that was both rude in its delivery and without any reason. Just because $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD doesn’t agree with David is no reason to attack him aggressively. Moreover, $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD choice of word – “liar” – is without reason! Just suppose for a moment that David got it wrong. THAT would not make him a liar. It might make him ill-informed (which seems most unlikely!) But a liar is someone who DELIBERATELY seeks to deceive. There is NO EVIDENCE not even the teeniest bit of it, to suggest David is intending to deceive when he says BPs who go off their meds become unstable.
Now – personally – I am quite accepting for $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD to disagree with David AND probably 99.999999% of QUALIFIED experts believe to be true. (Here I include “expert patients”, people who actually have BP like myself.) It’s a democratic right to hold and express opinions. But equally, its the right of anyone else to challenge $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD opinions AND to challenge the way s/he expresses them.
I do both! I think $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD is both wrong and rude. Rudness from a BP suffered may be excusable if that person is in an episode, but it doesn’t change the fact that is rudely said is still rude.
That said, this blog is Dave’s “ball” and, given that it is, I suppose it’s HIS right to take it home whenever he wants or decide who plays with it! ;o)
Wishing everyone a peaceful, non-episodic day!
Yes, I mean even YOU $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD, not least because I guess you need a peaceful one more than most of us. (If you believe in God folks, pray for $18Guy/VN:KIA-DAD’s health, and if you don’t believe in God .. pray anyway just in case!! ;o) )
Now, for a jok to lighten up this message …
When rading this, remember “a tenner” is a £10 note in the UK. Okay?
Pavarotti met St Peter at the Gates of Heaven.
“Come in! Come in!”, said St Peter. We’ve been waiting for you! There’s a special place for you in the Celestial Choir!”
“Thanks,” said Pavaoritti” but before I do, I have a letter here from the Pope for God.” St Peter took the letter and read it. It said: “Hello God. Here’s the tenner I owe you ….”
Hi David,
Thank you again for your emails and blogs, I find them really helpful.
I would like to share with you how I manage my body weight and may be other people will find it helpful as well.
Having a bipolar disorder and being on all that medications all the time is difficult not to put on a lot of weight. I was getting depressed only by watching the scales going up and up every week after I started my first course of medications.
I am very body cautious. So I tried to find a way to get that under control as well.
I invented my own recipes where basically balance the meals so they have to fit the following criteria they have be at the same time tasty, healthy, nutritional, non fattening, fresh, time saving and cost effective both for me and my partner who is normal.
So this is how I do it, I made fast cooking my hobby. There is not much secret to it although being a vegetarian helps me a lot. I do eat fish though; however I try to build all my food around vegetables both cooked or row.
I find in particular vegetable soups, which could be cooked in bigger amounts and than put in the freezer very easy to make, delicious as well as filling and not fattening. Bread or potatoes plus salad go well with that.
Rice cooked with onions or garlic and a little oil goes well with any stir fried veggies in a garlic sauce, oyster and ginger sauce or tomato onion sauce , you could through few pieces of meat or fish in there too. As long as there are lot of veggies you are fine. Some people say to follow the 20/80 diet. I do not like the word diet but the 20/80 makes sense and that is 20% solid food 80% veggies and fruits, a little bit extreme to me though I follow more 50/50 way of eating.
My partner doesn’t even realize he is eating healthy, he just loves everything I make for both of us, he is eating bigger portions though.
My only no no in food is eating in any fast food establishments such as Macdonald’s I also avoid junk food, such as chocolate bars, chips etc I try to eat only when I am hungry and finish eating when I am full.
I do try to get as much exercise as possible which I find helps me tremendously to manage my BP symptoms, brisk walking and dancing are the best to me as I can do them on daily bases without specifically going to a gym. It has to be cost effective exercise for me to be able fully to enjoy the benefits :.
I also find jogging works out all your body muscles and is the best way to get rid of unwanted weight particularly around the stomach area without having to pay expensive club memberships, swimming on other hand works well on the nervous system and you do get to sleep better afterwards, I like to combine swimming with sauna in the winter, so relaxing… Exercise does build your will power and discipline, but I also believe one has to find his own thing as it is very important for people with BP like me to stay active.
I guess this plan works for me with regards to body weight, I am 34, have been on Bipolar disorder medications for 7 years and although I put at the beginning about 7 kgs on I managed to loose them without any starving and not much efforts during a period of one year, my episodes come and go but I try to maintain the same healthy lifestyle and way of eating all the time.
I am again size 4 and feeling energetic and positive.
I could share some of my recipes but not quite sure if this is the right place, plus there are so many cooking books out there.
I really would like to know more about how other people especially the ones with BP find the motivation to do things, whatever they are. I find my medications make me sluggish and unmotivated most of the times.
Thank you David again and God bless.
Suzanne,
Hello!
You know I also have fears (especially in a mini episode), but as some one very dear to me just told me not so long ago.
“You must always remember that you are alright.”
Even when you are feeling beside yourself. You must tell yourself this. And as someone who has been to a point of wanting death in those moments… We know it is all about what you say to YOURSELF to get you past the urges.
The ability to cry to release the pain. It is one of many things our body’s do to cope with the stress of the moment. It is all part of the process in life. It is our fear that can drive us to overcome great storms in life or to defeat us.
You are such a beautiful soul, and I truly mean this! I hate that we suffer with this madness.
The urge to say “Last time I did that, I failed. So… I’m not doing that again”. Sometimes this is a good point of view because you don’t want to keep making the same mistakes. However, if you want something bad enough those mistakes can teach us how to be better the next time.
😎 Big HUG!
Graham, LOL….
I am only being silly to lighten up and make this interaction between you and viawhozawhatzit.
8-o
I am starting to think David is paying you…lol OK viagra boy or whatever that handle was, he’s probably off his own meds on the advice of a good friend. Just a thought. He’s feeling so damn good without those pills now so he can come on in here and tell it like it is??? Come on I thought you knew the symptoms…DR. “G”!
Laugh at it damn ya! 😎
Hi BP
I’m a bit hypo, and when I get like that I tend to become like St George and want to save the World of injustice and fight every dragon in sight! Just as well I don’t own a Kalashikov or I could do a lot of damage!!!
;o)
PS I don’t think David would want employ me, let alone pay me!! Why, even I wouldn’t employ me – I’m a liability!!! 8o)
Hey Graham-
That’s ok I know the feeling. 😎 I just wanted to see a smile!
Have a good night!
Here is a funny:
Smart Dogs
Four men were bragging about how smart their dogs were. One man was an engineer, the second man was an accountant, the third man was a chemist, and the fourth was a government worker.
To show off, the engineer called to his dog. “T-square, do your stuff.” T-square trotted over to a desk, took out some paper and a pen, and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle.
Everyone agreed that that that was pretty smart.
The accountant said that his dog could do better. He called to his dog and said, “Spreadsheet, do your stuff.” Spreadsheet went out into the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into four equal piles of three cookies each.
Everyone agreed that that was good.
The chemist said that his dog could do better still. he called to his dog and said, “Measure, do your stuff.” Measure got up, walked over to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a ten-ounce glass from the cupboard, and poured exactly eight ounces without spilling a drop.
Everyone agreed that that was pretty impressive.
Then the three men turned to the government worker and said, “What can your dog do?”
The government worker called to his dog and said, “Coffee Break, do your stuff.” Coffee Break jumped to his feet, ate the cookies, drank the milk, claimed he had injured his back while doing so, filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions, put in for worker’ compensation, and went home for the rest of the day on sick leave.
They all agreed that that was the most impressive of all.
I disagree with this post completely. Infact, it kind of made me mad. Body building, competively or non-competively is nothing compared to having bi-polar disorder. One, for the simple fact that I do not get to choose the fact that I have to eat right, exercise, take medicine, avoid alcohol, go to bed early, etc. Whereas bodybuilders have made the choice in their life that that’s what they want. And that, my friend, is a very, very huge difference.