Hi, how are you today? I hope you’re doing fine.<\/p>\n
My little goddaughter is just starting to learn her ABC’s, and (not that I’m prejudiced or anything, just because she’s my goddaughter) it’s so cute! But it made me think, “I wish everything in life could be as simple as ABC.” You know, like if life could come with a set of instructions (of course, the women would say that us men wouldn’t read them anyway LOL). Unfortunately, life just isn’t that way.<\/p>\n
Neither is bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
BUT\u2026<\/p>\n
There is an ABC that comes with bipolar stability.<\/p>\n
A = Acceptance and Attitude<\/p>\n
B = Belief and Bettering Yourself<\/p>\n
C = Commitment to Treatment and Confidence<\/p>\n
Simple formula. I like simple, and I like formulas, systems, plans, etc.<\/p>\n
So let’s talk about the ABC’s of stability. If your loved one follows them, they can achieve stability with their bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
Let’s talk about the A’s : ACCEPTANCE<\/p>\n
Your loved one won’t get to first base without first accepting their disorder. They have to accept the fact that they have bipolar disorder and that it is incurable (but it is treatable). You have to accept some things as well. You have to accept your role as your loved one’s supporter. And sometimes that might take more patience than you have, but you have to keep going.<\/p>\n
ATTITUDE: Attitude has a whole lot to do with bipolar stability. You have to have a positive<\/p>\n
attitude, and try to look on the good side of things (because you know there will be a bad side).<\/p>\n
Both you and your loved one have to be optimistic that it is possible for them to achieve stability.<\/p>\n
Now let’s talk about the B’s : BELIEF<\/p>\n
Your loved one will never reach stability unless they first have the belief that they will. They have to believe in themselves, as well as in their medical and mental health professionals that<\/p>\n
they are all working for the same thing. They have to believe in your support as well. And you have to believe in them, and that they will someday be stable.<\/p>\n
BETTERING YOURSELF: Striving toward bipolar stability means bettering yourself by doing<\/p>\n
things like changing your lifestyle. Here I’m talking to both you and your loved one. You should both be doing things that keep you healthy and balanced \u2013 physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.<\/p>\n
And now the C’s : COMMITMENT TO TREATMENT<\/p>\n
Your loved one not only needs to take their medication religiously, but they also need to go to all their regularly scheduled appointments such as doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist. They have to be willing to do what it takes to make their treatment work for them. And so do you. Don’t let them get away with skipping medication or not going to appointments.<\/p>\n
CONFIDENCE: If your loved one does all the above things, they should have confidence<\/p>\n
that their treatment will work and that they will achieve stability. As you see your loved one making lifestyle changes, committed to their treatment, and trying to better themselves, you can have confidence as well \u2013 both in the process and the achievement of bipolar stability for them.<\/p>\n
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Of course, it’s not as easy as ABC, but if you do these things, stability is more than a possibility, it is a probability.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi, how are you today? I hope you’re doing fine.<\/p>\n
My little goddaughter is just starting to learn her ABC’s, and (not that I’m prejudiced or anything, just because she’s my goddaughter) it’s so cute! But it made me think, “I wish everything in life could be as simple as ABC.” You know, like if life could come with a set of instructions (of course, the women would say that us men wouldn’t read them anyway LOL).<\/p>\n