Hi,<\/p>\n
Many (most) parents raise their children to believe that they can do anything they set their minds to. If they want to be a doctor, they can do that. If they want to be a lawyer, they can do that. If they want to help people, they can do that. If they want to work with their hands, they can pick a profession (like auto mechanic) where they can do that.<\/p>\n
They see their child and their particular gifts and talents, and they try to steer them in a direction that will use those gifts and talents, while all the time telling them that they can be anything and do anything that they want to.<\/p>\n
That’s positive reinforcement. That’s a good thing for a parent to do. That’s a good thing for a bipolar supporter to do as well.<\/p>\n
You shouldn’t let their bipolar disorder hold them back. But it shouldn’t hold you back, either. You should still be able to do anything you want to do, too.<\/p>\n
If you still want to work a full-time job, for example, you should be able to do that without worrying about what your loved one will do without having you around. If you do, that’s called codependency. If they get in trouble without you around, perhaps they are too dependent on you to keep them out of trouble, and that is not a healthy thing. You should be able to trust them to be ok when you’re not around, at least as much as to be able to work.<\/p>\n
However, I know one woman who tried to work, but her husband would call her 10 and 12 times a day at work, until she was let go from work because they said they just couldn’t have that happening.<\/p>\n
Your loved one needs to have something to do while you work so that they don’t do things like that. They need to be productive in their own right so that they are not so dependent on you. They need to have their own strong support network, and their own social network as well.<\/p>\n
They could even have their own job \u2013 either part-time, or even a volunteer position, just something that gets them out of the house \u2013 or even a home business might work for them.<\/p>\n
You should also be able to have your own friends that you can see when you want. It is healthy for you to have a social life outside of your loved one so that their bipolar disorder doesn’t overwhelm you. Go to lunch with a friend every once in a while \u2013 it will do you good.<\/p>\n
For your own mental and emotional well-being, you should be able to go out and do things on your own. You shouldn’t feel trapped by your loved one. And you shouldn’t feel guilty at leaving them alone at home, or fear for what might happen. They should be learning how to manage their own disorder, and to be independent to some degree. They shouldn’t need you to such a degree that you can’t do what you want to do, or it isn’t healthy.<\/p>\n
If you feel as if your loved one and\/or their bipolar disorder is holding you back, then you need to talk to them about it. You need to be able to do the things you need and want to do.<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
Many (most) parents raise their children to believe that they can do anything they set their minds to. If they want to be a doctor, they can do that. If they want to be a lawyer, they can do that. If they want to help people, they can do that. If they want to work with their hands, they can pick a profession (like auto mechanic) where they can do that.<\/p>\n
They see their child and their particular gifts and talents,<\/p>\n