Hi,<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have a pet, because I live alone and I\u2019m in and out a lot. But I do know a lot of people who do have pets, and some of them treat them like their children or their best friends! I can understand that. It\u2019s easy \u2013 I mean\u2026You train your pet\u2026And they do what you tell them to do.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not like a person. You can\u2019t train a person to do what you tell them to do. People are just going to do what they want to do anyway. No matter how much you want them to do something.<\/p>\n
Even if it\u2019s for their own good. Like your loved one with bipolar disorder. You can\u2019t change your loved one, no matter how much you would like to. They have to be willing to change themselves.<\/p>\n
But like I said: You may want your loved one to do certain things, especially if they\u2019re for their own good\u2026But you sure can\u2019t make them. And that\u2019s where things can get hard sometimes. That\u2019s one of the really hard things about supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
ACCEPTANCE. It\u2019s hard to accept things you don\u2019t like. Or that you don\u2019t agree with. Or that you see are harming your loved one. Or are harming your relationship with them. Or are even harming you. How can you accept the detrimental things that come with your loved one having bipolar disorder? Now, first of all, notice I said ACCEPT, and not like. No one says you have to like these things. Because obviously you\u2019re not going to like them. Who\u2019s going to like it when their loved one flies into a bipolar rage and starts screaming and yelling at them? But, unfortunately, I am saying that you have to accept it.<\/p>\n
So how can you do that? By accepting that it\u2019s just part of the behavior that stems from their bipolar disorder when it\u2019s out of control. That way, by making it part of their bipolar disorder<\/p>\n
and NOT them\u2026It\u2019s easier not to blame them for their behavior\u2026And to not take it personally.<\/p>\n
That way, hopefully, it won\u2019t hurt you as much. Other things are hard to accept as well. What about when you see your loved one doing things that hurt themselves? Like not complying with their treatment? Say they start skipping their therapy appointments, for example? Then even stop going? This can lead to acting out behavior, then to bipolar episodes. Or if they stop taking their medication, because they \u201cfeel fine,\u201d which can also lead to an episode. It\u2019s really hard to accept that. But all you can do is try to talk to them and tell them how much you care and that you want them to be better and the way to do that is to take their medication and go to therapy, then hope that they will.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have a pet, because I live alone and I\u2019m in and out a lot. But I do know a lot of people who do have pets, and some of them treat them like their children or their best friends! I can understand that. It\u2019s easy \u2013 I mean\u2026You train your pet\u2026And they do what you tell them to do.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not like a person. You can\u2019t train a person to do what you tell them to do.<\/p>\n