Hi,<\/p>\n
There was a movie out a long time ago called \u201cIt\u2019s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,\u201d and it was a comedy (pretty obvious, huh?). It was just all about all the craziness in the world. And if you really think about it, I guess, there really is a lot of craziness in the world today. Things are happening that 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago, you never thought in a million years would happen. But they are. And it\u2019s crazy! Things like this wouldn\u2019t happen in our grandparents\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
Or even in our parents\u2019 time. But it\u2019s happening in our time. Sometimes it seems like the world is spinning out of control. It can seem like everyone around you is crazy sometimes! Being that you\u2019re so surrounded with bipolar disorder because of your loved one having it, it can probably<\/p>\n
even sometimes seem to you like everyone has bipolar disorder. I mean, I even saw a commercial the other day with Mark Harmon in it, who plays Gibbs on NCIS, urging people with bipolar disorder to get help. He said that some people can go even 10 years suffering<\/p>\n
needlessly with symptoms before they get diagnosed. That\u2019s true.<\/p>\n
But after you\u2019re diagnosed, one of the biggest problems is accepting that diagnosis. Then, even after you\u2019ve accepted the diagnosis, you still have to learn to cope and deal with your disorder on a daily basis. And that\u2019s a fight in itself. And if you\u2019re a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder\u2026That fight can sometimes seem overwhelming. It can sometimes feel like that\u2019s all you ever talk about\u2026It\u2019s all you ever think about\u2026It\u2019s all that ever concerns you. But don\u2019t you ever think: \u201cThere\u2019s got to be more to life than bipolar disorder!\u201d I\u2019m sure you do! Even if it\u2019s just in the back of your mind. And if you do, don\u2019t feel guilty about it. It doesn\u2019t make you a bad supporter. It just makes you human.<\/p>\n
Sure, there\u2019s more to life than bipolar disorder. And there\u2019s more to your life than just being a<\/p>\n
bipolar supporter to your loved one. You shouldn\u2019t feel as if your whole life is taken over by their bipolar disorder. If you do, it\u2019ll make you, well, downright crazy! It can even make you feel as if you\u2019ve \u201ccaught\u201d your loved one\u2019s bipolar disorder, as some supporters have told me they feel. So the only way to deal with it is\u2026You have to have a life outside of your loved one and their bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
For one thing\u2026Most supporters of a loved one with bipolar disorder work a job outside of the home. This gives them a break from their loved one and helps them with their sense of self and gives them good self-esteem as well. It helps them to be around people who don\u2019t have bipolar<\/p>\n
disorder, too. And it helps to be in situations that are not influenced or even surrounded by bipolar disorder as well. So if you don\u2019t have a job outside the home, you might want to consider getting one.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
There was a movie out a long time ago called \u201cIt\u2019s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,\u201d and it was a comedy (pretty obvious, huh?). It was just all about all the craziness in the world. And if you really think about it, I guess, there really is a lot of craziness in the world today. Things are happening that 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago, you never thought in a million years would happen.<\/p>\n