Hi,<\/p>\n
I know that there are a lot of bad days that come with being a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder. I know, because I went through it myself, when I was helping my mom. It seemed at times like there were many more bad days than good. And you know what? Sometimes I just wanted to give up. I really did. Yeah, me. The guy who never gives up on anything. It was just so discouraging, you know? There was so much that I tried with my mom that didn\u2019t work. And it was just really, really frustrating. But you know what kept me going?<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just the fact that I loved her. I mean, I did, I really did. But I didn\u2019t want to let her down. Her doctor had already let her down. And my dad had let her down. And my brother had let her down. So I just couldn\u2019t let her down too. I had to keep going.<\/p>\n
But the thing was\u2026Sometimes I was very discouraged, as I can imagine you might be with trying to help your loved one. Some people think it\u2019s an easy thing to be a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder just because you love them\u2026But we know that it just isn\u2019t that easy.<\/p>\n
For every one thing you try that works, there were several things you tried that didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n
But the main thing is\u2026You can never give up trying.<\/p>\n
If you feel like you\u2019re alone, you\u2019re not. I got this email recently:<\/p>\n
\u201cDave,<\/p>\n
Thank you so much for your emails. They really help me. It\u2019s so hard to deal with my sister sometimes. I mean I try to be a good sister but sometimes she\u2019s just so hard to deal with because of her bipolar. She does such crazy things sometimes some even dangerous things some things that I could even hate her for like calling me names and saying really hurtful things to me. But I always forgive her. Cuz I can\u2019t give up on her. Everyone else has so I just can\u2019t. Even tho she makes it so hard I just can\u2019t. I think sometimes of you and your mom. I mean you never<\/p>\n
gave up on her and look where she is now ya know? I keep hoping that one day my sister will just snap out of it and be better like your mom is but some days I just get so discouraged and frustrated and like I said I want to give up. Will she ever get better? How do I keep from giving<\/p>\n
up when I feel like that? Thanks, Nancy.\u201d<\/p>\n
——————————————————————————————————————-<\/p>\n
Wow. You know what I would say to Nancy (and to you if you\u2019re feeling discouraged)? Never give up hope. I know it sounds easier said than done. Still\u2026You\u2019ve got to hang on. It may be easier for me to say, since I\u2019ve seen so many success stories. But I\u2019ve seen some of the worst cases of bipolar disorder turn around and become success stories! So that\u2019s how I can tell you:<\/p>\n
Never give up hope. Yours could be a success story someday. That answer could be right around the corner. If you just don\u2019t give up trying.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
I know that there are a lot of bad days that come with being a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder. I know, because I went through it myself, when I was helping my mom. It seemed at times like there were many more bad days than good. And you know what? Sometimes I just wanted to give up. I really did. Yeah, me. The guy who never gives up on anything.<\/p>\n