Hi,<\/p>\n
You know, researchers have been saying for a long time that we are a product of our environment. They say that children learn what they live, in fact. So that if they live in an environment filled with violence, they will become violent people themselves. But if they live in a loving, nurturing environment, then that is the type of person they will become in the future.<\/p>\n
But what happens when you\u2019re surrounded by an environment filled with mental illness? Some supporters have even questioned whether they can \u201ccatch\u201d their loved one\u2019s bipolar disorder, and<\/p>\n
that\u2019s one myth that I try to dispel when I talk to people.<\/p>\n
Living in a \u201cbipolar world\u201d can truly alter your perception of reality sometimes. You can get so caught up in the \u201cbipolar-ness\u201d of everything that your \u201cnormal\u201d just isn\u2019t what it used to be at all. It can make you feel crazy! Even to the point, like I mentioned, where you question whether you can \u201ccatch\u201d your loved one\u2019s bipolar disorder, because you may feel like you\u2019re starting to<\/p>\n
have some of the same symptoms. The fact is: NO. You cannot \u201ccatch\u201d your loved one\u2019s bipolar disorder. But you can react to it. Especially when you live in a bipolar world. If your world consists of nothing but your loved one\u2019s bipolar disorder, you are in dangerous territory. Like I was saying before\u2026Your perception of reality will be altered. You won\u2019t have a natural sense of \u201cnormal\u201d any more.<\/p>\n
Of course\u2026Anyone dealing with a loved one with bipolar disorder has to live with a new normal\u201d than before. A type of \u201cwhat is normal for now\u201d sort of thing\u2026Now being now that their loved one is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Because there is a \u201cnormal\u201d that comes with bipolar. And that is the normal that happens between bipolar episodes. What is called the normal period. And that\u2019s different for each person who has the disorder. So your normal would be what your loved one is like between their bipolar episodes. So when I\u2019m talking about normal for you, that\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about. So your life needs to be as normal as it can be.<\/p>\n
You just can\u2019t live in the bipolar world, or it will drive you crazy. You just can\u2019t center all your thoughts around bipolar disorder, for one thing. You should be having other, more positive thoughts, about other more varied things. Things that have nothing to do with your loved one\u2019s<\/p>\n
bipolar disorder. You can\u2019t dwell on it all the time. When your loved one isn\u2019t in a bipolar episode, you should take advantage of their normal periods, and do the things together that you couldn\u2019t do when they were in an episode. Get out. Have fun! Go places. Get yourselves out of that bipolar world that can tend to surround you so easily.<\/p>\n
As for yourself\u2026Try to have a life outside your loved one and their bipolar disorder. This will help to keep the bipolar world from overwhelming you. Have a job outside the home, for example. Try to see family and friends often. Do things that you enjoy away from your loved one<\/p>\n
and their bipolar disorder (alone or with someone else). Try to keep your own life as normal as possible.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
You know, researchers have been saying for a long time that we are a product of our environment. They say that children learn what they live, in fact. So that if they live in an environment filled with violence, they will become violent people themselves. But if they live in a loving, nurturing environment, then that is the type of person they will become in the future.<\/p>\n
But what happens when you\u2019re surrounded by an environment filled with mental illness?<\/p>\n