Hi,<\/p>\n
Do you ever read the comics? Specifically, do you ever read Peanuts? I love how Charlie Brown and Lucy interact. It cracks me up! lol But I always remember one thing about their interaction:<\/p>\n
Lucy always called Charlie Brown \u201cwishy-washy.\u201d Have you ever known someone who was wishy-washy? That\u2019s not someone who you could generally depend on, is it? Not necessarily someone whose opinion you would ask, either. Because they might be one way one day, and a different way another day. That\u2019s how wishy-washy is. Not consistent. And that\u2019s what I want to talk to you about today: BEING CONSISTENT. Because that\u2019s what you need to be.<\/p>\n
When you have bipolar disorder, there are very few things that you can count on being consistent. For example\u2026You can\u2019t even count on your moods being consistent from day to day.<\/p>\n
And that can be very frustrating. So you seek consistency in your world. That\u2019s why routine is so very important for your loved one. And why it will help them become stable with their bipolar<\/p>\n
disorder. So they need consistency from you as well. The more consistent you can be\u2026The better off your loved one will be. You just can\u2019t be wishy-washy, in other words. They need to know that they can count on you. They need to know that they have your consistent support.<\/p>\n
They need to know that they have your consistent understanding. They need to know that they have your consistent listening ear. They need to know that they have your consistent unconditional love. They need to know that whatever you do for them, that you will be consistent. Like I said, they need to be able to count on you.<\/p>\n
However\u2026They can\u2019t count on you TOO much, or they will become dependent on you. And you do NOT want that. That would lead to a codependent relationship, which would hurt both of you and hinder their recovery. So you need to be consistent\u2026But you also need to have a healthy balance between what you do for your loved one and what you expect them to do for themselves.<\/p>\n
For example: You should set goals. You could have long-term goals (like a trip) and short-<\/p>\n
term goals (like stable behavior for a given length of time). And just as you are consistent in your role as supporter\u2026You can also require that your loved one be consistent in meeting these goals that you\u2019ve set. Consistency will help them get to stability and recovery.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
Do you ever read the comics? Specifically, do you ever read Peanuts? I love how Charlie Brown and Lucy interact. It cracks me up! lol But I always remember one thing about their interaction:<\/p>\n
Lucy always called Charlie Brown \u201cwishy-washy.\u201d Have you ever known someone who was wishy-washy? That\u2019s not someone who you could generally depend on, is it? Not necessarily someone whose opinion you would ask, either. Because they might be one way one day,<\/p>\n