Hi,<\/p>\n
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How’s it going?<\/p>\n
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Hope you are doing well.<\/p>\n
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I have a super busy today planned today.<\/p>\n
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I have to make this kind of quick. I don’t have much time to write before I take off for the gym.<\/p>\n
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I wanted to ask you a question.<\/p>\n
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Have you ever watched that movie “Message in a Bottle?” <\/span>The title is based on the old stories of people who supposedly wrote messages on a piece of paper, put them in bottles, then threw them into the ocean, to wash up onto the shore years later for someone to find and read.<\/p>\n \n Well, I was thinking about that movie, and it made me wonder about what I would write on my piece of paper. <\/span>I mean, it really makes you wonder, to go through this whole encyclopedia of thoughts you have, trying to narrow them down to just one single thought that would be the most important thing you would want someone to know who would find the message in the bottle someday.<\/p>\n \n One man was asked about it, and he said, “I would tell them to have fun, because I don’t think people do that enough in their lives, and by the time they realize that, it’s too late.” <\/span>He said he thought people just take life too seriously.<\/p>\n \n Another person said what they would write would be, “Give yourself permission to dream.”<\/p>\n \n Yet another, “Experience is what youget when you don’t get what you wanted. <\/span>And it can be the most valuable thing you have to offer.”<\/p>\n \n It sounds like fortune cookies, doesn’t it?<\/p>\n \n Think about it \u2013 what would YOU put on your message in a bottle?<\/p>\n \n Even with bipolar disorder staring you in the face, think about all the different things you could say on your little piece of paper \u2013 what one important thought would you want to pass on to someone who would find your message?<\/p>\n \n It kind of puts things in perspective, making the bipolar disorder not seem as big a problem (now, I’m not making light of bipolar disorder, so don’t send me any hate mail!).<\/p>\n \n The thing is, we all have something to pass on. <\/span>You may have bipolar disorder, or are a supporter of a loved one who has it, but that doesn’t mean your life stops there. <\/span>You are a person totally outside of the disorder. <\/span>And you have a whole lot to give to the world outside of the disorder. <\/span>At least you should.<\/p>\n \n If your life is totally about the disorder, that is wrong.<\/p>\n \n That’s why I teach in my courses\/systems that supporters should have outside activities as well as being a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder:<\/p>\n \n SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?<\/p>\n Visit:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.bipolarsupporter.com\/report11<\/a><\/p>\n \n SUPPORTING A CHILD\/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?<\/p>\n Visit:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.bipolarparenting.com<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?<\/p>\n Visit:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.survivebipolar.net<\/a><\/p>\n \n You should have something of a social life. <\/span>You should have friends and family outside of your bipolar support group. <\/span>You should have outside interests besides bipolar disorder. <\/span><\/p>\n \n Your loved one should not be isolating (that’s a trigger to a bipolar episode). <\/span>They should not be sleeping most of the day away (another trigger to a bipolar episode).<\/p>\n \n If they’re following a good treatment plan, then you should be living a relatively normal life, not looking for an episode around every corner, staying at home all the time because you’re afraid to make plans because they “might” have an episode. <\/span>Come out of the dark \u2013 there’s a whole world out there for you to experience!<\/p>\n \n And you should have friends outside of your loved one. <\/span>You have to have some outside activities that do not<\/p>\n include your loved one. <\/span>Hobbies, support group, outside interests \u2013 even if you only go by yourself to the movies once in awhile, or shopping\u2026 if you don’t, if all you do is be a caregiver to your loved one 24\/7, you will burn out. <\/span><\/p>\n \n You can’t be a good supporter if you don’t take care of yourself first \u2013 if you don’t meet your own needs. <\/span>And some of those needs are to spend some time away from your loved one.<\/p>\n \n In thinking about what you would put on that message in the bottle, think about the things that are really important to you. I know being a supporter is important to you, and takes up a lot of your time. <\/span>But some supporters just kind of fell into the role, because there wasn’t anyone else to do it, and they might even resent that \u2013 so it isn’t a very positive thing for them. <\/span>Not that it’s any less important, but they might not feel appreciated. <\/span>That’s why outside activities are that much more important \u2013 they need to get their self-esteem elsewhere.<\/p>\n \n What you do and who you are go into what matters to you most. <\/span>Those are the things that will help you determine what you would put on your message in the bottle.<\/p>\n \n So who are you? <\/span>Have you thought about that lately? <\/span>I mean, who are you besides just a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder?<\/p>\n \n You must have your own likes and dislikes, your own interests, your own talents and gifts\u2026 are you doing\/using them? <\/span>Or have you forsaken them for your loved one? <\/span>Have you stopped playing the piano? <\/span>Have you stopped reading, writing, keeping a garden, practicing yoga, going to church, going to the gym, meeting girlfriends for lunch? <\/span>You need to do those things that made you happy, those things that made you who you are. <\/span><\/p>\n \n You cannot let bipolar disorder determine who you are. Just because you do those things does NOT make you a bad supporter! <\/span>In fact, it works just the opposite \u2013 the better you feel about yourself, the better a supporter you will be.<\/p>\n \n So, what would YOU write on your message in a bottle?<\/p>\n \n David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide \u201cBipolar Disorder\u2014The REAL Silent Killer.\u201d Click Here<\/span><\/a><\/strong> to get FREE Information<\/strong> sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hi,<\/p>\n \n How’s it going?<\/p>\n \n Hope you are doing well.<\/p>\n \n I have a super busy today planned today.<\/p>\n \n I have to make this kind of quick. I don’t have much time to write before I take off for the gym.<\/p>\n \n I wanted to ask you a question.<\/p>\n \n Have you ever watched that movie “Message in a Bottle?” The title is based on the old stories of people who supposedly wrote messages on a piece of paper,<\/p>\n