Hi,<\/p>\n
There\u2019s this movie with Queen Latifah in it where her character is diagnosed with a fatal tumor and told she is going to die. She\u2019s told she doesn\u2019t have much time left, just months. Well\u2026She has this book. It\u2019s like a scrapbook. A sort of \u201cDream Book.\u201d In it she put all the things she would like to do someday. You know, like visit Europe, learn to be a great chef, get a nice car, fall in love, etc. So when she found out she was dying, she took all her money and decided to go to Europe to visit this great chef (at least two of the things in her Dream Book). She had a great time!<\/p>\n
Well\u2026I\u2019m not going to tell you how the movie ends, because I don\u2019t want to spoil it for you. But I was thinking about this Dream Book idea in relation to bipolar disorder (I know, I know, I think\u00a0of everything in relation to bipolar disorder). But so many people let bipolar disorder stop them from pursuing their dreams. That\u2019s one of the reasons why I tell people not to let bipolar disorder overwhelm you or take over your life. There has to be more to your life than bipolar disorder. But if you\u2019re not careful, it CAN take over your life, and it can easily overwhelm you. Sometimes to the point where you can\u2019t see beyond it. Some people get so taken over by it that they no longer make any plans for fear of the bipolar interfering with them. So they just stay home. And that\u2019s no answer either.<\/p>\n
Even though with bipolar disorder does come the possibility of bipolar episodes, there also exists the possibility of stable periods. Periods that are fairly normal. That\u2019s when you should take advantage of the situation. Do the things that you\u2019ve been planning to do. Do the things that you\u2019ve put off doing. Do the things that the bipolar has kept you from doing.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my idea: I think you should make up a Dream Book like Queen Latifah\u2019s character did in the movie. Get together with your loved one when they\u2019re stable. Cut out pictures from magazines about things you\u2019d like to do when they stay stable and are in a normal period for X amount of time. Do you want to take a cruise? Cut out a picture of a cruise ship. Do you want to visit the beach? Cut out a picture of the beach. Do you want to visit family? Cut out a picture of a happy family. Do you want to visit the mountains? Cut out a picture of the mountains. Do you want to fly to Alaska? Cut out a picture of a plane.<\/p>\n
Do you see what I mean? Let your imaginations soar! Just think of all the things that you\u2019d like to do! Have fun with it! Just remember that bipolar disorder doesn\u2019t have to stop you from doing the things that you\u2019d like to do during normal periods.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
There\u2019s this movie with Queen Latifah in it where her character is diagnosed with a fatal tumor and told she is going to die. She\u2019s told she doesn\u2019t have much time left, just months. Well\u2026She has this book. It\u2019s like a scrapbook. A sort of \u201cDream Book.\u201d In it she put all the things she would like to do someday. You know, like visit Europe, learn to be a great chef, get a nice car,<\/p>\n