==>>Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<<==
Check out all my resources, programs and information
for all aspects of bipolar disorder by visiting:
http:\/\/www.bipolarcentral.com\/catalog.asp<\/p>\n
Hi,<\/p>\n
How’s it going? Hope all is well with you.<\/p>\n
I got a very interesting email from someone that
said:<\/p>\n
“I am wondering if anyone can help me
distinguish between a bipolar episode and
typical behavior?<\/p>\n
Any advice and or suggestions would be
appreciated.”<\/p>\n
I get this email a lot. I am actually
going to record a podcast about it
but in the meantime, I wanted to write
an email about it.<\/p>\n
Now I will be the first to say, this is
a VERY complicated thing to explain
via email but I will try to do my best.<\/p>\n
First let’s take a look at some of the
things that I have learned:<\/p>\n
-People with bipolar disorder are allowed to have
emotions (anger, sadness, happiness, etc.)<\/p>\n
-Everything isn’t bipolar disorder<\/p>\n
-Some things are signs of a potential bipolar
episode and some things aren’t.<\/p>\n
First I have found it takes time to figure out
what is bipolar and what is normal behavior.<\/p>\n
The first step is to set a goal of trying to
figure out which is which. Some people, my dad
for many decades and currently my brother never
set this as a goal. As a result the struggled
to figure it out.<\/p>\n
I set it as a goal about 3 months after my
mom was stable.<\/p>\n
The second important point is to realize that
the longer you work on trying to figure this
out, the easier it is. So there is no instant
quick fix.<\/p>\n
The next thing you do is when you have something
in question, you ask yourself:<\/p>\n
What was the person like when you first met him\/her
and how does this compare to what you are seeing
or hearing now.<\/p>\n
How did the person act when you first met him\/her and
how does this compare to what you are seeing or hearing
now.<\/p>\n
How would you act in the situation you think may be
a sign of bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
In reference to the last point I just made, I remember
a few years ago when my brother’s wife’s brother
said something really stupid at Thanksgiving. He said
that people with bipolar disorder “have their wires
crossed.” He then went on to say other stupid
things.<\/p>\n
My mom got mad but didn’t say anything at all. I was
SUPER MAD about it. I wanted to confront him but
my mom made me promise that I wouldn’t ruin Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
So after Thanksgiving, my mom got home and called her
sister (my aunt) to vent about it. My aunt called me
to ask if I thought my mom was going into another
episode and was this a sign.<\/p>\n
I said no because a normal person without bipolar
disorder would have done the same thing. She agreed.
Make sense?<\/p>\n
I remember this other time that someone cut
my mom off on the highway. And I guess the
person screamed at her as well and made
mean hand gestures. My mom told my dad and
myself about it and she was mad. <\/p>\n
My dad asked if I thought she was going
into an episode. I then reminded him that
he gets mad at people if they don’t use
their blinker and he goes on and on and on
and on and on about it. My point to him
was, if you get cut off, screamed at, and
someone makes weird hand gestures at you,
it will probably make you mad. That’s normal.<\/p>\n
Now if my mom had day after day of getting
into conflict or having these situations occur,
I might think that is an episode.<\/p>\n
It’s really hard to write how I figure this all
out but I tried. I hope it makes sense.<\/p>\n
In all my courses\/systems, I talk about this at
length and go into it from a to z.<\/p>\n
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http:\/\/www.bipolarsupporter.com\/report11<\/p>\n
SUPPORTING A CHILD\/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http:\/\/www.bipolarparenting.com<\/p>\n
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http:\/\/www.survivebipolar.net<\/p>\n
For me, after several years of supporting
my mom it’s rather easy for me to know
which is which these days.<\/p>\n
But for my dad, it’s still difficult. I am not
sure why it’s so hard for him. Actually
I don’t think he really has made a commitment
to determine which is which. I think he just
figures he can ask me \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
Now another point. When people with bipolar
disorder go into episodes they may misperceive
what is going on and relay things that are not
true…otherwise known as lie.<\/p>\n
Now if a person is normally honest but starts lying
then that means that probably is related to bipolar
disorder. <\/p>\n
But on the flip side, if someone lies all the time,
then that’s their personality and is not bipolar
disorder.<\/p>\n
The final thing you can consider is the bipolar
stability equation. If you look and see if all
the variables in the equation are okay and if
they are, and you are questioning a behavior,
it’s probably NOT related to bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
I hope this all make sense. I spent more than 1
hour trying to relay this in the best possible
way. I hope I didn’t confuse you.<\/p>\n
I have to run.<\/p>\n
Catch you tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
P.S. Don’t forget to take a look through the
different programs I’ve put together… each one is designed
to help you with a different area of bipolar disorder whether
you have it or you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http:\/\/www.bipolarcentral.com\/catalog.asp<\/p>\n
P.P.S. Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http:\/\/www.bipolarcentral.com\/supporterblog\/<\/p>\n
P.P.P.S Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can’t learn anywhere else.
http:\/\/bipolarcentral.libsyn.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
==Help with ALL aspects of bipolar disorder<\/p>\n