Hi,<\/p>\n
How’s it going? Today I wanted to write about
something that I have really ever written about
but I find it fairly disturbing. <\/p>\n
The other day I was talking to someone who
filled out one of my F.REE consultation
certificates for non medical and non legal
questions because I am NOT a doctor, lawyer,
therapist, etc.<\/p>\n
Anyway, this person basically wanted to know
two things.<\/p>\n
1. Why his son was sleeping so much in the day
and would be up all night.<\/p>\n
2. How he could get his son to start working
right away.<\/p>\n
First, I explained to him that I was not a doctor
BUT, I asked him if he informed the doctor about
his son’s condition. He said, “Umm. Well no not really.”
So I highly, and I mean highly recommended that he
contact the doctor and let him\/her know EXACTLY
what he was seeing with his son. From a to z and
don’t hide, sugar coat or mask anything.<\/p>\n
NOTE-I am really surprised the number of people
that see that something is wrong and don’t
report it to the doctor. I just can’t understand
why people do this. It doesn’t make sense. If
you see ANYTHING that is not “normal” or
doesn’t make sense with either yourself or your
loved one with bipolar disorder, you must report
it. <\/p>\n
Doctors are NOT psychics and can’t know things
without you telling them. <\/p>\n
Okay so anyway, back the story. So the guy says
okay I can do that and that makes sense. I tell
him that he needs to ask the doctor exactly
how they would like to receive this information
via email, fax, voicemails, etc. <\/p>\n
The guy says okay. <\/p>\n
Then he said well what about working and bipolar
disorder. I said what do you mean? He said well
he won’t work. I said you mean your son? He said
yes. <\/p>\n
I was shocked.<\/p>\n
Do you know why? Take a wild guess and then
scroll down for the answer….<\/p>\n
SCROLL DOWN<\/p>\n
How can you expect someone with bipolar disorder
to work if he is not stable? How does this make any
sense whatsoever? I asked this person this simple
question he said. <\/p>\n
Well I need him to start making some money
because he hasn’t made any. I was thinking in my
head, “Well I need a lot of stuff but that doesn’t
mean I am going to get it.”<\/p>\n
So I explained to this particular gentleman that
his son has bipolar disorder and is not stable.
Step 1 is to get him stable. After he is stable,
then we can look into things like employment. But
first things first. We have to get him stable.<\/p>\n
I then said to him. Imagine how “crazy” it would
be if you asked a stroke victim who just had a stroke
to start working right away. I said to him, “People
would like you were out of your mind.” I said,
you are asking the same type of thing.<\/p>\n
I then went on to say, “it seems you don’t think
bipolar disorder is a real condition and is serious
because if you did, you wouldn’t expect your son
to work right away even though he is not stable.”<\/p>\n
I then went on to add, would it be fair for your
son to apply for jobs even though he wasn’t stable?
He said, “well the people probably wouldn’t know
at first anyway?” I said, well is that fair? Of
course it’s not fair.<\/p>\n
I then told the person he needs a sort of bipolar
supporter mind cleanse and he is way off track.
I told him that I was going to outline what I thought
he needs to do.<\/p>\n
I told him.<\/p>\n
1. Focus on getting your son stable.
2. Work with the doctor and inform him of your son’s
signs and symptoms.
3. Assume that it’s going to take months for your son
be stable. If it takes less time great but assume longer
than shorter so you don’t get disappointed.
4. Reread what bipolar disorder is and study it carefully.
5. Sell yourself that bipolar disorder is a real illness
and you can’t push an unstable person too hard because
that’s not fair.
6. After your son is stable, look into part time employment
after the doctor\/therapist agree it’s okay.
7. If you need money immediately, cut your expenses and\/or
increase your income but don’t put pressure on your son
who is not well.
8. Treat your son the same way you would treat a cancer patient
or stroke victim who are in recovery. Meaning if a cancer patient
was in recovery, you wouldn’t expect them to work and make a
fortune right away would you? He said no.<\/p>\n
Then I let the person go because I had to run. I must say
I get a lot of calls from people wanting their loved one
to start working right away. I find this disturbing.
How the heck can you expect someone to work when he\/she
is not stable? That makes no sense. <\/p>\n
When my mom was sick, my brother never wanted my mom
to work BUT he would make comments and jokes about how
she wasn’t working. I didn’t even bother to argue with
him because the stuff he was saying was so stupid it
was not even worth commenting on.<\/p>\n
Here’s the thing. You have to help a person become stable
first before you have them employed. If you don’t you
will wind up costing yourself more money in the long
run. For example, if you get a person a job who is
not stable they will probably get worse anyway which
will wind up costing more in medical costs, medication
costs and psychological costs on you and if you start
to depend on the income they are making it will be
gone and that will be a problem for you.<\/p>\n
So don’t do it. And give a person with bipolar disorder
who is not stable a break. It’s not fair to put a ton
of pressure on them. If you need money, look to other
ways to get it. Like I said, cut your expenses,
increase your income, etc. There’s more than one
way to skin a cat so to speak as the old saying
goes.<\/p>\n
In my courses\/systems, nobody went into an episode
and could start working right away. It was a
gradual process. It takes time. I think after 9 months
or so my mom could work part time. BUT part time.
If you check out my interview in my courses\/systems
you’ll see what I mean.<\/p>\n
SUPPORTING AN ADULT?
Visit:
http:\/\/www.bipolarsupporter.com\/report11<\/p>\n
SUPPORTING A CHILD\/TEEN?
Visit:
http:\/\/www.bipolarparenting.com<\/p>\n
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http:\/\/www.survivebipolar.net<\/p>\n
Well I have to take off for today. I hope you really
think about this email because it’s important.<\/p>\n
Have a great day and I will catch you tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
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.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":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
How’s it going? Today I wanted to write about
something that I have really ever written about
but I find it fairly disturbing. <\/p>\n
The other day I was talking to someone who
filled out one of my F.REE consultation
certificates for non medical and non legal
questions because I am NOT a doctor, lawyer,
therapist, etc.<\/p>\n
Anyway, this person basically wanted to know
two things.<\/p>\n