Hi,<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a parent, you know that one of the values you try to teach your children is the value
\nof sharing. There\u2019s no worse screech to a parent\u2019s ears than to hear the cry of \u201cMine, mine, mine!\u201d from their children\u2019s voices across the room\u2026To be followed by an inevitable fight that they then have to referee. So\u2026Then must come the lecture about the value of sharing, mustn\u2019t it?
\nWell\u2026Sharing is an important value, I\u2019m not going to dispute that. But when it comes to bipolar disorder\u2026There are some things that it\u2019s important for your loved one to have\u2026And some things that it\u2019s important for you to have of your own.<\/p>\n
For example: It\u2019s very important that you have your own support system. Your loved one does need a good, strong support system if they\u2019re going to learn to manage their bipolar disorder and get better. But for some of the very same reasons that they need one\u2026You need one as well. And for another very important reason as well: Without a good strong support system of your own\u2026
\nYou can very easily suffer from supporter burnout. You just can\u2019t do it all yourself\u2026As much as you might want to\u2026As much as you might be tempted to\u2026As much as you might think you can\u2026As much as you might think you have no choice. You just can\u2019t. You can\u2019t afford to burn out. For your own sake as well as your loved one\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
As a bipolar supporter, it\u2019s just as important that you see to your own needs as much as you see to the needs of your loved one. And one of those needs MUST be the formation of your own support system.<\/p>\n
So\u2026Who should be in your support system? Well\u2026It could be your loved one\u2019s treatment team, for one thing. But mostly it should be made up of family and friends who care about you. People who can offer YOU support, as you offer your loved one support as part of their support system.
\nThese people can also be members of your church or synagogue or other place of worship. They could also be members of your bipolar support group. They could even be some of your co-workers with whom you are close, or even your boss, if you are close to them and if they can offer you support. Anyone can be a member of your support system if you want them to be. As long as they can support you if\/when you need them to.<\/p>\n
But one thing to remember is this: You have to tell the members of your support system how to help you, or else they won\u2019t know how. After all, they aren\u2019t mind readers. They only know what you tell them. So you have to tell them what you need. For example: If you just need someone to talk to about what\u2019s going on with your loved one\u2026You can pick someone for that, and tell them that you just need someone to listen for awhile. Or you might just need a temporary break from
\nyour loved one. So you might need someone from your support system to \u201cspell\u201d you for a little while so you can go somewhere and take a break from the situation. Or you may even need a temporary place to stay for a day or a few days.<\/p>\n
But these are all things you need to ask for from the people in your support system. Because they are all people who care about you and want to support you, I\u2019m sure they want to help you out, but you have to tell them specifically what you need.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a parent, you know that one of the values you try to teach your children is the value
\nof sharing. There\u2019s no worse screech to a parent\u2019s ears than to hear the cry of \u201cMine, mine, mine!\u201d from their children\u2019s voices across the room\u2026To be followed by an inevitable fight that they then have to referee. So\u2026Then must come the lecture about the value of sharing, mustn\u2019t it?
\nWell\u2026Sharing is an important value,<\/p>\n