Hi,<\/p>\n
You know, so much of the material written about bipolar disorder centers around the person with the disorder and their happiness. There really isn\u2019t a lot written about the supporter and their own happiness, is there?<\/p>\n
Today’s subject is about how you deserve your own happiness too, and you shouldn’t have to put
\nit aside just because your loved one has bipolar disorder. DON’T!<\/p>\n
You spend a lot of time as a supporter, and one of the problems with when you’re dealing with bipolar disorder is that you can get caught up in your loved one’s struggle with their own
\nmanagement of the disorder and your helping them with it. DON’T!<\/p>\n
They may have a problem with their mood swings and their own happiness because of it, but you
\nshould not let this affect your own happiness, as hard as this might be, just because of being their
\nsupporter.<\/p>\n
You should still do things that make you happy, like:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hobbies
\n\u2022 Doing things you enjoy
\n\u2022 Doing things that make you feel good
\n\u2022 Taking care of your own needs
\n\u2022 Going out with friends
\n\u2022 Going to the movies
\n\u2022 Reading
\n\u2022 Watching videos that your loved one
\nmay not want to watch with you
\n\u2022 Doing things by yourself
\n\u2022 Going shopping
\n\u2022 Spending time with your own family
\n\u2022 Spending time away from your loved one
\n\u2022 Taking a break from your loved one
\n\u2022 Taking a mini-vacation from your loved one
\n\u2022 Having a job outside the home<\/p>\n
Just being around your loved one 24\/7 will not help you and your own mental health at all \u2013 you may get so caught up in their world of bipolar disorder that you might become as sick as they are! DON’T!<\/p>\n
You have a right to your own happiness. Don’t delay that happiness! You really need to keep a life separate from your loved one, for your own sake. You have to hold onto your own happiness! Grab it right now! Take some time for R and R (rest and relaxation). Even combat soldiers do that!<\/p>\n
Don’t stress yourself out by giving all your energy to your loved one \u2013 save some for yourself as well. Giving all your time and energy to your loved one will make you stressed out and sick. And you don’t want that, do you? DON’T!<\/p>\n
Also, don’t try to be your loved one’s therapist. They should have their own therapist. They should be telling their therapist their problems, and not dumping them on you or taking out their problems on you, just because you are there!<\/p>\n
Because your loved one has bipolar disorder, they may get depressed and may try to “take you down” with them when they are in that phase of their disorder. They may want to use you as a shoulder to cry on, which might steal your own happiness. Remember, don’t act like their
\ntherapist. DON’T!<\/p>\n
Again, you should not be their enabler, either, or that will steal your own happiness as well. Don\u2019t encourage them to continue unacceptable behavior. So don’t be your loved one’s enabler, or you will be robbing yourself of your own happiness. DON’T!<\/p>\n
You deserve a life of your own. You deserve to be happy. You deserve an identity of your own outside your relationship with your loved one with bipolar disorder. Don’t get so caught up in their disorder and their problems that you lose yourself in it\/them. DON’T!<\/p>\n
Don’t delay your own happiness. Take charge of it beginning right now! Don’t let bipolar disorder steal your happiness! DON’T!<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
You know, so much of the material written about bipolar disorder centers around the person with the disorder and their happiness. There really isn\u2019t a lot written about the supporter and their own happiness, is there?<\/p>\n
Today’s subject is about how you deserve your own happiness too, and you shouldn’t have to put
\nit aside just because your loved one has bipolar disorder. DON’T!<\/p>\n
You spend a lot of time as a supporter,<\/p>\n