How to Plan Realistically with Bipolar Disorder
Published: Wed, 09/22/10
Hi ,
How's it going?
Hope you are doing well.
On some days, with your loved one's
bipolar disorder, it's hard to be sure where
they're going in life.
At times they're doing so well, and maybe
even better than the average person.
They certainly have so much potential!
But there are other days when it's so
blatantly obvious that they don't live up
to it.
Those are the days when their symptoms
take over and they lose control.
Those are the days that have you worried
that they won't make it to where they
want to be.
With those days in mind, how do you
help them plan for the career of their
dreams without setting them up for failure?
Marie was a young teenager who was
constantly being asked what she wanted
to be when she grew up.
She knew she wanted to have the good
things in life.
That is, she wanted to buy a house
eventually, and to own a nice car.
She wanted to have a retirement account
set up so she didn't have to work for the
rest of her life.
She wanted to graduate from college long
before thinking about a family.
She had a good head on her shoulders.
But she couldn't for the life of her think
of what she wanted to do as her career.
Well, she was only 14 years old.
Did she honestly need to know yet?
So when her teacher insisted that she
map out her life plan, here's what she did:
She mapped out her goals that she knew,
and the finances she would need to make
those goals.
She even did the research on things like
buying a house so she had her numbers
right.
She then, very realistically, mapped out a
plan for how much she needed to make
each month, starting at a lower wage and
working her way up over time, to meet
her goals.
Then, based on her interests and her
financial needs, she came up with 12
possible career choices that might
work for her, with an emphasis in the
report that they were just possibilities
and she was not limiting herself to them.
The teacher didn't like the fact that she
didn't give a diffident answer, but had to
respect the research and thought she put
into it, so she got an A.
Sometimes you can't plan for everything.
Well, most of the time, actually.
If your loved one is working on their
recovery to the best of their ability but
still has relapses, then yes, you need to
plan for the symptoms of their relapse.
But you can't expect to plan how they will
affect the rest of your or their lives.
It's just not so easy to map that out.
So instead, you have to do your best to
plan for the uncertain and to live life
anyway.
If they know what they want to do (when
they aren't manic, that is) and it doesn't
sound absolutely impossible, then help
them plan for it.
There will be factors to planning for it
that they probably haven't thought of.
It is possible, especially if they are
persistent in working towards it and in
improving.
But everyone needs some help in making
sure their ideas are sound to one extent
or another.
Someone who has trouble with mania
may need a little extra help.
Remember to break down the goals into
two groups: eventually and today.
It's what happens today that has potential
to set them up for success.
But don't worry: what happens today isn't
guaranteed to set them up for failure.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarsupporterblog/how-to-plan-realistically-with-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-20273
FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME
Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
===>> Great Resources For You <===
Get Your Own Subscription To This Newsletter
Want your own copy of these daily bipolar
emails sent to you for F.ree? If so, visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/register3
Get More Help On Bipolar Disorder
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.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
View Past Daily Bipolar Emails For F.REE
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/
Get Audio Information On Bipolar Disorder For F.REE
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