Bipolar Disorder? Don't Hide Because of This
Published: Fri, 01/07/11
Hi ,
How's it going?
I hope you're doing well today.
I had a disturbing conversation the other
day, and I wanted to tell you about it.
I was at a support group meeting (you know
I volunteer at a lot of them in different
places), and a girl came up to me after the
meeting and we started talking.
She said that she's afraid to make any plans
or do anything or go anywhere.
I asked her why she felt that way.
She said that it was because she was afraid
of having an episode.
I told her that most people with bipolar disorder
only have only one or two episodes a year.
She said, "Yes, but I never know when that
episode is going to happen."
I tried to tell her that hiding out, not doing
anything or making any plans wasn't going to
help her or her disorder.
She seemed to get defensive, and I didn't want her
to get mad at me, but I still thought she should
know more.
I said, "You need to learn more about bipolar disorder.
It might help you."
I guess she got mad at me anyway, because she just
walked away.
But I didn't think I did anything wrong.
I think she didn't know enough about bipolar
disorder to understand that staying home hiding from
the rest of the world can actually HURT you and can
make your disorder worse!
To say nothing about how frustrating it can be to your
supporter and your relationship with them.
In my courses/systems, I teach that you just can't live
in fear of when the next episode is going to strike. If
you are managing your bipolar disorder correctly, then you
should have no fear.
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
I really didn't mean to offend this girl, but maybe
she just didn't understand what I was trying to say,
or maybe I just said it the wrong way.
If so, I'm sorry.
But I really don't want people with bipolar disorder to
be misinformed. That's one of the biggest reasons why
I started BipolarCentral.com and started sending out these
daily emails. I want people to have the best information
possible.
Hiding out at home, not doing things outside the home,
not going anywhere, not doing anything enjoyable, and living
with the fear of when the next episode is going to strike is
like living in a bipolar prison.
It's like waiting to die!
And bipolar disorder is NOT a life sentence!
So many people are living quite normal lives even though
they have bipolar disorder. That's what I really wanted to
tell this girl.
Figure it this way:
Say you or your loved one didn't have bipolar disorder.
But you know that flu season comes around every year,
right?
So you probably do the smart thing and get your yearly
flu shot, like most people.
But do you live the rest of the year in fear of getting the flu?
Does it keep you hiding inside, afraid to go outside?
Does it keep you from having a normal social life?
Does it keep you from seeing friends and family?
Does it keep you from doing the things you enjoy?
Does it keep you from making plans?
Does it keep you bound up in fear? That's the main
question.
No one ever said that you or your loved one won't have
another episode. You/they probably will, in fact.
But if you're doing the things you need to do to manage
the disorder, there's no reason that you should not expect
to live a normal, healthy, successful, productive life despite
the fact that you or they have bipolar disorder.
Many, many people do.
They don't live in fear of the disorder, and they don't let
it control their lives.
They don't hide from the disorder, but they don't let it
make them hide from the rest of the world, either.
If they did, they would isolate at home, and isolation is a
trigger to depression, and depression to a bipolar depressive
episode.
And you don't want that, do you?
What do you think about this?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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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
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information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/
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mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can't learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com