Can You Catch Bipolar Disorder?
Published: Tue, 03/06/12
Hi ,
How are you doing today?
I hope you're doing well.
I got the following email from someone the other
day, and I wanted to share it with you, because
you might have even wanted to ask the same
question or wondered the same thing:
"Dave,
My wife has had bipolar disorder for a long time,
and I've been taking care of her for all that time.
I'm ok though. I don't have it, at least I don't
think I do, but that's what I'm wondering about
now. I don't know if she's just driving me crazy
with her bipolar behaviors or if I might be catching
her bipolar disorder. But lately I've been having
mood swings myself. Well I'm not going into mania
like she does but I really have been depressed
wondering if I'm always going to have to go
through this. Is it true, could I really catch
her bipolar?"
-------------------------------------------------------------
At first, it may seem like a silly question to ask whether
you can catch bipolar disorder, but believe me, many
supporters have asked me that very same question.
In fact, so many that that's one of the things I go over
in my courses/systems below, because people need to
know the answer:
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
And, very simply, the answer is:
NO. You can't catch bipolar disorder like you can
catch the flu.
But you CAN pick up your loved one's bipolar behaviors
if you're not careful!
And that can happen if you let their bipolar disorder
overwhelm you to the exclusion of everything else.
Which can happen easier than you might think, believe
it or not.
It has happened to so many supporters that they do
end up asking me if you can actually catch bipolar
disorder from your loved one.
But here's what I'm talking about:
If you're living in the "bipolar world" so much that
you don't have any escape from it...
Then bipolar disorder becomes the "norm" and normal
life becomes the exception.
Then things are topsy-turvy for you...
And you can become as emotionally sick as your loved
one.
That's why I always stress to supporters that, for one
thing, you shouldn't be the only supporter that your
loved one has.
They should have other people in their support system
who can give you a break once in a while.
That's so that you can get a break from them and their
bipolar disorder.
And so that you can stay emotionally healthy.
For another thing...
You need to have other activities outside of your loved
one, things that you do with other people.
For example:
Meeting friends for lunch or dinner every so often
would be a good idea for you, and definitely keeping
up these relationships, too.
You need to have friends who don't have a mental illness
to surround yourself with, as this will also help keep you
emotionally healthy.
You also need to keep your family relationships close
to you as well.
Family bonds are important, especially when you're a
supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder.
They will give you a good sense of normalcy, and also
a good sense of self-worth and self-esteem.
Another good source of self-esteem for you (and another
thing that will get you away from your loved one and
their bipolar disorder) would be an outside job.
If you don't already have one, I strongly urge you to get
a job outside the home.
This will not only help your loved one to become more
independent...
But will help you to get out of the bipolar world on an
ongoing basis as well.
You also need to do things that make you feel good, that
bring you enjoyment.
You could even do these things with your loved one,
so that both of you can escape the bipolar world so
that it doesn't consume you!
But you at least definitely need to do these things so that
you can stay emotionally healthy.
What do you think?
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarsupporterblog/can-you-catch-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-36128
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Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
===>> Great Resources For You <===
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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
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