Bipolar: Are You Hiding?
Published: Wed, 08/29/12
Hi ,
How are things going for you today?
I hope you're having a good day.
I had a disturbing conversation the other
day that I wanted to tell you about.
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 said that 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 just 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're managing your
disorder right, 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?
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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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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