Bipolar: The Change Trap
Published: Tue, 08/13/13
Hi ,
How's it going for you today?
I hope it's a good day for you.
Today I want to talk about CHANGE.
There's this sort of anecdote that talks about
how a woman married a man for who he was,
then immediately started changing him into who
she wanted him to be.
Then she wasn't happy, because he was no longer
the man she married!
It's supposed to be funny, but there is a ring of truth
in it.
As a supporter, you are many things to your loved
one.
You wear many hats, so to speak.
So it's important that you keep your sense of identity
because of it.
You have to stay fundamentally "you," or you may
fall into the
CHANGE TRAP
Many supporters with loved ones who have bipolar
disorder do fall into this trap.
In my courses/systems, I talk about change, and what is
good change and what is bad change:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.survivebipolar.net
The Change Trap is when you are so frustrated with
your loved one and their bipolar disorder, specifically
when your loved one is not well, that you try to change
yourself to change the situation.
But the trap has you believing that by your changing,
your loved one will get better, which is NOT true.
There's a difference between changing to adapt to a
situation (i.e., learning to adapt) and actually trying to
change yourself to change the situation.
When it comes to bipolar disorder, you cannot change
the disorder.
It is what it is.
When it comes to your loved one, you cannot change
them.
They are who and what they are.
It's like the Serenity Prayer:
Lord, grant me the serenity to
Accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference
Yes, you have control over yourself.
Yes, you have the power to change yourself.
But the other things you can't change, no matter
how hard you try.
See, there is good change and there is bad change.
Good change is when being a supporter to a loved one
with bipolar disorder brings out the caretaker in you, and
you become a super supporter.
Bad change is changing yourself to try to change the
bipolar disorder.
The change trap might also cause you to change yourself
to try to prevent a situation (like trying to prevent episodes,
which are going to happen anyway).
This can come from past episodes, where you may have
thought, "If only I were more attentive [understanding,
supportive, a better listener, etc.], my loved one wouldn't
have gone into this episode.
Then you start overcompensating by being overly-attentive,
etc.
Bad change is letting guilt cause you to change yourself.
Changing yourself might cause problems in your relationship
as well -
Like in that anecdote.
Your loved one accepts you for who you are.
They do not expect you to be someone you're not.
If you change too much (even though your motive is to
please your loved one), they may feel that you've become
a stranger to them, and then you may have problems
with the relationship in general, and communication
specifically.
Your loved one may feel that they can no longer talk to
you or open up to you, which can cause further problems.
You need to stay fundamentally YOU.
You can change to adapt to the situation (good change),
but not change who you are (bad change).
What do you think?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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