Bipolar: Is It Really a Lie?
Published: Tue, 03/18/14
Hi ,
How are things going for you?
I hope they're going well.
I have this friend, whose children are grown
adults now, with children of their own.
But she told me this story about one of them
one time.
She was trying to teach her children about lying,
and about how it was wrong to lie.
And one of them said:
"Well, Mommy, is it a lie if I tell you it's a lie?"
Well...You kinda have to think about that one.
Children do say the darnedest things sometimes,
don't they?
That's what my friend thought, anyway, when she
really didn't know how to answer her son when
he said that!
Well...I was thinking about that story the other day,
when I was thinking about one of the biggest problems
with bipolar disorder:
LYING.
In fact...It's such a big problem, that it's one of the
things that I talk about in my courses/systems below:
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
Lying and bipolar disorder.
It's a big problem, all right.
Consider this email that I got:
"Dave,
I do love my husband, don't get me wrong. And I
know he loves me. And I know he doesn't really
want to hurt me. But he does anyway. You know
how? He lies! He lies all the time! I'm afraid he
does it on purpose. Or maybe it's just cause of his
bipolar disorder, I don't know, but that's what I
wanted to ask you about. Do all people with bipolar
disorder lie all the time? I mean, he even lies about
stuff he doen't have to lie aobut! Things it's sure
I would find out about, like that he doesn't do
something he should. Like even that he doesn't
go to see his therapist when he should go. I can see
that the payment isn't made, he should know that.
But he still tells me that he goes, and that's an
outright lie. Like I wouldn't find out! What is he
thinking? Is everyone with bipolar like this, or is
it just him? And what should I do about it? I'm
at the end of my rope here. I feel like I'm dealing
with a teenager."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmm...
Not as odd an email as you might think. I've gotten
emails like this before.
Like I said, lying is a common problem with bipolar
disorder.
There are several reasons for this. And some of them
came out in this email.
For one thing, someone with bipolar disorder may
appear to be lying, when it's really a result of their
disorder.
Here's what I'm talking about:
Say they have a manic episode. And they act a certain
way during that manic episode, exhibit certain behaviors.
Say they even hurt you with these behaviors. And you
remember it, because it hurt you.
But after the episode, they don't remember what they
did. And you may think they're lying.
But the fact is, that they really do NOT remember
what happened during that episode.
In that case, they're really not lying. It's just a part of
their bipolar disorder.
In fact...It can cause real problems, because they may
even think that you're lying!
And before you know it...You're fighting about it!
So in this case...You have to be understanding about it.
But what about the other times? Are they really lying?
Like in this email, for example.
Say...Lying about going to a therapist appointment
when they really didn't go.
Your loved one might do something like that.
That really is lying.
So why would they do something like that?
Well...They might not want to disappoint you.
That could be one reason for it.
Or they might lie about taking their medication.
They might not take it because they might not
like what it does to them.
Or they might feel that they don't need it.
So they tell you that they're taking it, when
they're not.
This lie might be because they don't want to be
told what to do, or simply because they don't want
to take their medication (a specific thing).
So what can you do about it?
If you can, you need to talk to them about it.
You need to set down consequences for their
lying.
And then you need to stick to those consequences
if they lie again.
So that eventually they will stop lying, because they
don't like the consequences.
What do you think?
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarsupporterblog/bipolar-is-it-really-a-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-931956
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