Bipolar: Ain’t No Picnic
Published: Tue, 09/30/14
Hi,
How are you doing today?
I hope you're having a good day.
For those of you who have taken my advice about
doing a Date Night once a week so that your loved
one's bipolar disorder doesn't overwhelm you...
One good idea for a Date Night is a picnic!
Unfortunately, sometimes it's too cold to have one
outside, but you can always have an indoor picnic!
Of course, it must come with everything from
real peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to potato
chips to chocolate chip cookies for dessert, with
lemonade to quench your thirst!
The only thing that definitely does NOT come with
an indoor picnic is ANTS! LOL
Of course, coping and dealing with a loved one with
bipolar disorder "ain't no picnic," as the saying goes,
and I certainly understand that, from dealing with
my mom.
You have to deal with the daily ups and downs of
the disorder, and that is really NOT easy.
In fact, it can be downright discouraging sometimes.
I talk about coping and dealing with the daily ups and
downs of bipolar disorder 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
I'm sure when your loved one was first diagnosed
with bipolar disorder and the doctor was going over
some of the things to expect, he/she didn't tell you
everything.
They sure couldn't tell you everything in the short
time they have to be with you (your loved one).
They just really go over the basics.
Plus, everyone is different.
And bipolar disorder can manifest differently in
different people, too.
So I'm sure your loved one's doctor probably also stuck
to just general information because they didn't want
to give you wrong information for your loved one.
But by doing that, I'm sure they left you with some
questions that went unanswered.
I mean, even if they had answered every one of your
questions at the time...
I'm sure there have been circumstances and issues that
have arisen since your loved one's diagnosis that were
not anticipated in the beginning.
There are some things that you can only find out by going
through them, unfortunately.
For example:
Everyone who has bipolar disorder has triggers.
But everyone's triggers are different.
So even if your loved one's doctor had talked about what
triggers a bipolar episode...
You wouldn't necessarily know what triggers your loved
one's episodes until you go through them.
That's why it's important to do what I call a PEA, or Post
Episode Analysis, after the episode.
That's where you and your loved one sit down together
and analyze the episode, going over things like what led
up to the episode (including triggers), and how they could
be prevented in the future (or at least spotted quicker to
prevent a major episode).
These are just some things that you learn with experience
as you go along with bipolar disorder.
So how do you deal with the daily ups and downs and
discouragement of having a loved one with bipolar
disorder?
Well, what I just talked about will help.
In other words...
TIME is a big factor.
Experience as you go will help you to get along better,
as you become more learned about your loved one's
disorder.
The more experience you have, the better you will be
able to cope with it (and them).
Another thing that will help is your attitude.
Learn to just make it through the bad times with a
"This Too Shall Pass" (it always has before) attitude,
and to appreciate the good times for as long as they last,
and to get the most out of them.
But you also need to stay realistic, and remember that,
although you can appreciate the good times, they won't
last.
And always separate your loved one from their disorder,
remembering that it's NOT their fault that they do some
of the things that they do.
That will also help you get through the daily ups and downs
and discouragement.
As one supporter puts it:
"I hate when my wife acts bipolar, but I always remember
that eventually she will get back to herself, so I just wait it
out."
What do you think?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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